Binding of O2 and NO to heme in heme-nitric oxide/oxygen-binding (H-NOX) proteins. A theoretical study.

The binding of O2 and NO to heme in heme-nitric oxide/oxygen-binding (H-NOX) proteins has been investigated with DFT as well as dispersion-corrected DFT methods. The local protein environment was accounted for by including the six nearest surrounding residues in the studied systems. Attention was also paid to the effects of the protein environment, particularly the distal Tyr140, on the proximal iron-histidine (Fe-His) binding. The Heme-AB (AB = O2, NO) and Fe-His binding energies in iron porphyrin FeP(His)(AB), myoglobin Mb(AB), H-NOX(AB), and Tyr140 → Phe mutated H-NOX[Y140F(AB)] were determined for comparison. The calculated stabilization of bound O2 is even higher in H-NOX than that in a myoglobin (Mb), consistent with the observation that the H-NOX domain of T. tengcongensis has a very high affinity for its oxygen molecule. Among the two different X-ray crystal structures for the Tt H-NOX protein, the calculated results for both AB = O2 and NO appear to support the crystal structure with the PDB code 1XBN , where the Trp9 and Asn74 residues do not form a hydrogen-bonding network with Tyr140. A hydrogen bond interaction from the polar residue does not have obvious effects on the Fe-His binding strength, but a dispersion contribution to Ebind(Fe-His) may be significant, depending on the crystal structure used. We speculate that the Fe-His binding strength in the deoxy form of a native protein could be an important factor in determining whether the bond of His to Fe is broken or maintained upon binding of NO to Fe.

Effects of local protein environment on the binding of diatomic molecules to heme in myoglobins. DFT and dispersion-corrected DFT studies.

The heme-AB binding energies (AB = CO, O2) in a wild-type myoglobin (Mb) and two mutants (H64L, V68N) of Mb have been investigated in detail with both DFT and dispersion-corrected DFT methods, where H64L and V68N represent two different, opposite situations. Several dispersion correction approaches were tested in the calculations. The effects of the local protein environment were accounted for by including the five nearest surrounding residues in the calculated systems. The specific role of histidine-64 in the distal pocket was examined in more detail in this study than in other studies in the literature. Although the present calculated results do not change the previous conclusion that the hydrogen bonding by the distal histidine-64 residue plays a major role in the O2/CO discrimination by Mb, more details about the interaction between the protein environment and the bound ligand have been revealed in this study by comparing the binding energies of AB to a porphyrin and the various myoglobins. The changes in the experimental binding energies from one system to another are well reproduced by the calculations. Without constraints on the residues in geometry optimization, the dispersion correction is necessary, since it improves the calculated structures and energetic results significantly.

Factors that distort the heme structure in Heme-Nitric Oxide/OXygen-Binding (H-NOX) protein domains. A theoretical study.

DFT and dispersion-corrected DFT calculations were carried out to probe the factors that distort the heme structure in Heme-Nitric oxide/OXygen-binding (H-NOX) protein domains. Various model systems that include heme, heme+surrounding residues, and heme+surrounding residues+additional protein environment were examined; the latter system was calculated with a quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics (QM/MM) method. The computations were extended to a myoglobin (Mb) protein, in which the heme structure is quite planar, in contrast to that in H-NOX. The natural tendency of the heme is to be planar. The strong structural distortion in H-NOX is mainly brought about by the intermolecular interactions between the whole heme molecule (heme ring plus its peripheral substituents) and the surrounding residues, among which the polar residues (Tyr140, Pro115, Mse98) play major roles in distorting the heme structure. The two peripheral propionate substituents that are oriented on the same side of the heme plane can also make the molecule distort, but the distortion caused by this factor is not significant. In Mb, the surrounding residues considered are all nonpolar and do not cause a structural distortion. The different structural features of the heme macrocycle in the different proteins (H-NOX and Mb) are reproduced by the calculations. The dispersion correction is necessary, since it improves the calculated structures. The effects of the distortion on the binding affinity of the axial ligand to the heme were also examined.

FeP(Im)-AB Bonding Energies Evaluated with A Large Number of Density Functionals (P = porphine, Im = imidazole, AB = CO, NO, and O(2)).

