ABSTRACT
Non-noble metal molecular catalysts mediating the electrocatalytic reduction of carbon dioxide are still scarce. This work reports the electrochemical reduction of CO2 to formate catalyzed by the bimetallic complex [(bdt)MoVI(O)S2CuICN]2- (bdt = benzenedithiolate), a mimic of the active site of the Mo-Cu carbon monoxide dehydrogenase enzyme (CODH2). Infrared spectroelectrochemical (IR-SEC) studies coupled with density functional theory (DFT) computations revealed that the complex is only a pre-catalyst, the active catalyst being generated upon reduction in the presence of CO2. We found that the two-electron reduction of [(bdt)MoVI(O)S2CuICN]2- triggers the transfer of the oxo moiety to CO2 forming CO3 2- and the complex [(bdt)MoIVS2CuICN]2- and that a further one-electron reduction is needed to generate the active catalyst. Its protonation yields a reactive MoVH hydride intermediate which reacts with CO2 to produce formate. These findings are particularly relevant to the design of catalysts from metal oxo precursors.
ABSTRACT
Electrocatalytic CO2 reduction to value-added products provides a viable alternative to the use of carbon sources derived from fossil fuels. Carrying out these transformations at reasonable energetic costs, for example, with low overpotential, remains a challenge. Molecular catalysts allow fine control of activity and selectivity via tuning of their coordination sphere and ligand set. Herein we investigate a series of cobalt(III) pyridine-thiolate complexes as electrocatalysts for CO2 reduction. The effect of the ligands and proton sources on activity was examined. We identified bipyridine bis(2-pyridinethiolato) cobalt(III) hexaflurophosphate as a highly selective catalyst for formate production operating at a low overpotential of 110â mV with a turnover frequency (TOF) of 10â s-1 . Electrokinetic analysis coupled with density functional theory (DFT) computations established the mechanistic pathway, highlighting the role of metal hydride intermediates. The catalysts deactivate via the formation of stable cobalt carbonyl complexes, but the active species could be regenerated upon oxidation and release of coordinated CO ligands.
ABSTRACT
Understanding and controlling molecular recognition mechanisms at a chiral solid interface is a continuously addressed challenge in heterogeneous catalysis. Here, the molecular recognition of a chiral peptide-functionalized metal-organic framework (MOF) catalyst towards a pro-chiral substrate is evaluated experimentally and in silico. The MIL-101 metal-organic framework is used as a macroligand for hosting a Noyori-type chiral ruthenium molecular catalyst, namely (benzene)Ru@MIL-101-NH-Gly-Pro. Its catalytic perfomance toward the asymmetric transfer hydrogenation (ATH) of acetophenone into R- and S-phenylethanol are assessed. The excellent match between the experimentally obtained enantiomeric excesses and the computational outcomes provides a robust atomic-level rationale for the observed product selectivities. The unprecedented role of the MOF in confining the molecular Ru-catalyst and in determining the access of the prochiral substrate to the active site is revealed in terms of highly face-specific host-guest interactions. The predicted surface-specific face differentiation of the prochiral substrate is experimentally corroborated since a three-fold increase in enantiomeric excess is obtained with the heterogeneous MOF-based catalyst when compared to its homogeneous molecular counterpart.
ABSTRACT
A novel heterobimetallic tantalum/iridium hydrido complex, [{Ta(CH2tBu)3}{IrH2(Cp*)}] 1, featuring a very short metal-metal bond, has been isolated through an original alkane elimination route from Ta(CHtBu)(CH2tBu)3 and Cp*IrH4. This molecular precursor has been used to synthesize well-defined silica-supported low-coordinate heterobimetallic hydrido species [≡SiOTa(CH2tBu)2{IrH2(Cp*)}], 5, and [≡SiOTa(CH2tBu)H{IrH2(Cp*)}], 6, using a surface organometallic chemistry (SOMC) approach. The SOMC methodology prevents undesired dimerization as encountered in solution and leading to a tetranuclear species [{Ta(CH2tBu)2}(Cp*IrH)]2, 4. This approach therefore allows access to unique low-coordinate species not attainable in solution. These original supported Ta/Ir species exhibit drastically enhanced catalytic performances in H/D exchange reactions with respect to (i) monometallic analogues as well as (ii) homogeneous systems. In particular, material 6 promotes the H/D exchange between fluorobenzene and C6D6 or D2 as deuterium sources with excellent productivity (TON up to 1422; TOF up to 23.3 h-1) under mild conditions (25 °C, sub-atmospheric D2 pressure) without any additives.
