Protonation of a peroxodiiron(III) complex and conversion to a diiron(III/IV) intermediate: implications for proton-assisted O-O bond cleavage in nonheme diiron enzymes.

Oxygenation of a diiron(II) complex, [Fe(II)(2)(µ-OH)(2)(BnBQA)(2)(NCMe)(2)](2+) [2, where BnBQA is N-benzyl-N,N-bis(2-quinolinylmethyl)amine], results in the formation of a metastable peroxodiferric intermediate, 3. The treatment of 3 with strong acid affords its conjugate acid, 4, in which the (µ-oxo)(µ-1,2-peroxo)diiron(III) core of 3 is protonated at the oxo bridge. The core structures of 3 and 4 are characterized in detail by UV-vis, Mössbauer, resonance Raman, and X-ray absorption spectroscopies. Complex 4 is shorter-lived than 3 and decays to generate in ~20% yield of a diiron(III/IV) species 5, which can be identified by electron paramagnetic resonance and Mössbauer spectroscopies. This reaction sequence demonstrates for the first time that protonation of the oxo bridge of a (µ-oxo)(µ-1,2-peroxo)diiron(III) complex leads to cleavage of the peroxo O-O bond and formation of a high-valent diiron complex, thereby mimicking the steps involved in the formation of intermediate X in the activation cycle of ribonucleotide reductase.

One-electron oxidation of an oxoiron(IV) complex to form an [O═FeV═NR]+ center.

Oxoiron(V) species are postulated to be involved in the mechanisms of the arene cis-dihydroxylating Rieske dioxygenases and of bioinspired nonheme iron catalysts for alkane hydroxylation, olefin cis-dihydroxylation, and water oxidation. In an effort to obtain a synthetic oxoiron(V) complex, we report herein the one-electron oxidation of the S = 1 complex [Fe(IV)(O)(TMC)(NCCH(3))](2+) (1, where TMC is tetramethylcyclam) by treatment with tert -butyl hydroperoxide and strong base in acetonitrile to generate a metastable complex 2 at -44 °C, which has been characterized by UV-visible, resonance Raman, Mössbauer, and EPR methods. The defining spectroscopic characteristic of 2 is the unusual x/y anisotropy observed for the (57)Fe and (17)O A tensors associated with the high-valent Fe═O unit and for the (14)N A tensor of a ligand derived from acetonitrile. As shown by detailed density functional theory (DFT) calculations, the unusual x/y anisotropy observed can only arise from an iron center with substantially different spin populations in the d(xz) and d(yz) orbitals, which cannot correspond to an Fe(IV)═O unit but is fully consistent with an Fe(V) center, like that found for [Fe(V)(O)(TAML)](-) (where TAML is tetraamido macrocyclic ligand), the only well-characterized oxoiron(V) complex reported. Mass spectral analysis shows that the generation of 2 entails the addition of an oxygen atom to 1 and the loss of one positive charge. Taken together, the spectroscopic data and DFT calculations support the formulation of 2 as an iron(V) complex having axial oxo and acetylimido ligands, namely [Fe(V)(O)(TMC)(NC(O)CH(3))](+).

Spectroscopic and computational studies of (mu-oxo)(mu-1,2-peroxo)diiron(III) complexes of relevance to nonheme diiron oxygenase intermediates.

With the goal of gaining insight into the structures of peroxo intermediates observed for oxygen-activating nonheme diiron enzymes, a series of metastable synthetic diiron(III)-peroxo complexes with [Fe(III)(2)(mu-O)(mu-1,2-O(2))] cores has been characterized by X-ray absorption and resonance Raman spectroscopies, EXAFS analysis shows that this basic core structure gives rise to an Fe-Fe distance of approximately 3.15 A; the distance is decreased by 0.1 A upon introduction of an additional carboxylate bridge. In corresponding resonance Raman studies, vibrations arising from both the Fe-O-Fe and the Fe-O-O-Fe units can be observed. Importantly a linear correlation can be discerned between the nu(O-O) frequency of a complex and its Fe-Fe distance among the subset of complexes with [Fe(III)(2)(mu-OR)(mu-1,2-O(2))] cores (R = H, alkyl, aryl, or no substituent). These experimental studies are complemented by a normal coordinate analysis and DFT calculations.

