Modulation of iron spin states in highly distorted iron(III) porphyrins: H-bonding interactions and implications in hemoproteins.

A family of five- and six-coordinated Fe-porphyrins which enable us to scrutinize the effects of non-covalent interactions on the out-of-plane displacement of iron and its spin-states and axial ligand orientation in a single distorted macrocyclic environment has been reported. Combined analysis using single-crystal X-ray structure determination and EPR spectral investigation revealed the stabilization of the high-spin state of iron in the five-coordinate complex FeIII(TPPBr8)(OCHMe2), while six-coordinate complexes [FeIII(TPPBr8)(MeOH)2]ClO4, [FeIII(TPPBr8)(H2O)2]ClO4 and [FeIII(TPPBr8)(1-MeIm)2]ClO4 stabilize admixed-high, admixed-intermediate and low-spin states, respectively. The H-bonding interactions between the weak axial H2O/MeOH and perchlorate anion resulted in an elongation of the Fe-O bond which eventually shortened the Fe-N(por) distances leading to the stabilization of the admixed spin state of iron which, otherwise, stabilizes the high-spin (S = 5/2) state only. In addition, the iron atom in [FeIII(TPPBr8)(H2O)2]ClO4 is displaced by 0.02 Å towards one of the water molecules engaged in the H-bonding interactions leading to two different Fe-O (H2O) distances of 2.098(8) and 2.122(9) Å. In contrast, iron in [FeIII(TPPBr8)(MeOH)2]ClO4 sits on the plane of the porphyrin since both the axial methanol units are engaged in similar H-bonding interactions with the ClO4- ion. Moreover, the X-ray structure of low-spin FeII(TPPBr8)(1-MeIm)2 revealed a dihedral angle of 63.0° between two imidazoles which deviates largely from the expected angle of 90° (perpendicular orientations) since the axial imidazole protons are engaged in strong intermolecular C-H⋯π interactions which thereby restrict the axial ligand movement. The complex also displays the shortest Fe-N(1-MeIm) bond along with smallest dihedral angles of 7.8° and 22.4° between the axial imidazole ring and the closest Fe-Np axis due to strong π-interactions between iron and the axial imidazole ligand. Our work highlights the influence of non-covalent interactions on the out-of-plane displacement and spin state of iron and axial ligand orientations which are indeed important steps in the functioning of various hemoproteins.

Stepwise oxidations of a nickel(ii)-iron(iii) heterobimetallic porphyrin dimer: structure, spectroscopic and theoretical investigation.

We have reported here the synthesis, structure and spectroscopic properties of the NiII-FeIII heterobimetallic ethene-bridged porphyrin dimer and investigate the effect upon step-wise one- and two-electron oxidations to produce a mixed-valence π-cation radical dimer and a dication diradical complex, respectively. We then investigate their electronic structure and spin coupling model and compare them with the corresponding homobimetallic analog. Detailed UV-vis-NIR, IR, and variable temperature magnetic studies and EPR and NMR spectroscopic investigations along with X-ray structure determination of the 2e-oxidized complex have demonstrated strong electronic communications through the bridge between two porphyrin π-cation radicals. The structure and geometrical parameters revealed the stabilization of the high-spin state of iron and the low-spin state of nickel in the 2e-oxidized complex. The extensive conjugation between the two porphyrin π-cation radicals has also altered the bridge from an ethylene to an exo-methylene moiety. Variable temperature magnetic studies of the 2e-oxidized complex revealed stronger antiferromagnetic coupling between two π-cation radical spins (Jr1-r2) of the NiII-FeIII heterodimer which is in sharp contrast to its diiron(iii) analog where the porphyrin π-cation radical undergoes stronger antiferromagnetic coupling predominantly with the corresponding Fe(iii) unpaired spin (JFe-r). The experimental observations are also strongly supported by DFT calculations.

Diheme Cytochrome c: Structure-Function Correlation and Effect of Heme-Heme Interactions.

We explore here the structure-function relationship of the diheme cytochrome c using synthetic diheme analogs which serve as a convenient tool to investigate various aspects of Nature's sophisticated design in vitro. A large series of diiron ethane-bridged porphyrin dimers, both in the oxidized and the reduced states, are synthesized and their structural, chemical, and electrochemical properties have been scrutinized. Interestingly, the iron-to-iron nonbonding separation observed in such dihemes ranges from 9.49 to 10.06 Å which is very similar to the separation of 9.4 and 9.9 Å observed in the crystal structures of diheme cytochromes c isolated from Geobacter sulfurreducens and Haemophilus influenza, respectively. The FeIII/FeII redox couple in the diheme complex is shifted toward more positive than their monomeric analog. Present study unmasks the electronic structure and properties of diheme centers and also highlights the significance of their structural arrangement and axial ligand orientation, and heme-to-heme separation. The Atoms in Molecules (AIM) analysis suggests long-range attractive dispersion forces between the heme units for the observed structure and properties in dihemes.