A mixed oxidation state, binuclear iron complex containing an unsymmetrically coordinating ligand. A ligand-induced switch in redox behavior.

Binuclear [FeIIFeIII(BMDP)(O2CPh)3](BF4) (1) was obtained by treating an acetonitrile solution of the fully reduced [FeIIFeII(BMDP)(O2CPh)(MeOH)1.5(H2O)0.5](BF4)2 with 5 equiv of benzoate and then exposing the mixture to oxygen. Examination of [FeIIFeIII(BMDP)(O2CPh)3](BF4) by X-ray crystallography reveals the localized, mixed oxidation state nature of the cation in the solid state. 1H NMR and magnetic susceptibility data for the new complex are also reported. In the absence of dioxygen and other oxidants, treatment of FeIIFeII(BMDP)(O2CPh)(MeOH)1.5(H2O)0.5](BF4)2 with excess benzoate results in the formation of [FeIIFeII(BMDP)(O2CPh)2](BF4)2, which has also been characterized by X-ray diffraction.

Dimeric W3SO3 cluster complexes: synthesis, characterization, and potential applications as X-ray contrast agents.

Our continued research on the use of heavy metal cluster complexes as a new class of X-ray contrast agents in medical diagnostic imaging is described. A series of 2:3 cluster-ligand complexes, [(W(IV)3SO3)2L3]4- (L = linear polyaminopolycarboxylate ligands), were isolated from the reaction of aqua ion [W(IV)3SO3(H2O)9]4- (prepared in large quantities through an improved literature process) with respective ligands in refluxing DMF. The salts of [(W(IV)3SO3)2L3]4- complex anions were fully characterized using routine techniques such as elemental analysis, MS, HPLC, UV-vis, IR, and NMR. The solid structures of two complex anions, [(W(IV)3SO3)2(PDTA)3]4- and [(W(IV)3SO3)2(HO-PDTA)3]4-, were determined by X-ray crystallography. They are the first examples wherein two W(IV)3SO3 clusters are complexed and linked by three ligands that contain two terminal iminodiacetate (bis-IDA) groups. Complexation of the unstable aqua ion [W(IV)3SO3(H2O)9]4- with ligands has imparted desired biological compatibility to the tungsten metal cluster. These complexes are stable and highly soluble in H2O. The potential utility of such tungsten cluster complexes as X-ray contrast agents was evaluated in both in vitro and in vivo animal studies. In addition, the syntheses of several new linear polyaminopolycarboxylate ligands used in this study are reported.

Cultivation of Methylosinus trichosporium OB3b: III. production of particulate methane monooxygenase in continuous culture.

Continous culture experiments with the obligatory methanotroph, Methylosinus trichosporium OB3b, were conducted to study the whole-cell methane monooxygenase (MMO) and nitrogenase activities in a nitrate minimal salts medium under oxygen-limited conditions with methane as the carbone source. The important variables investigated were the feed medium concentrations of copper and nitrate, CO(2) addition, the agitation speed, and the dilution rate. M. trichosporium OB3b required quantitative amounts of copper (2.6 x 10(-4) g Cu/g dry cell Wt) for the exclusive production of particulate MMo during continuous culture growth. When the feed medium nitrate concentration was varied in the range of 5-50 mM, the whole-cell specific pMMO activity exhibited a maximum at 40 mM. The elimination of external CO(2) gassing decreased pMMO activity by more than 30%. The steady-state cell density increased continuously over a 300-700 rpm range of agitation speed, whereas, the pMMO activity became maximal at 400 rpm. Also, the pMMO activity increased with the dilution rate up to 0.06 h(-1) and remained constant thereafter. Maximal continuous pMMO productivity was, thus, achieved in Higgin's medium containing 10 microM Cu, 80 microM Fe, and 40 mM nitrate with an agitation speed of 500 rpm and a dilution rate of 0.06 h(-1). Nitrogenase activity, on the other hand, increased over a feed medium copper concentration of 2-15 microM, falling sharply at 20 microM, and it exhibited a minimum at 20 mM when the feed medium nitrate concentration was varied.

Batch cultivation of Methylosinus trichosporium OB3b: II. Production of particulate methane monooxygenase.

The obligatory methanotroph, Methylosinus trichosporium OB3b, was studied to optimize the batch culture conditions for the formation of particulate methane monooxygenase (pMMO) in a nitrate minimal salts medium. The important medium components investigated were copper, carbon dioxide, and nitrate. The whole-cell specific pMMO activity decreased sharply with increasing copper concentrations in the range of 10-40 microM and remained constant upon further increases of the copper concentration to 120 microM. The cell growth rate (micro), on the other hand, decreased over the entire range (10-120 microM) of copper concentrations tested. When pMMO was produced in a bioreactor with an optimal initial copper concentration of 10 microM, M. trichosporium OB3b exhibited a much faster overall growth rate and a higher whole-cell propene epoxidation activity compared to our earlier study, in which soluble methane monooxygenase (sMMO) was produced with copper-deficient medium. The addition of external carbon dioxide to the bioreactor culture eliminated an initial lag period in the cell growth. When the standard culture medium nitrate concentration (10 mM) was depleted, the pMMO activity, but not the growth rate, decreased rapidly. The whole-cell specific pMMO activity could be maintained by subsequent supplementation of nitrate. A 4-fold higher initial culture medium nitrate concentration of 40 mM, however, resulted in slower cell growth and lower pMMO activity. These observations demonstrate that, in addition to affecting the exclusive production of pMMO, copper also has an important previously unrecognized role in enhancing the growth rate of M. trichosporium OB3b. They also indicate that for the optimal batch production of pMMO with the minimal medium under study, nitrate should be supplied intermittently during the course of cultivation until other culture medium components become growth-limiting.

Batch cultivation of Methylosinus trichosporium OB3b. I: Production of soluble methane monooxygenase.

Methanotrophs have promising applications in bioremediation and in the production of fuel-related chemicals due to their nonspecific enzyme, methane monooxygenase (MMO). The optimal conditions for cell growth and production of the soluble from of MMO (sMMO) were determined from batch cultivations of an obligatory methanotrophs, Methylosinus trichosporium OB3b, in shake flasks and a 5-L bioreactor. It was confirmed that a copper deficiency is essential for the formation of the cytoplasmic sMNO. Optimum cell growth without added copper was observed at pH 6.0-7.0, temperature of 30-34 degrees C, and phosphate concentration of 10-40 mM. In the bioreactor experiments, external CO(2) addition eliminated the long lag period observed in the absence of added CuSO(4), i.e., prior to the exponential cell growth phase. When methane was continuously supplied, the profile of the cell growth showed two different phases depending on the availability of nitrate, an initial fast exponential growth phase (specific growth rate, micro = 0.08 h(-1)) and a later slow growth phase (micro = 0.008 h(-1)). The cell density at the transition from a fast to a slow growth rate was proportional to the initial medium nitrate concentration in the range 5-20 mM and cell yield was estimated to be 7.14 g dry cell wt/g N. Whole-cell sMNO activity remained essentially constant regardless of the growth rate unit cell growth stopped. With an initial medium iron concentration below 40 mM, an abrupt decrease in sMNO activity was observed. The lower sMNO activity could be restored by supplying additional iron to the bioreactor culture. Cell yield on iron was estimated to be 1.3 x 10(3) g dry cell wt/g Fe.