Unexpected kinetic complexity in the formation of a nonheme oxoiron(IV) complex.

The stoichiometric formation of [FeIV(O)(TPA)(NCMe)]2+ (TPA = tris(2-pyridylmethyl)amine) from the reaction of [FeII(TPA)(NCMe)2]2+ with 1 equiv. peracetic acid exhibits more kinetic complexity than might be expected from the simple stoichiometry. A multiple-pathway mechanism with an FeIV-peracetic acid species, [(TPA)FeIV(O)((H)O3CR)]2+/+, as the primary oxidant is proposed.

(TAML)FeIV O complex in aqueous solution: synthesis and spectroscopic and computational characterization.

Recently, we reported the characterization of the S = (1)/ 2 complex [Fe (V)(O)B*] (-), where B* belongs to a family of tetraamido macrocyclic ligands (TAMLs) whose iron complexes activate peroxides for environmentally useful applications. The corresponding one-electron reduced species, [Fe (IV)(O)B*] (2-) ( 2), has now been prepared in >95% yield in aqueous solution at pH > 12 by oxidation of [Fe (III)(H 2O)B*] (-) ( 1), with tert-butyl hydroperoxide. At room temperature, the monomeric species 2 is in a reversible, pH-dependent equilibrium with dimeric species [B*Fe (IV)-O-Fe (IV)B*] (2-) ( 3), with a p K a near 10. In zero field, the Mössbauer spectrum of 2 exhibits a quadrupole doublet with Delta E Q = 3.95(3) mm/s and delta = -0.19(2) mm/s, parameters consistent with a S = 1 Fe (IV) state. Studies in applied magnetic fields yielded the zero-field splitting parameter D = 24(3) cm (-1) together with the magnetic hyperfine tensor A/ g nbeta n = (-27, -27, +2) T. Fe K-edge EXAFS analysis of 2 shows a scatterer at 1.69 (2) A, a distance consistent with a Fe (IV)O bond. DFT calculations for [Fe (IV)(O)B*] (2-) reproduce the experimental data quite well. Further significant improvement was achieved by introducing hydrogen bonding of the axial oxygen with two solvent-water molecules. It is shown, using DFT, that the (57)Fe hyperfine parameters of complex 2 give evidence for strong electron donation from B* to iron.

A synthetic precedent for the [FeIV2(mu-O)2] diamond core proposed for methane monooxygenase intermediate Q.

Intermediate Q, the methane-oxidizing species of soluble methane monooxygenase, is proposed to have an [Fe(IV)(2)(mu-O)(2)] diamond core. In an effort to obtain a synthetic precedent for such a core, bulk electrolysis at 900 mV (versus Fc(+/0)) has been performed in MeCN at -40 degrees C on a valence-delocalized [Fe(III)Fe(IV)(mu-O)(2)(L(b))(2)](3+) complex (1b) (E(1/2) = 760 mV versus Fc(+/0)). Oxidation of 1b results in the near-quantitative formation of a deep red complex, designated 2b, that exhibits a visible spectrum with lambda(max) at 485 nm (9,800 M(-1).cm(-1)) and 875 nm (2,200 M(-1).cm(-1)). The 4.2 K Mössbauer spectrum of 2b exhibits a quadrupole doublet with delta = -0.04(1) mm.s(-1) and DeltaE(Q) = 2.09(2) mm.s(-1), parameters typical of an iron(IV) center. The Mössbauer patterns observed in strong applied fields show that 2b is an antiferromagnetically coupled diiron(IV) center. Resonance Raman studies reveal the diagnostic vibration mode of the [Fe(2)(mu-O)(2)] core at 674 cm(-1), downshifting 30 cm(-1) upon (18)O labeling. Extended x-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) analysis shows two O/N scatterers at 1.78 A and an Fe scatterer at 2.73 A. Based on the accumulated spectroscopic evidence, 2b thus can be formulated as [Fe(IV)(2)(mu-O)(2)(L(b))(2)](4+), the first synthetic complex with an [Fe(IV)(2)(mu-O)(2)] core. A comparison of 2b and its mononuclear analog [Fe(IV)(O)(L(b))(NCMe)](2+) (4b) reveals that 4b is 100-fold more reactive than 2b in oxidizing weak C H bonds. This surprising observation may shed further light on how intermediate Q carries out the hydroxylation of methane.