ABSTRACT
The photochemical reduction of CO2 to formic acid catalyzed by a series of [Rh(4,4'-R-bpy)(Cp*)Cl]+ and [Rh(5,5'-COOH-bpy)(Cp*)Cl]+ complexes (Cp* = pentamethylcyclopentadienyl, bpy = 2,2'-bipyridine, and R = OCH3, CH3, H, COOC2H5, CF3, NH2, or COOH) was studied to assess how modifications in the electronic structure of the catalyst affect its selectivity, defined as the HCOOH:H2 product ratio. A direct molecular-level influence of the functional group on the initial reaction rate for CO2 versus proton reduction reactions was established. Density functional theory computations elucidated for the first time the respective role of the [RhH] and [Cp*H] tautomers, recognizing rhodium hydride as the key player for both reactions. In particular, our calculations explain the observed tendency of electron-donating substituents to favor CO2 reduction by means of decreasing the hydricity of the Rh-H bond, resulting in a lower hydride transfer barrier toward formic acid production as compared to substituents with an electron-withdrawing nature that favor more strongly the reduction of protons to hydrogen.
ABSTRACT
Terpyridine ligands are widely used in chemistry and material sciences owing to their ability to form stable molecular complexes with a large variety of metal ions. In that context, variations of the substituents on the terpyridine ligand allow modulation of the material properties. Applying the Stille cross-coupling reaction, we prepared with good yields a new series of terpyridine ligands possessing quinoline-type moieties in ortho, meta, and para positions and dimethylamino substituents at central or distal positions. The corresponding cobalt(II) complexes were synthesized and fully characterized by elemental analysis, single-crystal X-ray crystallography, mass spectrometry, and UV-vis, 1H NMR, and Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy as well as by cyclic voltammetry (CV). Density functional theory (DFT) calculations were performed to investigate the electronic structure of all the Co(II) bis-terpyridyl molecular complexes. In this work, we show that terpyridine ligand functionalization allows tuning the redox potentials of the Co(III)/Co(II), Co(II)/Co(I), and Co(I)/Co(I) (tpy)â¢- couples over a 1 V range.
ABSTRACT
We use density functional theory, newly parameterized molecular dynamics simulations, and last generation 15 N dynamic nuclear polarization surface enhanced solid-state NMR spectroscopy (DNP SENS) to understand graft-host interactions and effects imposed by the metal-organic framework (MOF) host on peptide conformations in a peptide-functionalized MOF. Focusing on two grafts typified by MIL-68-proline (-Pro) and MIL-68-glycine-proline (-Gly-Pro), we identified the most likely peptide conformations adopted in the functionalized hybrid frameworks. We found that hydrogen bond interactions between the graft and the surface hydroxyl groups of the MOF are essential in determining the peptides conformation(s). DNP SENS methodology shows unprecedented signal enhancements when applied to these peptide-functionalized MOFs. The calculated chemical shifts of selected MIL-68-NH-Pro and MIL-68-NH-Gly-Pro conformations are in a good agreement with the experimentally obtained 15 Nâ NMR signals. The study shows that the conformations of peptides when grafted in a MOF host are unlikely to be freely distributed, and conformational selection is directed by strong host-guest interactions.
Subject(s)
Dipeptides/chemistry , Glycine/chemistry , Metal-Organic Frameworks/chemistry , Peptides/chemistry , Proline/chemistry , Hydrogen Bonding , Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy , Molecular Conformation , Molecular Dynamics SimulationABSTRACT
Cobalt dithiolene complexes are a new class of H2-evolving catalysts. Here we describe the preparation, the structure and the catalytic activity of an original cobalt complex using a bioinspired ligand, a quinoxaline-pyran-fused dithiolene derivative (qpdt(2-)) that mimics the molybdopterin cofactor present in the active sites of formate dehydrogenases. This complex displays very good activity for electrochemical proton reduction under weak acid conditions in terms of turnover frequency, faradic yields and stability. Density functional theory calculations show that protonation of a nitrogen atom of the ligand decreases overpotentials by 520 mV and H2 formation proceeds via protonation of an intermediate Co-H hydride, with an adjacent S atom of the dithiolene ligand serving as a proton relay.
