Switching between Inner- and Outer-Sphere PCET Mechanisms of Small-Molecule Activation: Superoxide Dismutation and Oxygen/Superoxide Reduction Reactivity Deriving from the Same Manganese Complex.

Readily exchangeable water molecules are commonly found in the active sites of oxidoreductases, yet the overwhelming majority of studies on small-molecule mimics of these enzymes entirely ignores the contribution of water to the reactivity. Studies of how these enzymes can continue to function in spite of the presence of highly oxidizing species are likewise limited. The mononuclear MnII complex with the potentially hexadentate ligand N-(2-hydroxy-5-methylbenzyl)-N,N',N'-tris(2-pyridinylmethyl)-1,2-ethanediamine (LOH) was previously found to act as both a H2O2-responsive MRI contrast agent and a mimic of superoxide dismutase (SOD). Here, we studied this complex in aqueous solutions at different pH values in order to determine its (i) acid-base equilibria, (ii) coordination equilibria, (iii) substitution lability and operative mechanisms for water exchange, (iv) redox behavior and ability to participate in proton-coupled electron transfer (PCET) reactions, (v) SOD activity and reductive activity toward both oxygen and superoxide, and (vi) mechanism for its transformation into the binuclear MnII complex with (H)OL-LOH and its hydroxylated derivatives. The conclusions drawn from potentiometric titrations, low-temperature mass spectrometry, temperature- and pressure-dependent 17O NMR spectroscopy, electrochemistry, stopped-flow kinetic analyses, and EPR measurements were supported by the structural characterization and quantum chemical analysis of proposed intermediate species. These comprehensive studies enabled us to determine how transiently bound water molecules impact the rate and mechanism of SOD catalysis. Metal-bound water molecules facilitate the PCET necessary for outer-sphere SOD activity. The absence of the water ligand, conversely, enables the inner-sphere reduction of both superoxide and dioxygen. The LOH complex maintains its SOD activity in the presence of •OH and MnIV-oxo species by channeling these oxidants toward the synthesis of a functionally equivalent binuclear MnII species.

Reinvestigation of the formation of a mononuclear Fe(III) hydroperoxido complex using high pressure kinetics.

Previous stopped flow kinetic experiments suggested an interchange associative mechanism for the ligand substitution reaction, [Fe(bztpen)(OMe)](2+) + H(2)O(2)--> {[Fe(bztpen)(OMe)(HOOH)](2+)}(++)--> [Fe(bztpen)(OOH)](2+) + MeOH (bztpen = N-benzyl-N, N',N'tris(2-methylpyridyl)-ethylenediamine). Thus a seven-coordinate transition state containing both the leaving methoxide and the incoming hydrogen peroxide ligands was proposed. On the basis of high pressure kinetic data we can now conclude that this is not the case since the rate of the reaction is independent of pressure for the formation of the purple low spin transient hydroperoxido complex, [Fe(bztpen)(OOH)](2+). [Fe(bztpen)(OOH)](2+) has so far proved to be too short-lived for solid state isolation. As part of our ongoing pursuit of this elusive species we have structurally characterised the nitrosyl and acetate iron(II) complexes, [Fe(bztpen)(NO)](OTf)(2) and [Fe(bztpen)(OAc)](BPh(4)), as well as the air stable Co(II) complexes [Co(bztpen)Cl)]BF(4), [Co(metpen)Cl]SbF(6) and [Co(bztpen)(OAc)]BPh(4). We did not realise our aim of accessing stable Co(III) hydroperoxido or peroxido complexes by reaction of the cobalt complexes with H(2)O(2).

Mechanistic behaviour of alkylcobaloximes and imino-oxime complexes related to vitamin B(12).

The ligand substitution reactions of complexes of the type trans-[(R)Co(Chel)S](+/0) with L, where chel = (DO)(DOH)pn = 2,2'-(1,3-diaminopropanebis(2-methyl-3-butanone)oxime), R = CH(3), L = imidazole, pyrazole, 1,2,4-triazole and 1-methylimidazole, and S = water and MeOH, and chel = (Hdmg)(2) = bis(dimethylglyoximate), R = CH(2)Cl, CH(2)Br, and CH(2)I, L = thiourea and pyridine, and S = water, were studied in detail as a function of temperature and pressure. The reported activation parameters (DeltaH, DeltaS and DeltaV) support the operation of a dissociative interchange (I(d)) mechanism. Complexes of the type trans-[RCo(Hdmg)(2)L] (R = CH(2)Cl, CH(2)Br, and CH(2)I; L = H(2)O and Py) were fully optimized at the B3LYP/LANL2DZp level, and the structural data support the mechanistic assignment based on the reported activation parameters. For the reaction of trans-[(CH(3))(2)Co((DO)(DOH)pn)] with acid, the activation parameters (DeltaH, DeltaS and DeltaV) were found to be 37 +/- 1 kJ mol(-1), -86 +/- 3 J mol(-1) K(-1) and -18.9 +/- 0.7 cm(3) mol(-1), respectively, and support a protonation mechanism.