X-ray absorption spectroscopic studies of high-spin nonheme (alkylperoxo)iron(III) intermediates.

The reactions of iron(II) complexes [Fe(T(pt-Bu,i-Pr))(OH)] (1a, Tp(t-Bu,i-Pr) = hydrotris(3-tert-butyl-5-isopropyl-1-pyrazolyl)borate), [Fe(6-Me2BPMCN)(OTf)2] (1b, 6-Me2BPMCN = N,N'-bis((2-methylpyridin-6-yl)methyl)-N,N'-dimethyl-trans-1,2-diaminocyclohexane), and [Fe(L8Py2)(OTf)](OTf) (1c, L8Py2 = 1,5-bis(pyridin-2-ylmethyl)-1,5-diazacyclooctane) with tert-BuOOH give rise to high-spin FeIII-OOR complexes. X-ray absorption spectra (XAS) of these high-spin species show characteristic features, distinct from those of low-spin Fe-OOR complexes (Rohde, J.-U.; et al. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2004, 126, 16750-16761). These include (1) an intense 1s --> 3d preedge feature, with an area around 20 units, (2) an edge energy, ranging from 7122 to 7126 eV, that is affected by the coordination environment, and (3) a 1.86-1.96 A Fe-OOR bond, compared to the 1.78 A Fe-OOR bond in low-spin complexes. These unique features likely arise from a flexible first coordination sphere in those complexes. The difference in Fe-OOR bond length may rationalize differences in reactivity between low-spin and high-spin FeIII-OOR species.

Chemical and spectroscopic evidence for an FeV-oxo complex.

Iron(V)-oxo species have been proposed as key reactive intermediates in the catalysis of oxygen-activating enzymes and synthetic catalysts. Here, we report the synthesis of [Fe(TAML)(O)]- in nearly quantitative yield, where TAML is a macrocyclic tetraamide ligand. Mass spectrometry, Mössbauer, electron paramagnetic resonance, and x-ray absorption spectroscopies, as well as reactivity studies and density functional theory calculations show that this long-lived (hours at -60 degrees C) intermediate is a spin S = 1/2 iron(V)-oxo complex. Iron-TAML systems have proven to be efficient catalysts in the decomposition of numerous pollutants by hydrogen peroxide, and the species we characterized is a likely reactive intermediate in these reactions.

Spectroscopic and kinetic studies of the reaction of [CuI(6-PhTPA)]+ with O2.

Oxygenation of [Cu(I)(6-PhTPA)](SbF(6)) in acetone at -90 degrees C produces a short-lived Cu(III)(2)(mu-O)(2) intermediate that exhibits an oxygen-isotope-sensitive nu(Cu-O) mode at 599 cm(-1) and an overtone at 1192 cm(-1). The formation of this intermediate is very fast and is second-order in copper(I) complex, implying that two copper-containing species interact in the rate-limiting step or in pre-equilibrium steps prior to the rate determining step. The decay of this intermediate was facile even at -90 degrees C but did not afford any arene hydroxylation product. Interestingly, the effect of introducing a 6-phenyl substituent on the TPA ligand framework differs from that of a 6-methyl substituent, providing access to a bis(mu-oxo)dicopper(III) intermediate in the former and a (mu-1,2-peroxo)dicopper(II) species in the latter.