Sixty-four (64) density functionals, ranging from GGA, meta-GGA, hybrid GGA to hybrid meta-GGA, were tested to evaluate the FeP(Im)-AB bonding energies (E(bond)) in the heme model complexes FeP(Im)(AB) (P = porphine, Im = imidazole, AB = CO, NO, and O(2)). The results indicate that an accurate prediction of E(bond) for the various ligands to heme is difficult with the DFT methods; usually a functional successful for one system does not perform equally well for the other system(s). Relatively satisfactory results for the various FeP(Im)-AB bonding energies are obtained with the meta-GGA funtionals BLAP3 and Bmτ1; they yield E(bond) values of ca.1.1, 1.2, and 0.4 eV for AB = CO, NO, and O(2), respectively, which are in reasonable agreement with experimental data (0.78 - 0.85 eV for CO, 0.99 eV for NO, and 0.44 - 0.53 eV for O(2)). The other functionals show more or less deficiency for one or two of the systems. The performances of the various functionals in describing the spin-state energetics of the five-coordinate FeP(Im) complex were also examined.

Structure, bonding, and linear optical properties of a series of silver and gold nanorod clusters: DFT/TDDFT studies.

DFT/TDDFT calculations have been carried out for a series of silver and gold nanorod clusters (Ag(n), Au(n), n = 12-120) whose structures are of cigar-type. Pentagonal Ag(n) clusters with n = 49-121 and hexagonal Au(n) clusters with n = 14-74 were also calculated for comparison. Metal-metal distances, binding energies per atom, ionization potentials, and electron affinities were determined, and their trends with cluster size were examined. The TDDFT calculated excitation energies and oscillator strengths were fit by a Lorentz line shape modification, which gives rise to the simulated absorption spectra. The significant features of the experimental spectra for actual silver and gold nanorod particles are well reproduced by the calculations on the clusters. The calculated spectral patterns are also in agreement with previous theoretical results on different-type Ag(n) clusters. Many differences in the calculated properties are found between the Ag(n) and Au(n) clusters, which can be explained by relativistic effects.

Iron porphyrins with different imidazole ligands. A theoretical comparative study.

A theoretical comparative study of a series of five- and six-coordinate iron porphyrins, FeP(L) and FeP(L)(O(2)), has been carried out using DFT methods, where P = porphine and L = imidazole (Im), 1-methylimidazole (1-MeIm), 2-methylimidazole (2-MeIm), 1,2-dimethylimidazole (1,2-Me(2)Im), 4-ethylimidazole (4-EtIm), or histidine (His). Two ligated "picket-fence" iron porphyrins, FeTpivPP(2-MeIm) and FeTpivPP(2-MeIm)(O(2)), were also included in the study for comparison. A number of density functionals were employed in the computations to obtain reliable results. The performance of functionals and basis set effects were investigated in detail on FeP, FeP(Im), and FeP(Im)(O(2)), for which certain experimental information is available and there are some previous calculations in the literature for comparison. Many subtle distinctions in the effects of the different imidazole ligands on the structures and energetics of the deoxy- and oxy iron porphyrins are revealed. While FeP(2-MeIm) is identified to be high spin (S = 2), the ground state of FeP(1-MeIm) may be an admixture of a high-spin (S = 2) and an intermediate-spin (S = 1) state. The ground state of FeP(L)(O(2)) may be different with different L. A weaker Fe-L bond more likely leads to an open-shell singlet ground state for the oxy complex. The 2-methyl group in 2-MeIm, which increases steric contact between the ligand and the porphyrinato skeleton, weakens the Fe-O(2) bond, and thus iron porphyrins with 2-MeIm mimic T-state (low affinity) hemoglobin. The calculated FeP(2-MeIm)-O(2) bonding energy is comparable to the FeTpivPP(2-MeIm)-O(2) one, in agreement with the fact that the picket-fence iron porphyrin binds O(2) with affinity similar to that of myoglobin but different from the result obtained by the CPMD scheme. Im and 4-EtIm closely resemble His, the biologically axial base, and so future computations on hemoprotein models can be simplified safely by using Im.

Supramolecular interactions of fullerenes with (Cl)Fe- and Mn porphyrins. A theoretical study.