ABSTRACT
The dinuclear rhenium(II) complex Re2Br4(PMe3)4 was prepared from the reduction of [Re2Br8](2-) with (n-Bu4N)BH4 in the presence of PMe3 in propanol. The complex was characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction (SCXRD) and UV-visible spectroscopy. It crystallizes in the monoclinic C2/c space group and is isostructural with its molybdenum and technetium analogues. The Re-Re distance (2.2521(3) Å) is slightly longer than the one in Re2Cl4(PMe3)4 (2.247(1) Å). The molecular and electronic structure of Re2X4(PMe3)4 (X = Cl, Br) were studied by multiconfigurational quantum chemical methods. The computed ground-state geometry is in excellent agreement with the experimental structure determined by SCXRD. The calculated total bond order (2.75) is consistent with the presence of an electron-rich triple bond and is similar to the one found for Re2Cl4(PMe3)4. The electronic absorption spectrum of Re2Br4(PMe3)4 was recorded in benzene and shows a series of low-intensity bands in the range 10â¯000-26â¯000 cm(-1). The absorption bands were assigned based on calculations of the excitation energies with the multireference wave functions followed by second-order perturbation theory using the CASSCF/CASPT2 method. Calculations predict that the lowest energy band corresponds to the δ* â σ* transition, while the next higher energy bands were attributed to the δ* â π*, δ â σ*, and δ â π* transitions.
ABSTRACT
The mechanism and products of the structural collapse of the metalorganic frameworks (MOFs) UiO-66, MIL-140B and MIL-140C upon ball-milling are investigated through solid state 13C NMR and pair distribution function (PDF) studies, finding amorphization to proceed by the breaking of a fraction of metalligand bonding in each case. The amorphous products contain inorganicorganic bonding motifs reminiscent of the crystalline phases. Whilst the inorganic Zr6O4(OH)4 clusters of UiO-66 remain intact upon structural collapse, the ZrO backbone of the MIL-140 frameworks undergoes substantial distortion. Density functional theory calculations have been performed to investigate defective models of MIL-140B and show, through comparison of calculated and experimental 13C NMR spectra, that amorphization and defects in the materials are linked.
ABSTRACT
A simple method for the high-yield preparation of (NH4)2[Re2F8]·2H2O has been developed that involves the reaction of (n-Bu4N)2[Re2Cl8] with molten ammonium bifluoride (NH4HF2). Using this method, the new salt [NH4]2[Re2F8]·2H2O was prepared in â¼90% yield. The product was characterized in solution by ultraviolet-visible light (UV-vis) and (19)F nuclear magnetic resonance ((19)F NMR) spectroscopies and in the solid-state by elemental analysis, powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), and infrared (IR) spectroscopy. Multiconfigurational CASSCF/CASPT2 quantum chemical calculations were performed to investigate the molecular and electronic structure, as well as the electronic absorption spectrum of the [Re2F8](2-) anion. The metal-metal bonding in the Re2(6+) unit was quantified in terms of effective bond order (EBO) and compared to that of its [Re2Cl8](2-) and [Re2Br8](2-) analogues.
ABSTRACT
Posttranscriptional regulation of RNA facilitates the fine-tuning of gene expression. It occurs through multiple pathways that include the nuclear processing of mRNA and its precursors, mRNA silencing, regulation of mRNA decay, and regulation of translation. Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerases (PARPs), enzymes that modify target proteins with ADP-ribose, play important roles in many of the RNA regulatory pathways through multiple mechanisms. For example, RNA-binding PARPs can target specific transcripts for regulation; ADP-ribosylation of RNA-regulatory proteins can alter their localization, activity, or RNA binding; and noncovalent interactions of RNA-binding proteins with poly(ADP-ribose) can affect their function. In addition to regulating RNA during non-stress conditions, PARPs regulate RNA function during cellular stress conditions that are critical for the proper execution of a stress response. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge regarding PARP-dependent regulation of RNAs, and describe how by modulating RNA processing, translation, and decay PARPs impact multiple processes in the cell.