Copper(II) hexaaza macrocyclic binuclear complexes obtained from the reaction of their copper(I) derivates and molecular dioxygen.

Density functional theory (DFT) calculations have been carried out for a series of Cu(I) complexes bearing N-hexadentate macrocyclic dinucleating ligands and for their corresponding peroxo species (1c-8c) generated by their interaction with molecular O2. For complexes 1c-7c, it has been found that the side-on peroxodicopper(II) is the favored structure with regard to the bis(mu-oxo)dicopper(III). For those complexes, the singlet state has also been shown to be more stable than the triplet state. In the case of 8c, the most favored structure is the trans-1,2-peroxodicopper(II) because of the para substitution and the steric encumbrance produced by the methylation of the N atoms. Cu(II) complexes 4e, 5e, and 8e have been obtained by O2 oxidation of their corresponding Cu(I) complexes and structurally and magnetically characterized. X-ray single-crystal structures for those complexes have been solved, and they show three completely different types of Cu(II)2 structures: (a) For 4e, the Cu(II) centers are bridged by a phenolate group and an external hydroxide ligand. The phenolate group is generated from the evolution of 4c via intramolecular arene hydroxylation. (b) For 5e, the two Cu(II) centers are bridged by two hydroxide ligands. (c) For the 8e case, the Cu(II) centers are ligated to terminally bound hydroxide ligands, rare because of its tendency to bridge. The evolution of complexes 1c-8c toward their oxidized species has also been rationalized by DFT calculations based mainly on their structure and electrophilicity. The structural diversity of the oxidized species is also responsible for a variety of magnetic behavior: (a) strong antiferromagnetic (AF) coupling with J = -482.0 cm(-1) (g = 2.30; rho = 0.032; R = 5.6 x 10(-3)) for 4e; (b) AF coupling with J = -286.3 cm(-1) (g = 2.07; rho = 0.064; R = 2.6 x 10(-3)) for 5e; (c) an uncoupled Cu(II)2 complex for 8e.

High-valent nonheme iron-oxo species in biomimetic oxidations.

High valent iron-oxo species are often invoked as the key oxidizing agents in the catalytic cycles of oxygen activating nonheme iron enzymes, and three of these intermediates have in fact been characterized. To gain further insight into such species, a number of biomimetic complexes have been designed and investigated as functional models for these enzymes. Progress since 2000 is summarized in this review. Many of the model complexes discussed in this review carry out oxidative transformations of relevance to the enzymatic reactions; however, the participation of a high-valent iron-oxo species (Fe(IV)O or Fe(V)O) can only be inferred. Arguments in support of a metal-based oxidant (rather than an oxygen radical species) usually hinge on the high conversion for the transformation and the nature of the reaction products, as well as the incorporation of label into these products from H(2)(18)O or related species. Within this time period, the first bona fide nonheme Fe(IV)O complexes have been generated and identified spectroscopically, three of which are crystallographically characterized. Taken together, these studies emphasize the important role the supporting polydentate ligand plays in eliciting the desired high-valent iron-oxo chemistry.

Intermediates in the oxygenation of a nonheme diiron(II) complex, including the first evidence for a bound superoxo species.