The electronic structure and bonding in the noncovalent, supramolecular complexes of fullerenes (C(60), C(70)) with (Cl)Fe- and Mn porphyrins [(Cl)FeP, MnP] were investigated in detail with DFT methods. A dispersion correction was made for the fullerene-porphyrin binding energy through an empirical approach. Several density functionals were employed in the calculations in order to obtain reliable results. Our calculated results differ from those obtained in a previous paper (J. Phys. Chem. A, 2005, 109, 3704). The ground state of (Cl)FeP*C(60) is predicted to be high spin (S = 5/2), in agreement with the experimental results. MnP*C(70) is calculated to have a high-spin (S = 5/2) ground state as well; this is similar to (Cl)FeP*C(60), but at variance with the assignment of a low-spin (S = 1/2) state for this complex. According to the calculations, C(70) in MnP*C(70) does not have sufficient ligand-field strength to cause a high- to low-spin state change in MnP. An additional calculation on a comparable, high-spin (Py)MnP complex gives support for the calculated results on MnP*C(70). More detailed experimental investigations are desirable, which might help to resolve the question of the MnP*C(70) electronic structure. The estimated dispersion energies (E(disp)) in the fullerene-porphyrin systems are rather large, ranging from 0.6 to 1.0 eV. Including E(disp) improves the calculated binding energy considerably.

Dispersion-corrected DFT calculations on C(60)-porphyrin complexes.

The quality of the newly added, empirical dispersion correction in density functional theory (DFT) calculations is examined for several supramolecular complexes of fullerene (C(60)) with free-base and metal porphyrins (Por). The benzene dimer (C(6)H(6))(2), naphthalene dimer (C(10)H(8))(2), and anthracene dimer (C(14)H(10))(2) were also included in the study for comparison. Three density functionals, two damping functions, and two types of basis sets were employed in the computations. The estimated dispersion energies in the fullerene-porphyrin systems are rather large, ranging from 0.5 eV in C(60).ZnP to 1 eV in C(60).H(2)TPP. Any dispersion-corrected DFT (DFT + E(disp)) method is shown to perform well for C(60).H(2)TPP, C(60).ZnTPP, and C(60).ZnP, where the intermolecular distances are relatively large. But large basis sets, e.g. TZP (triple-zeta + one polarization function), are required in order to obtain reliable results with DFT + E(disp). In the case of C(60).FeP, where the intermolecular distance R is short, the DFT + E(disp) calculated R depends on the damping function as well as on the DFT method, and all the DFT + E(disp) calculations lead to significant changes in the relative energies of the various spin states. The quality of the DFT + E(disp) calculated results on C(60).FeP is hard to judge here without detailed experimental data on a C(60).FePor complex. Owing to error cancellation, the pure DFT calculations with a smaller DZP (double-zeta + one polarization function) basis set without any correction are shown to give quite accurate results.

Electronic structure of some substituted iron(II) porphyrins. Are they intermediate or high spin?

The electronic structure of some substituted, four-coordinate iron(II) porphyrins has been investigated with DFT methods. These systems include iron tetraphenylporphine (FeTPP), iron octamethyltetrabenzporphine (FeOTBP), iron tetra(alpha,alpha,alpha,alpha-orthopivalamide)phenylporphine (FeTpivPP, also called "picket fence" porphyrin), halogenated iron porphyrins (FeTPPXn, X=F, Cl; n=20, 28), and iron octaethylporphine (FeOEP). A number of density functionals were used in the calculations. Different from the popular, intermediate-spin FeTPP, the ground states of FeOTBP, FeTPPCl28, and FeTPPF20betaCl8 are predicted to be high spin. The calculated result for FeOTBP is in agreement with the early experimental measurement, thereby changing the previous conclusion drawn from the calculations with only the BP functional (J. Chem. Phys. 2002, 116, 3635). But FeTpivPP might have an intermediate-spin ground state, a conclusion that is different from the "experimental" one. With a notably expanded Fe-N bond length, FeOEP might exist as an admixed-spin (S=1, 2) state. We also calculated the electron affinities (EAs) for the various iron porphyrins and compared them to experiment. On the basis of the calculated trends in the EAs and in the orbital energies, the experimental EAs for FeTpivPP, FeTPPF20, and FeTPPCl28 may be too small by 0.4-0.5 eV.

Interaction of metal porphyrins with fullerene C60: a new insight.

