Iron nitrosyl "natural" porphyrinates: does the porphyrin matter?

The synthesis and spectroscopic characterization of three five-coordinate nitrosyliron(II) complexes, [Fe(Porph)(NO)], are reported. These three nitrosyl derivatives, where Porph represents protoporphyrin IX dimethyl ester, mesoporphyrin IX dimethyl ester, or deuteroporphyrin IX dimethyl ester, display notable differences in their properties relative to the symmetrical synthetic porphyrins such as OEP and TPP. The N-O stretching frequencies are in the range of 1651-1660 cm(-1), frequencies that are lower than those of synthetic porphyrin derivatives. Mössbauer spectra obtained in both zero and applied magnetic field show that the quadrupole splitting values are slightly larger than those of known synthetic porphyrins. The electronic structures of these naturally occurring porphyrin derivatives are thus seen to be consistently different from those of the synthetic derivatives, the presumed consequence of the asymmetric peripheral substituent pattern. The molecular structure of [Fe(PPIX-DME)(NO)] has been determined by X-ray crystallography. Although disorder of the axial nitrosyl ligand limits the structural quality, this derivative appears to show the same subtle structural features as previously characterized five-coordinate nitrosyls.

Metalloporphyrin mixed-valence π-cation radicals: [Fe(oxoOEC(•/2))(Cl)]2SbCl6, structure, magnetic properties, and near-IR spectra.

The preparation and characterization of a mixed-valence π-cation radical derivative of an iron(III) oxochlorinato complex is reported. The new complex has been synthesized by the one-electron oxidation of a pair of [Fe(oxoOEC)(Cl)] molecules to form the dimeric cation [Fe(oxoOEC)(Cl)]2⁺. The cation has been characterized by X-ray analysis, Mössbauer spectroscopy, UV-vis and near-IR spectroscopy, and magnetic susceptibility measurements from 6-300 K. The crystal structure shows that the two rings have a smaller overlap area than those of the formally related nickel and copper octaethylporphinate derivatives, reflecting the larger steric congestion at the periphery in part of the oxochlorin rings. The Mössbauer data is consistent with two equivalent iron(III) centers. The unpaired electron is delocalized over the two oxochlorin rings and mediates a strong antiferromagnetic interaction between the high-spin iron(III) centers.

Structural and magnetic effects of meso-substitution in alkyl-substituted metalloporphyrinate pi-cation radicals: characterization of [Fe(TalkylP*)(Cl)]SbCl6 (alkyl = ethyl and n-propyl).

We report the preparation and characterization of two meso-alkyl substituted porphyrin pi-cation radical derivatives, [Fe(TalkylP(*))(Cl)]SbCl(6) (alkyl = ethyl or propyl). Both complexes have been characterized by UV/vis/near-IR, IR, and Mossbauer spectroscopy, temperature-dependent solid-state magnetic susceptibility measurements, and X-ray structure determinations. All data for both oxidized species are consistent with the formulation of the complexes as ring-oxidized iron(III) porphyrin species. The molecular structures of the two five-coordinate species have the typical square-pyramidal coordination group of high-spin iron(III) derivatives. The crystal structures also reveal that the species form cofacial pi-pi dimers with lateral shifts of 1.44 A and 3.22 A, respectively, for the propyl and ethyl radical derivatives. Both radicals exhibit porphyrin cores with alternating bond distance patterns in the inner 16-membered ring. In addition, [Fe(TEtP(*))(Cl)]SbCl(6) and [Fe(TPrP(*))(Cl)]SbCl(6) have been characterized by temperature-dependent (6-300 K) magnetic susceptibility studies, the best fitting of the temperature-dependent moments reveal strong coupling between iron spins and porphyrin radical, and a smaller magnitude of antiferromagnetic coupling between ring radicals, which are opposite to those found in the five-coordinate iron(III) OEP radicals. The differences in structure and properties of the cation radical meso-alkyl and beta-alkyl derivatives possibly reflect differences in properties of a(1u)- and a(2u)-forming radicals.

Intermolecular dynamics in crystalline iron octaethylporphyrin (FeOEP).