The reaction of [Fe(2)(mu-OH)(2)(6-Me(3)-TPA)(2)](2+) (1) [6-Me(3)-TPA, Tris(6-methyl-2-pyridylmethyl)amine] with O(2) in CH(2)Cl(2) at -80 degrees C gives rise to two new intermediates, 2 and 3, before the formation of previously characterized [Fe(2)(O)(O(2))(6-Me(3)-TPA)(2)](2+) (4) that allow the oxygenation reaction to be monitored one electron-transfer step at a time. Raman evidence assigns 2 and 3 as a diiron-superoxo species and a diiron-peroxo species, respectively. Intermediate 2 exhibits its nu(O-O) at 1,310 cm(-1) with a -71-cm(-1) (18)O isotope shift. A doublet peak pattern for the (16)O(18)O isotopomer of 2 in mixed-isotope Raman experiments strongly suggests that the superoxide ligand of 2 is bound end-on. This first example of a nonheme iron-superoxo intermediate exhibits the highest frequency nu(O-O) yet observed for a biomimetic metal-dioxygen adduct. The bound superoxide of 2, unlike the bound peroxide of 4, is readily reduced by 2,4-di-tert-butylphenol via a proton-coupled electron-transfer mechanism, emphasizing that metal-superoxo species may serve as oxidants in oxygen activation mechanisms of metalloenzymes. The discovery of intermediates 2 and 3 allows us to dissect the initial steps of dioxygen binding at a diiron center leading to its activation for substrate oxidation.

Dioxygen binding to complexes with Fe(II)2(mu-OH)2 cores: steric control of activation barriers and O2-adduct formation.

A series of complexes with [Fe(II)(2)(mu-OH)(2)] cores has been synthesized with N3 and N4 ligands and structurally characterized to serve as models for nonheme diiron(II) sites in enzymes that bind and activate O(2). These complexes react with O(2) in solution via bimolecular rate-limiting steps that differ in rate by 10(3)-fold, depending on ligand denticity and steric hindrance near the diiron center. Low-temperature trapping of a (mu-oxo)(mu-1,2-peroxo)diiron(III) intermediate after O(2) binding requires sufficient steric hindrance around the diiron center and the loss of a proton (presumably that of a hydroxo bridge or a yet unobserved hydroperoxo intermediate). The relative stability of these and other (mu-1,2-peroxo)diiron(III) intermediates suggests that these species may not be on the direct pathway for dioxygen activation.

Structural insights into nonheme alkylperoxoiron(III) and oxoiron(IV) intermediates by X-ray absorption spectroscopy.

Transient mononuclear low-spin alkylperoxoiron(III) and oxoiron(IV) complexes that are relevant to the activation of dioxygen by nonheme iron enzymes have been generated from synthetic iron(II) complexes of neutral tetradentate (TPA) and pentadentate (N4Py, Bn-TPEN) ligands and structurally characterized by means of Fe K-edge X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS). Notable features obtained from fits of the EXAFS region are Fe-O bond lengths of 1.78 A for the alkylperoxoiron(III) intermediates and 1.65-1.68 A for the oxoiron(IV) intermediates, reflecting different strengths in the Fe-O pi interactions. These differences are also observed in the intensities of the 1s-to-3d transitions in the XANES region, which increase from 4 units for the nearly octahedral iron(II) precursor to 9-15 units for the alkylperoxoiron(III) intermediates to 25-29 units for the oxoiron(IV) species.

Ligand displacement and oxidation reactions of methyl(oxo)rhenium(V) complexes.

Compounds that contain the anion [MeReO(edt)(SPh)](-) (3-) were synthesized with the countercations 2-picolinium (PicH+3-) and 2,6-lutidinium (LutH+3-), where edt is 1,2-ethanedithiolate. Both PicH+3- and MeReO(edt)(tetramethylthiourea) (4) were crystallographically characterized. The rhenium atom in each of these compounds exists in a five-coordinate distorted square pyramid. In the solid state, PicH+3- contains an anion with a short (d(SH) = 232 pm) and nearly linear hydrogen-bonded (N-H.S) interaction to the cation. Ligand substitution reactions were studied in chloroform. Displacement of PhSH by PPh(3) follows second-order kinetics, d[MeReO(edt)(PPh(3))]/dt = k[PicH+3-][PPh3], whereas with pyridines an unusual form was found, d[MeReO(edt)(Py)]/dt = k[PyH+3-][Py](2), in which the conversion of PicH+3- to PyH+3- has been incorporated. Further, added Py accelerates the formation of [MeReO(edt)(PPh3)], v = k.[PicH+3-].[PPh3].[Py]. Compound 4, on the other hand, reacts with both PPh(3) and pyridines, L, at a rate given by d[MeReO(edt)(L)]/dt = k.[4].[L]. When PicH+3- reacts with pyridine N-oxides, a three-stage reaction was observed, consistent with ligand replacement of SPh(-) by PyO, N-O bond cleavage of the PyO assisted by another PyO, and eventual decomposition of MeRe(O)(edt)(OPy) to MeReO(3). Each of first two steps showed a large substituent effect; Hammett analysis gave rho(1) = -5.3 and rho(2) = -4.3.