The electronic structure and bonding in the noncovalent, supramolecular complexes of fullerene C60 with a series of first-row transition metal porphines MP (M=Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn) have been re-examined with DFT methods. A dispersion correction was made for the C60-MP binding energy through an empirical method (J. Comput. Chem. 2004, 25, 1463). Several density functionals and two types of basis sets were employed in the calculations. Our calculated results are rather different from those obtained in a recent paper (J. Phys. Chem. A 2005, 109, 3704). The ground state of C60.FeP is predicted to be high spin (S=2); the low-spin (S=0), closed-shell state is even higher in energy than the intermediate-spin (S=1) state. With only one electron in the Co-dz2 orbital, the calculated Co-C60 distance is in fact rather short, about 0.1 A longer than the Fe-C60 distance in high-spin C60.FeP. Double occupation of an M-dz2 orbital in MP prevents close association of any axial ligand, and so the Ni-C60, Cu-C60, and Zn-C60 distances are much longer than the Co-C60 one. The evaluated MP-C60 binding energies (Ebind) are 0.8 eV (18.5 kcal/mol) for M=Fe/Co and 0.5 eV (11.5 kcal/mol) for M=Ni/Cu/Zn (Ebind is about 0.2 eV larger in the case of C60-MTPP). They are believed to be reliable and accurate based on our dispersion-corrected DFT calculations that included the counterpoise (CP) correction. The effects of the C60 contact on the redox properties of MP were also examined.

DFT/TDDFT study of lanthanide(III) mono- and bisporphyrin complexes.

The electronic structure, molecular structure, and electronic spectra of lanthanide(III) mono- and bisporphyrin complexes are investigated using a DFT/TDDFT method. These complexes include YbP(acac), YbP(2), [YbP(2)](+), YbHP(2), and [YbP(2)](-) (where P = porphine and acac = acetylacetonate). To shed some light on the origin of the out-of-plane displacement of Yb in YbP(acac), unligated model systems, namely, planar D(4h) and distorted C(4nu) YbP, were calculated. For comparison, the calculations were also extended to include the C and [Ce(IV)P(2) ](+) systems. Even without an axial ligand, the lanthanide atom lies considerably above the porphyrin plane; the distortion of the YbP molecular structure from a planar D(4h) to the nonplanar C(4nu) symmetry leads to a considerable energy lowering. The axial ligand makes the metal out-of-plane displacement even larger, and it also changes the redox properties of the lanthanide monoporphyrin. The ground-state configurations of YbP(2) and YbHP(2) were determined by considering several possible low-lying states. YbP(2) is confirmed to be a single-hole radical. The special redox properties of the bisporphyrin complexes can well be accounted for by the calculated ionization potentials and electron affinities. The TDDFT results provide a clear description of the UV-vis and near-IR absorption spectra of the various lanthanide porphyrins.

Assessment of the performance of density-functional methods for calculations on iron porphyrins and related compounds.

The behaviors of a large number of GGA, meta-GGA, and hybrid-GGA density functionals in describing the spin-state energetics of iron porphyrins and related compounds have been investigated. There is a large variation in performance between the various functionals for the calculations of the high-spin state relative energies. Most GGA and meta-GGA functionals are biased toward lower-spin states and so fail to give the correct ground state for the high-spin systems, for which the meta-GGA functionals show more or less improvement over the GGA ones. The GGA functionals that use the OPTX correction for exchange show remarkably high performance for calculating the high-spin state energetics, but their results for the intermediate-spin states are somewhat questionable. A heavily parameterized GGA functional, HCTH/407, provides results which are in qualitative agreement with the experimental findings for the iron porphyrins [FeP, FeP(Cl), FeP(THF)2], but its relative energies for the high-spin states are probably somewhat too low. The high-spin state relative energies are then even more underestimated by the corresponding meta-GGA functional tau-HCTH. For the hybrid-GGA functionals, the Hartree-Fock (HF)-type (or exact) exchange contribution strongly stabilizes the high-spin states, and so the performance of such functionals is largely dependent upon the amount of the HF exchange admixture in them. The B3LYP, B97, B97-1, and tau-HCTH-hyb functionals are able to provide a satisfactory description of the energetics of all the systems considered.

Spectroscopy, crystal structure, valance molecular orbital energy level diagram and DFT study of cis-[Cr(2,2'-bipy)2Cl2](Cl)0.38(PF6)0.62.

A new octahedral chromium(III) complex having 2,2'-bipyridine as ligand system was synthesized in methanol. Single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis shows that it possesses non-stoichiometry in its anionic primary covalency. It has also been studied by elemental analyses, optical spectroscopy (UV-vis, IR) and magnetic susceptibility data. DFT calculations (with B3LYP functional and double-xi quality LANLDZ(D95V) basis set) were carried out to interpret the electronic and infrared spectra of the complex. The DFT optimized geometric structure for the complex is compared with the X-ray crystallographic data; the theory-experiment agreement is satisfactory.