Subject(s)
Gene Expression Regulation , Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerases/metabolism , RNA-Binding Proteins/metabolism , RNA/genetics , Adenosine Diphosphate Ribose/metabolism , Animals , Humans , Models, Genetic , Poly Adenosine Diphosphate Ribose/metabolism , Protein Processing, Post-Translational , RNA/metabolismABSTRACT
Post-transcriptional regulation of RNA is an important mechanism for activating and resolving cellular stress responses. Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase-13 (PARP13), also known as ZC3HAV1 and zinc-finger antiviral protein (ZAP), is an RNA-binding protein that regulates the stability and translation of specific mRNAs, and modulates the miRNA silencing pathway to globally affect miRNA targets. These functions of PARP13 are important components of the cellular response to stress. In addition, the ability of PARP13 to restrict oncogenic viruses and to repress the prosurvival cytokine receptor tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-related apoptosis-inducing ligand receptor 4 (TRAILR4) suggests that it can be protective against malignant transformation and cancer development. The relevance of PARP13 to human health and disease make it a promising therapeutic target.
Subject(s)
Neoplasms/genetics , Neoplasms/immunology , RNA-Binding Proteins/immunology , RNA/genetics , Animals , Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic , Humans , Immunity, Innate , Neoplasms/virology , RNA/immunology , Tumor Necrosis Factor Decoy Receptors/immunologyABSTRACT
Bis(dithiolene)tungsten complexes, W(VI)O2 (L = dithiolene)2 and W(IV)O (L = dithiolene)2, which mimic the active site of formate dehydrogenases, have been characterized by cyclic voltammetry and controlled potential electrolysis in acetonitrile. They are shown to be able to catalyze the electroreduction of protons into hydrogen in acidic organic media, with good Faradaic yields (75-95%) and good activity (rate constants of 100 s(-1)), with relatively high overpotentials (700 mV). They also catalyze proton reduction into hydrogen upon visible light irradiation, in combination with [Ru(bipyridine)3](2+) as a photosensitizer and ascorbic acid as a sacrificial electron donor. On the basis of detailed DFT calculations, a reaction mechanism is proposed in which the starting W(VI)O2 (L = dithiolene)2 complex acts as a precatalyst and hydrogen is further formed from a key reduced W-hydroxo-hydride intermediate.
Subject(s)
Biomimetics , Electrochemical Techniques , Hydrogen/chemistry , Organometallic Compounds/chemistry , Quantum Theory , Sulfhydryl Compounds/chemistry , Tungsten/chemistry , Catalysis , Formate Dehydrogenases/chemistry , Formate Dehydrogenases/metabolism , Molecular Structure , Photochemical Processes , ProtonsABSTRACT
Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase-13 (PARP13/ZAP/ZC3HAV1) is an antiviral factor, active against specific RNA viruses such as murine leukaemia virus, Sindbis virus and human immunodeficiency virus. During infection, PARP13 binds viral RNA via its four CCCH-type zinc-finger domains and targets it for degradation by recruiting cellular messenger RNA (mRNA) decay factors such as the exosome complex and XRN1. Here we show that PARP13 binds to and regulates cellular mRNAs in the absence of viral infection. Knockdown of PARP13 results in the misregulation of hundreds of transcripts. Among the most upregulated transcripts is TRAILR4 that encodes a decoy receptor for TRAIL-a pro-apoptotic cytokine that is a promising target for the therapeutic inhibition of cancers. PARP13 destabilizes TRAILR4 mRNA post-transcriptionally in an exosome-dependent manner by binding to a region in its 3' untranslated region. As a consequence, PARP13 represses TRAILR4 expression and increases cell sensitivity to TRAIL-mediated apoptosis, acting as a key regulator of the cellular response to TRAIL.