The new technique of nuclear resonance vibrational spectroscopy (NRVS) has increased the range and quality of dynamical data from Fe-containing molecules that when combined with Raman and infrared spectroscopies impose stricter constraints on normal mode simulations, especially at lower frequencies. Going beyond the usual single molecule approximation, a classical normal-mode analysis that includes intermolecular coupling and the full crystalline symmetry is found to produce a better fit with fewer free parameters for the heme compound iron octaethylporphyrin (FeOEP), using NRVS data from polycrystalline material. Off-diagonal force constants were completely unnecessary, indicating that their role in previous single molecule fits was just to emulate intermolecular coupling. Sound velocities deduced from the calculated phonon dispersion curves are compared to NRVS measurements to further constrain the intermolecular force constants. The NRVS data by themselves are insufficient to rigorously determine all unknown force constants for molecules of this size, but the improved crystal model fit indicates the necessity of including intermolecular interactions for normal-mode analyses.

Quantitative vibrational dynamics of iron in carbonyl porphyrins.

We use nuclear resonance vibrational spectroscopy and computational predictions based on density functional theory (DFT) to explore the vibrational dynamics of (57)Fe in porphyrins that mimic the active sites of histidine-ligated heme proteins complexed with carbon monoxide. Nuclear resonance vibrational spectroscopy yields the complete vibrational spectrum of a Mössbauer isotope, and provides a valuable probe that is not only selective for protein active sites but quantifies the mean-squared amplitude and direction of the motion of the probe nucleus, in addition to vibrational frequencies. Quantitative comparison of the experimental results with DFT calculations provides a detailed, rigorous test of the vibrational predictions, which in turn provide a reliable description of the observed vibrational features. In addition to the well-studied stretching vibration of the Fe-CO bond, vibrations involving the Fe-imidazole bond, and the Fe-N(pyr) bonds to the pyrrole nitrogens of the porphyrin contribute prominently to the observed experimental signal. All of these frequencies show structural sensitivity to the corresponding bond lengths, but previous studies have failed to identify the latter vibrations, presumably because the coupling to the electronic excitation is too small in resonance Raman measurements. We also observe the FeCO bending vibrations, which are not Raman active for these unhindered model compounds. The observed Fe amplitude is strongly inconsistent with three-body oscillator descriptions of the FeCO fragment, but agrees quantitatively with DFT predictions. Over the past decade, quantum chemical calculations have suggested revised estimates of the importance of steric distortion of the bound CO in preventing poisoning of heme proteins by carbon monoxide. Quantitative agreement with the predicted frequency, amplitude, and direction of Fe motion for the FeCO bending vibrations provides direct experimental support for the quantum chemical description of the energetics of the FeCO unit.

Structural and Physical Characterization of (Nitrato)iron(III) Porphyrinates [Fe(por)(NO(3))] - Variable Coordination of Nitrate.

We report the X-ray crystal structures of two different iron(III) porphyrinates: [Fe(OEP)(NO(3))] and [Fe(TPP)(NO(3))]. The first complex has the nitrate ion coordinated by a single oxygen atom while the second derivative has the nitrate coordinated in a symmetric bidentate fashion. This latter structure is a redetermination that shows some differences from an earlier structure; the difference appears to be the result of an unrecognized nitrate ion disorder in the earlier structure determination. Changes in physical properties of three species ([Fe(TPivP)(NO(3))], [Fe(OEP)(NO(3))], and [Fe(TPP)(NO(3))] as a function of coordination mode were examined by Mössbauer and EPR spectroscopies; EPR spectra appear to be most sensitive to the change in coordination mode.

Vibrational spectroscopy and normal-mode analysis of Fe(II) octaethylporphyrin.

The normal-mode spectrum for the four-coordinated heme compound Fe(II) octaethylporphyrin, Fe(OEP), has been determined by refining force constants to the experimental Fe vibrational density of states measured with nuclear resonance vibrational spectroscopy (NRVS). Convergence of the calculated spectrum to the data was achieved by first imposing D4 symmetry on the model structure as well as the force constants, progressively including different internal coordinates of motion, then allowing the true Ci (or S2) point group symmetry of the C(i)1 Fe(OEP) crystal structure. The NRVS-refined normal modes are in good agreement with Raman and IR spectra at high frequencies. Prior density functional theory predictions for a model porphyrin are similar to the core modes computed with the best-fit force field, but significant differences between D4 and Ci modes underline the sensitivity of porphyrin Fe normal modes to structural details. Some differences between the Ci best fit and the NRVS data can be attributed to intermolecular contacts not included in the normal-mode analysis.