Effects of peripheral substituents and axial ligands on the electronic structure and properties of cobalt porphyrins.

The effects of peripheral substituents and axial ligands (L) on the electronic structure and properties of cobalt tetraphenylporphyrin (CoTPP) have been studied using DFT methods. Various density functionals were tested, and the ground state of each system was determined by considering several possible low-lying states. The ground states of the fully fluorinated CoTPPF28(L)2 complexes with L = THF, Py, and Im were identified to be high-spin (4E(g)) by the meta-GGA functional tau-HCTH, which contains the kinetic energy density tau, in agreement with experimental measurements. All the pure GGA functionals, including the recently developed mPBE, OPBE, and HCTH/407, show more or less overestimation of the relative energies of the high-spin states. The energy gap between the 2A(1g) and 4E(g) states is insignificant (approximately 0.1 eV) and varies in the order L = Py < L = THF < L = Im. The results and their trend are consistent with 19F NMR studies which show partial population of the 4E(g) state in CoTPPF28(THF)2 and CoTPPF28(Py)2 and a complete conversion to the high-spin state in CoTPPF28(1-MeIm)2. Upon coordination by two very strong field axial CO ligands, CoTPPF28(CO)2 becomes low-spin, as in unligated CoTPPF(x). The influence of the peripheral substituents and axial ligands on the ionization potentials, electron affinities, and CoTPPF(x)-(L)2 binding strength was also investigated in detail.

DFT study of unligated and ligated manganese(II) porphyrins and phthalocyanines.

A theoretical study of the electronic structure, bonding, and properties of unligated and ligated manganese(II) porphyrins and phthalocyanines has been carried out "in detail" using a density functional theory (DFT) method. While manganese tetraphenylporphine (MnTPP) in the crystal is high spin (S = 5/2) with the Mn(II) atom out of the porphyrin plane, the present calculations find that the free manganese porphine (MnP) molecule has no obvious tendency to distort from planarity even in the high-spin state. The ground state of the planar structure is found to be intermediate spin (S = 3/2). Manganese phthalocyanine (MnPc) is calculated to have a 4E(g) ground state, in agreement with the more recent magnetic circular dichroism (MCD) and UV-vis measurements of the molecule in an argon matrix but different from the early magnetic measurements of solid MnPc. The effect of the crystal structure on the electronic state of MnPc is examined by the calculations of a model system. For the six-coordinate adducts with two pyridine (py) ligands, the strong-field axial ligands raise the energy of the Mn d(z2)-orbital, thereby making the Mn(II) ion low spin (S = 1/2). The recent assignment of MnPc(py)2 as an intermediate-spin state proves to be incorrect. Some issues involved in the reduced products have also been clarified. Five-coordinate MnP(py) and MnPc(py) complexes are high spin and intermediate spin, respectively.

Fe(II) in different macrocycles: electronic structures and properties.

A theoretical comparative study of complexes of porphyrin (P), porphyrazine (Pz), phthalocyanine (Pc), porphycene (Pn), dibenzoporphycene (DBPn), and hemiporphyrazine (HPz) with iron (Fe) has been carried out using a density functional theory (DFT) method. The difference in the core size and shape of the macrocycle has a substantial effect on the electronic structure and properties of the overall system. The ground states of FeP and FePc were identified to be the 3A2g [(d(xy))2(d(z)2)2(d(pi))2] state, followed by 3E(g) [(d(xy))2(d(z)2)1(d(pi))3]. For FePz, however, the 3E(g)-3A2g energy gap of 0.02 eV may be too small to distinguish between the ground and excited states. When the symmetry of the macrocycle is reduced from D4h to D2h, the degeneracy of the d(pi) (d(xz), d(yz)) orbitals is removed, and the ground state becomes 3B2g [(d(xy))2(d(z)2)1(d(yz))2(d(xz))1] or 3B3g [...(d(yz))1(d(xz))2] for FePn, FeDBPn, and FeHPz. The calculations also show how the change of the macrocycle can influence the axial ligand coordination of pyridine (Py) and CO to the Fe(II) complexes. Finally, the electronic structures of the mono- and dipositive and -negative ions for all the unligated and ligated iron macrocycles were elucidated, which is important for understanding the redox properties of these compounds. The differences in the observed electrochemical (oxidation and reduction) properties between metal porphycenes (MPn) and metal porphyrins (MP) can be accounted for by the calculated results (orbital energy level diagrams, ionization potentials, and electron affinities).