Subject(s)
Apoptosis/physiology , RNA Processing, Post-Transcriptional/physiology , RNA, Messenger/physiology , RNA-Binding Proteins/physiology , Transcription, Genetic/physiology , Tumor Necrosis Factor Decoy Receptors/physiology , Apoptosis/genetics , Cell Line , Exosomes/genetics , Exosomes/physiology , Gene Knockout Techniques , HeLa Cells , Humans , RNA Processing, Post-Transcriptional/genetics , RNA, Messenger/genetics , RNA-Binding Proteins/genetics , Transcription, Genetic/genetics , Transcriptome/genetics , Transcriptome/physiology , Tumor Necrosis Factor Decoy Receptors/genetics , Zinc Fingers/genetics , Zinc Fingers/physiologyABSTRACT
The poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) family of proteins use NAD(+) as their substrate to modify acceptor proteins with ADP-ribose modifications. The function of most PARPs under physiological conditions is unknown. Here, to better understand this protein family, we systematically analyse the cell cycle localization of each PARP and of poly(ADP-ribose), a product of PARP activity, then identify the knockdown phenotype of each protein and perform secondary assays to elucidate function. We show that most PARPs are cytoplasmic, identify cell cycle differences in the ratio of nuclear to cytoplasmic poly(ADP-ribose) and identify four phenotypic classes of PARP function. These include the regulation of membrane structures, cell viability, cell division and the actin cytoskeleton. Further analysis of PARP14 shows that it is a component of focal adhesion complexes required for proper cell motility and focal adhesion function. In total, we show that PARP proteins are critical regulators of eukaryotic physiology.
Subject(s)
Cell Physiological Phenomena , Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerases/metabolism , Cell Adhesion , Cell Cycle , Cell Movement , Cell Nucleus/enzymology , Cell Shape , Focal Adhesions/metabolism , Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic , Gene Knockdown Techniques , HeLa Cells , Humans , Phenotype , Poly Adenosine Diphosphate Ribose/metabolism , Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerases/genetics , Protein Transport , RNA, Messenger/genetics , RNA, Messenger/metabolismABSTRACT
Herein, the ligand-based concept of shortening quintuple bonds and some of its limitations are reported. In dichromium-diguanidinato complexes, the length of the quintuple bond can be influenced by the substituent at the central carbon atom of the used ligand. The guanidinato ligand with a 2,6-dimethylpiperidine backbone was found to be the optimal ligand. The reduction of its chromium(II) chloride-ate complex gave a quintuply bonded bimetallic complex with a Cr-Cr distance of 1.7056 (12)â Å. Its metal-metal distance, the shortest observed in any stable compound yet, is of essentially the same length as that of the longest alkane C-C bond (1.704 (4)â Å). Both molecules, the alkane and the Cr complex, are of remarkable stability. Furthermore, an unsupported Cr(I) dimer with an effective bond order (EBO) of 1.25 between the two metal atoms, indicated by CASSCF/CASPT2 calculations, was isolated as a by-product. The formation of this by-product indicates that with a certain bulk of the guanidinato ligand, other coordination isomers become relevant. Over-reduction takes place, and a chromium-arene sandwich complex structurally related to the classic dibenzene chromium complex was observed, even when bulkier substituents are introduced at the central carbon atom of the used guanidinato ligand.
ABSTRACT
Packing constraints and precise placement of functional groups are the reason that organic molecules in the crystalline state often display unusual physical or chemical properties not observed in solution. Here we report a single-crystal-to-single-crystal dimerization of a bromodiacetylene that involves unusually large atom displacements as well as the cleavage and formation of several bonds. Density functional theory computations support a mechanism in which the dimerization is initiated by a [2 + 1] photocycloaddition favoured by the nature of carbon-carbon short contacts in the crystal structure. The reaction proceeded up to the theoretical degree of conversion without loss of crystallinity, and it was also performed on a preparative scale with good yield. Moreover, it represents the first synthetic pathway to (E)-1,2-dibromo-1,2-diethynylethenes, which could serve as synthetic intermediates for the preparation of molecular carbon scaffolds. Our findings both extend the scope of single-crystal-to-single-crystal reactions and highlight their potential as a synthetic tool for complex transformations.
ABSTRACT
Norrish-type-II reaction on a semiquinone radical: stable semiquinone radicals serve as novel molecular platforms on which a Norrish-type-II photoreaction can be initiated. A detailed reaction scheme involving a 1,5-hydrogen transfer followed by a cyclization step that finally leads to a new C-C bond formation could be verified. Transient absorption spectroscopy and DFT calculations trace convincingly the intermediates and transition states along the reaction path.
ABSTRACT
The photochemical reactivity of osmocene in a biphasic water-organic solvent system has been investigated to probe its water splitting properties. The photoreduction of aqueous protons to hydrogen under anaerobic conditions induced by osmocene dissolved in 1,2-dichloroethane and the subsequent water splitting by the osmocenium metal-metal dimer formed during H(2) production were studied by electrochemical methods, UV-visible spectrometry, gas chromatography, and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Density functional theory computations were used to validate the reaction pathways.