Sulfur K-edge X-ray absorption spectroscopy and density functional calculations on Mo(IV) and Mo(VI)=O bis-dithiolenes: insights into the mechanism of oxo transfer in DMSO reductase and related functional analogues.

Sulfur K-edge X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) and density functional theory (DFT) calculations have been used to determine the electronic structures of two Mo bis-dithiolene complexes, [Mo(OSi)(bdt)(2)](1-) and [MoO(OSi)(bdt)(2)](1-), where OSi = [OSiPh(2)(t)Bu](1-) and bdt = benzene-1,2-dithiolate(2-), that model the Mo(IV) and Mo(VI)=O states of the DMSO reductase family of molybdenum enzymes. These results show that the Mo(IV) complex undergoes metal-based oxidation unlike Mo tris-dithiolene complexes, indicating that the dithiolene ligands are behaving innocently. Experimentally validated calculations have been extended to model the oxo transfer reaction coordinate using dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) as a substrate. The reaction proceeds through a transition state (TS1) to an intermediate with DMSO weakly bound, followed by a subsequent transition state (TS2) which is the largest barrier of the reaction. The factors that control the energies of these transition states, the nature of the oxo transfer process, and the role of the dithiolene ligand are discussed.

A biomimetic approach to oxidized sites in the xanthine oxidoreductase family: synthesis and stereochemistry of tungsten(VI) analogue complexes.

Two series of square pyramidal (SP) monodithiolene complexes, [M (VI)O 3- n S n (bdt)] (2-) and their silylated derivatives [M (VI)O 2- n S n (OSiR 3)(bdt)] (-) ( n = 0, M = Mo or W; n = 1, 2, M = W), synthesized in this and previous work, constitute the basic molecules in a biomimetic approach to structural analogues of the oxidized sites in the xanthine oxidoreductase enzyme family. Benzene-1,2-dithiolate (bdt) simulates native pyranopterindithiolene chelation in the basal plane, tungsten instead of the native metal molybdenum was employed in sulfido complexes to avoid autoreduction, and silylation models protonation. The complexes [MO 3(bdt)] (2-) and [MO 2(OSiR 3)(bdt)] (-) represent inactive sites, while [MO 2S(bdt)] (2-) and [MOS(OSiR 3)(bdt)] (-), with basal sulfido and silyloxo ligands, are the first analogues of the catalytic sites. Also prepared were [MOS 2(bdt)] (2-) and [MS 2(OSiR 3)(bdt)] (-), with basal sulfido and silyloxo ligands. Complexes are described by angular parameters which reveal occasional distortions from idealized SP toward a trigonal bipyramidal (TBP) structure arising from crystal packing forces in crystalline Et 4N (+) salts. Miminized energy structures from DFT calculations are uniformly SP and reproduce experimental structures. For example, the correct structure is predicted for [WO 2S(bdt)] (2-), whose basal and apical sulfido diastereomers are potentially interconvertible through a low-lying TBP transition state for pseudorotation. The lowest energy tautomer of the protonated form is calculated to be [WOS(OH)(bdt)] (-), with basal sulfido and hydroxo ligands. Computational and experimental structures indicate that protein sites adopt intrinsic coordination geometries rather than those dictated by protein structure and environment.

Silylation, sulfidation, and benzene-1,2-dithiolate complexation reactions of oxo- and oxosulfidomolybdates(VI) and -tungstates(VI).

The synthesis and structures of two types of molecules are presented: [MVIO3 - nSn(OSiR2R')]1- (M = Mo, n = 0-3; M = W, n = 3) and [MVIO2(OSiR2R')(bdt)]1- (M = Mo, W; bdt = benzene-1,2-dithiolate). For both types, R2R' are Me3, Pri3, Ph3, Me2But and Ph2But. The complete series of oxo/sulfido/silyloxo molybdenum complexes has been prepared. Complexes with n = 0 are readily prepared by the silylation of Ag2MoO4 and sustain mono- or disulfidation with Ph3SiSH to form a species with n = 1 and n = 2, respectively. Complexes with n = 3 are accessible by the silylation of [MOS3]2-. Structures of the representative series members [MoO3(OSiPh2But)]1-, [MoO2S(OSiPh3)]1-, [MoOS2(OSiPri3)]1-, [MoS3(OSiPh2But)]1-, and also [WS3(OSiMe2But)]1-, all with tetrahedral stereochemistry, are presented. Benzene-1,2-dithiolate complexes are prepared by the reaction of [MoO3(OSiR2R')]1-with the dithiol or by the silylation of previously reported [MO3(bdt)]2-. The structures of [MoO2(OSiPh2But)(bdt)]1- and [WO2(OSiPri3)(bdt)]1- conform to square-pyramidal stereochemistry with an oxo ligand in the apical position. The role of these complexes in the preparation of site analogues of the xanthine oxidoreductase enzyme family is noted. The sulfidation reactions reported here point to the utility of Ph3SiSH and Pri3SiSH as reagents for MoVI-based oxo-for-sulfido conversions.