Effects of Peripheral Substituents on the Electronic Structure and Properties of Unligated and Ligated Metal Phthalocyanines, Metal = Fe, Co, Zn.

The effects of peripheral, multiple -F as well as -C2F5 substituents, on the electronic structure and properties of unligated and ligated metal phthalocyanines, PcM, PcM(acetone)2 (M = Fe, Co, Zn), PcZn(Cl), and PcZn(Cl(-)), have been investigated using a DFT method. The calculations provide a clear explanation for the changes in the ground state, molecular orbital (MO) energy levels, ionization potentials (IP), electron affinities (EA), charge distribution on the metal (QM), axial binding energies, and in electronic spectra. While the strongly electron-withdrawing -C2F5 groups on the Pc ring change the ground state of PcFe, they do not influence the ground state of PcCo. The IP is increased by ∼1.3 eV from H16PcM to F16PcM and by another ∼1.1 eV from F16PcM to F48PcM. A similar increase in the EA is also found on going from H16PcM to F48PcM. Substitution by the -C2F5 groups also considerably increases the binding strength between PcM and the electron-donating axial ligand(s). Numerous changes in chemical and physical properties observed for the F64PcM compounds can be accounted for by the calculated results.

Effects of peripheral substituents and axial ligands on the electronic structure and properties of iron phthalocyanine.

The effects of peripheral substituents and axial ligands on the electronic structure and properties of iron phthalocyanine, H(16)PcFe, have been investigated using a DFT method. Substitution by electron-withdrawing fluorinated groups alters the ground state of H(16)PcFe and gives rise to large changes in the ionization potentials and electron affinity. For the six-coordinate adducts with acetone, H(2)O, and pyridine, the axial coordination of two weak-field ligands leads to an intermediate-spin ground state, while the strong-field ligands make the system diamagnetic. The electronic configuration of a ligated iron phthalocyanine is determined mainly by the axial ligand-field strength but can also be affected by peripheral substituents. Axial ligands also exert an effect on ionization potentials and electron affinity and can, as observed experimentally, even change the site of oxidation/reduction.

Performance assessment of density-functional methods for study of charge-transfer complexes.

Various density functionals are applied to a number of weakly bound intermolecular pi-pi charge-transfer (CT) complexes. Most functionals, including the recently developed mPWPW91 and mPW1PW91, grossly underestimate experimental excitation energies; good agreement is obtained only with the half-and-half hybrid BH&HLYP functional. PW91PW91 provides the best agreement with intermolecular distances measured in crystal, while the BH&HLYP values are about 0.1 A too long. Various hybrid functionals with nonlocal exchange correction provide binding energies that compare favorably with the experimental heats of formation measured in solution.

Comparative study of metal-porphyrins, -porphyrazines, and -phthalocyanines.

A theoretical comparative study of complexes of porphyrin (P), porphyrazine (Pz), and phthalocyanine (Pc) with metal (M) = Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, and Zn has been carried out using a DFT method. The calculations provide a clear elucidation of the ground states for the MP/Pz/Pc molecules and for a series of [MP/Pz/Pc](x-) and [MP/Pz/Pc](y+) ions (x = 1, 2, 3, 4; y = 1, 2). There are significant differences among MP, MPz, and MPc in the electronic structure and other calculated properties. For FeP/Pz and CoP/Pz, the first oxidation occurs at the central metal, while it is the macroring of FePc and CoPc that is the site of oxidation. The smaller coordination cavity results in a stronger ligand field in Pz than in P. However, the benzo annulation produces a surprisingly strong destabilizing effect on the metal-macrocycle bonding. The effects of Cl axial bonding upon the electronic structures of the iron(III) complexes of P, Pz, and Pc were examined, as was the bonding of pyridine (py) to NiP, NiPz, and NiPc. The porphinato core size plays a crucial role in controlling the spin state of Fe(III) in these complexes. FePc(Cl) is predicted to be a pure intermediate-spin system, whereas NiPz(py)(2) and NiPc(py)(2) are metastable in high-spin (S = 1) states. The NiPz/Pc-(py)(2) binding energy curve has only a shallow well that facilitates decomposition of the complex. The NiP-(py)(2) bond energy is small, but the relatively deep well in the binding energy curve ought to make this system stable to decomposition.