Vibrational Dynamics of Biological Molecules: Multi-quantum Contributions.

High-resolution X-ray measurements near a nuclear resonance reveal the complete vibrational spectrum of the probe nucleus. Because of this, nuclear resonance vibrational spectroscopy (NRVS) is a uniquely quantitative probe of the vibrational dynamics of reactive iron sites in proteins and other complex molecules. Our measurements of vibrational fundamentals have revealed both frequencies and amplitudes of (57)Fe vibrations in proteins and model compounds. Information on the direction of Fe motion has also been obtained from measurements on oriented single crystals, and provides an essential test of normal mode predictions. Here, we report the observation of weaker two-quantum vibrational excitations (overtones and combinations) for compounds that mimic the active site of heme proteins. The predicted intensities depend strongly on the direction of Fe motion. We compare the observed features with predictions based on the observed fundamentals, using information on the direction of Fe motion obtained either from DFT predictions or from single crystal measurements. Two-quantum excitations may become a useful tool to identify the directions of the Fe oscillations when single crystals are not available.

Five-coordinate Fe(III)NO and Fe(II)CO porphyrinates: where are the electrons and why does it matter?

Recent years have seen dramatic growth in our understanding of the biological roles of nitric oxide (NO). Yet, the fundamental underpinnings of its reactivities with transition metal centers in proteins and enzymes, the stabilities of their structures, and the relationships between structure and reactivity remains, to a significant extent, elusive. This is especially true for the so-called ferric heme nitrosyls ([FeNO](6) in the Enemark-Feltham scheme). The Fe-CO and C-O bond strengths in the isoelectronic ferrous carbonyl complexes are widely recognized to be inversely correlated and sensitive to structural, environmental, and electronic factors. On the other hand, the Fe-NO and N-O bonds in [FeNO](6) heme complexes exhibit seemingly inconsistent behavior in response to varying structure and environment. This report contains resonance Raman and density functional theory results that suggest a new model for FeNO bonding in five-coordinate [FeNO](6) complexes. On the basis of resonance Raman and FTIR data, a direct correlation between the nu(Fe)(-)(NO) and nu(N)(-)(O) frequencies of [Fe(OEP)NO](ClO(4)) and [Fe(OEP)NO](ClO(4)).CHCl(3) (two crystal forms of the same complex) has been established. Density functional theory calculations show that the relationship between Fe-NO and N-O bond strengths is responsive to FeNO electron density in three molecular orbitals. The highest energy orbital of the three is sigma-antibonding with respect to the entire FeNO unit. The other two comprise a lower-energy, degenerate, or nearly degenerate pair that is pi-bonding with respect to Fe-NO and pi-antibonding with respect to N-O. The relative sensitivities of the electron density distributions in these orbitals are shown to be consistent with all published indicators of Fe-N-O bond strengths and angles, including the examples reported here.

Quantitative vibrational dynamics of iron in nitrosyl porphyrins.

We use quantitative experimental and theoretical approaches to characterize the vibrational dynamics of the Fe atom in porphyrins designed to model heme protein active sites. Nuclear resonance vibrational spectroscopy (NRVS) yields frequencies, amplitudes, and directions for 57Fe vibrations in a series of ferrous nitrosyl porphyrins, which provide a benchmark for evaluation of quantum chemical vibrational calculations. Detailed normal mode predictions result from DFT calculations on ferrous nitrosyl tetraphenylporphyrin Fe(TPP)(NO), its cation [Fe(TPP)(NO)]+, and ferrous nitrosyl porphine Fe(P)(NO). Differing functionals lead to significant variability in the predicted Fe-NO bond length and frequency for Fe(TPP)(NO). Otherwise, quantitative comparison of calculated and measured Fe dynamics on an absolute scale reveals good overall agreement, suggesting that DFT calculations provide a reliable guide to the character of observed Fe vibrational modes. These include a series of modes involving Fe motion in the plane of the porphyrin, which are rarely identified using infrared and Raman spectroscopies. The NO binding geometry breaks the four-fold symmetry of the Fe environment, and the resulting frequency splittings of the in-plane modes predicted for Fe(TPP)(NO) agree with observations. In contrast to expectations of a simple three-body model, mode energy remains localized on the FeNO fragment for only two modes, an N-O stretch and a mode with mixed Fe-NO stretch and FeNO bend character. Bending of the FeNO unit also contributes to several of the in-plane modes, but no primary FeNO bending mode is identified for Fe(TPP)(NO). Vibrations associated with hindered rotation of the NO and heme doming are predicted at low frequencies, where Fe motion perpendicular to the heme is identified experimentally at 73 and 128 cm-1. Identification of the latter two modes is a crucial first step toward quantifying the reactive energetics of Fe porphyrins and heme proteins.