Analogue reaction systems of selenate reductase.

Analogue reaction systems of selenate reductase, which reduces substrate in the overall enzymatic reaction SeO4(2-) + 2H+ + 2e- --> SeO3(2-) + H2O, have been developed using bis(dithiolene) complexes of Mo(IV) and W(IV). On the basis of the results of EXAFS analysis of the oxidized and reduced enzyme, the minimal reaction Mo(IV)OH + SeO4(2-) --> Mo(VI)O(OH) + SeO3(2-) is probable. The square pyramidal complexes [M(OMe)(S2C2Me2)2](1-) (M = Mo, W) were prepared as structural analogues of the reduced enzyme site. The systems, [ML(S2C2Me2)2](1-)/SeO4(2-) (L = OMe, OPh, SC6H2-2,4,6-Pr(i)3) in acetonitrile, cleanly reduce selenate to selenite in second-order reactions whose negative entropies of activation implicate associative transition states. Rate constants at 298 K are in the 10(-2)-10(-4) M(-1) s(-1) range with DeltaS++ = -12 to -34 eu. When rate constants are compared with previous data for the reduction of (CH2)4SO, Ph3AsO, and nitrate by oxygen atom transfer, reactivity trends dependent on the metal, axial ligand L, and substrate are identified. As in all other cases of substrate reduction by oxo transfer, the kinetic metal effect k(2)W > k(2)Mo holds. A proposal from primary sequence alignments suggesting that a conserved Asp residue is a likely ligand in the type II enzymes in the DMSO reductase family has been pursued by synthesis of the [Mo(IV)(O2CR)(S2C2Me2)2](1-) (R = Ph, Bu(t)) complexes. The species display symmetrical eta2-carboxylate binding and distorted trigonal prismatic stereochemistry. They serve as possible structural analogues of the reduced sites of nitrate, selenate, and perchlorate reductases under the proposed aspartate coordination. Carboxylate binding has been crystallographically demonstrated for one nitrate reductase, but not for the other two enzymes.

Comparative kinetics and mechanism of oxygen and sulfur atom transfer reactions mediated by bis(dithiolene) complexes of molybdenum and tungsten.

Although the kinetics and mechanism of metal-mediated oxygen atom (oxo) transfer reactions have been examined in some detail, sulfur atom (sulfido) transfer reactions have not been similarly scrutinized. The reactions [M(IV)(O-p-C(6)H(4)X')(S(2)C(2)Me(2))(2)](1-) + Ph(3)AsQ --> [M(VI)Q(O-p-C(6)H(4)X')(S(2)C(2)Me(2))(2)](1-) + Ph(3)As (M = Mo, W; Q = O, S) with variable substituent X' have been investigated in acetonitrile in order to determine the relative rates of oxo versus sulfido transfer at constant structure (square pyramidal) of the atom acceptor and of atom transfer at constant structure of the atom donor and metal variability of the atom acceptor. All reactions exhibit second-order kinetics and entropies of activation (-25 to -45 eu) consistent with an associative transition state. At parity of atom acceptor, k(2)(S) (0.25-0.75 M(-1)s(-1)) > k(2)(O) (0.023-0.060 M(-1)s(-1)) with M = Mo and k(2)(S) (4.1-66.7 M(-1)s(-1)) > k(2)(O) (1.8-9.8 M(-1)s(-1)) with M = W. At constant atom donor and X', k(2)(W) > k(2)(Mo) with reactivity ratios k(2)(W)/k(2)(Mo) = 78-184 (Q = O) and 16-89 (Q = S). Rate constants refer to 298 K. At constant M and Q, rates increase in the order X' = Me less, similar OMe < H < Br < COMe < CN; increasing electron-withdrawing propensity accelerates reaction rates. The probable transition state involves significant Ph(3)AsQ...M bond-making (X' rate trend) and concomitant As-Q bond weakening (bond energy order As-O > As-S). Orders of oxo and sulfido donor ability of substrates and complexes are deduced on the basis of qualitative reactivity properties determined here and elsewhere. This work complements previous studies of the reaction systems [M(IV)(O-p-C(6)H(4)X')(S(2)C(2)Me(2))(2)](1-)/XO where the substrates are N-oxides and S-oxides and k(2)(W) > k(2)(Mo) at constant substrate also applies. The reaction order of substrates is Me(3)NO > (CH(2))(4)SO > Ph(3)AsS > Ph(3)AsO. This research provides the first quantitative information of metal-mediated sulfido transfer.