Five- to six-coordination in (nitrosyl)iron(II) porphyrinates: effects of binding the sixth ligand.

We report structural and spectroscopic data for a series of six-coordinate (nitrosyl)iron(II) porphyrinates. The structures of three tetraphenylporphyrin complexes [Fe(TPP)(NO)(L)], where L = 4-(dimethylamino)pyridine, 1-methylimidazole, 4-methylpiperidine, are reported here to a high degree of precision and allow observation of several previously unobserved structural features. The tight range of bonding parameters for the [FeNO] moiety for these three complexes suggests a canonical representation for six-coordinate systems (Fe-N(p) = 2.007 A, Fe-N(NO) = 1.753 A, angle FeNO = 138.5 degrees ). Comparison of these data with those obtained previously for five-coordinate systems allows the precise determination of the structural effects of binding a sixth ligand. These include lengthening of the Fe-N(NO) bond and a decrease in the Fe-N-O angle. Several other aspects of the geometry of these systems are also discussed, including the first examples of off-axis tilting of a nitrosyl ligand in a six-coordinate [FeNO](7) heme system. We also report the first examples of Mössbauer studies for these complexes. Measurements have been made in several applied magnetic fields as well as in zero field. The spectra differ from those of their five-coordinate analogues. To obtain reasonable fits to applied magnetic field data, rotation of the electrical field gradient is required, consistent with differing g-tensor orientations in the five- vs six-coordinate species.

NO orientation and tilting in (nitrosyl)iron(II) deuteroporphyrin IX.

To investigate issues concerning the coordination of the nitrosyl ligand in naturally occurring hemes, we report the spectroscopy and X-ray structure of five-coordinate [Fe(Deut)(NO)]. Bonding parameters are comparable with those observed for previously characterized synthetic porphyrin complexes of this type. The asymmetric pattern of the peripheral substitution of the porphyrin core allows us to examine aspects associated with ligand binding and orientation previously unobserved in the symmetrical synthetic porphyrins. The nitrosyl is found to be oriented in the direction of the less basic pyrrole rings. This observed orientation of the NO is considered in reference to those orientations reported in a series of related protein structures. Off-axis tilting, a property associated with ordered (nitrosyl)iron(II) porphyrinates, is also investigated.

Iron normal mode dynamics in (nitrosyl)iron(II)tetraphenylporphyrin from X-ray nuclear resonance data.

The complete iron atom vibrational spectrum has been obtained by refinement of normal mode calculations to nuclear inelastic x-ray absorption data from (nitrosyl)iron(II)tetraphenylporphyrin, FeTPP(NO), a useful model for heme dynamics in myoglobin and other heme proteins. Nuclear resonance vibrational spectroscopy (NRVS) provides a direct measurement of the frequency and iron amplitude for all normal modes involving significant displacement of (57)Fe. The NRVS measurements on isotopically enriched single crystals permit determination of heme in-plane and out-of-plane modes. Excellent agreement between the calculated and experimental values of frequency and iron amplitude for each mode is achieved by a force-field refinement. Significantly, we find that the presence of the phenyl groups and the NO ligand leads to substantial mixing of the porphyrin core modes. This first picture of the entire iron vibrational density of states for a porphyrin compound provides an improved model for the role of iron atom dynamics in the biological functioning of heme proteins.