Syntheses and oxidation of methyloxorhenium(V) complexes with tridentate ligands.

Four new methyloxorhenium(V) compounds were synthesized with these tridentate chelating ligands: 2-mercaptoethyl sulfide (abbreviated HSSSH), 2-mercaptoethyl ether (HSOSH), thioldiglycolic acid (HOSOH), and 2-(salicylideneamino)benzoic acid (HONOH). Their reactions with MeReO(3) under suitable conditions led to these products: MeReO(SSS), 1, MeReO(SOS), 2, MeReO(OSO)(PAr(3)), 3, and MeReO(ONO)(PPh(3)), 4. These compounds were characterized spectroscopically and crystallographically. Compounds 1 and 2 have a five-coordinate distorted square pyramidal geometry about rhenium, whereas 3 and 4 are six-coordinate compounds with distorted octahedral structures. The kinetics of oxidation of 2 and 3 in chloroform with pyridine N-oxides follow different patterns. The oxidation of 2 shows first-order dependences on the concentrations of 2 and the ring-substituted pyridine N-oxide. The Hammett analysis of the rate constants gives a remarkably large and negative reaction constant, rho = -4.6. The rate of oxidation of 3 does not depend on the concentration or the identity of the pyridine N-oxide, but it is directly proportional to the concentration of water, both an accidental and then a deliberate cosolvent. The mechanistic differences have been interpreted as reflecting the different steric demands of five- and six-coordinate rhenium compounds.

Methyloxorhenium(V) complexes with two bidentate ligands: syntheses and reactivity studies.

Four new methyloxorhenium(V) complexes were synthesized: MeReO(PA)(2) (1), MeReO(HQ)(2) (2), MeReO(MQ)(2) (3), and MeReO(diphenylphosphinobenzoate)(2) (4) (in which PAH = 2-picolinic acid, HQH = 8-hydroxyquinoline, and MQH = 8-mercaptoquinoline). Although only one geometric structure has been identified crystallographically for 1, 2, and 3, two isomers of 3 and 4 in solution were detected by NMR spectroscopy. These compounds catalyze the sulfoxidation of thioethers by pyridine N-oxides and sulfoxides. The rate law for the reaction between pyridine N-oxides and thioethers, catalyzed by 1, shows a first-order dependence on the concentrations of pyridine N-oxide and 1. The second-order rate constants of a series of para-substituted pyridine N-oxides fall in the range of 0.27-7.5 L mol(-)(1) s(-)(1). Correlation of these rate constants by the Hammett LFER method gave a large negative reaction constant, rho = -5.2. The next and rapid step does not influence the kinetics, but it could be explored with competition experiments carried out with a pair of methyl aryl sulfides, MeSC(6)H(4)-p-Y. The value of each rate was expressed relative to the reference compound that has Y = H. A Hammett analysis of k(Y)/k(H) gave rho = -1.9. Oxygen-18 labeled 1 was used in a single turnover experiment for 4-picoline N-oxide and dimethyl sulfide. No (18)O-labeled DMSO was found. We suggest that the reaction proceeds by way of two intermediates that were not observed during the reaction. The first intermediate contains an opened PA-chelate ring; this allows the pyridine N-oxide to access the primary coordination sphere of rhenium. The second intermediate is a cis-dioxorhenium(VII) species, which the thioether then attacks. Oxygen-18 experiments were used to show that the two oxygens of this intermediate are not equivalent; only the new oxygen is attacked by, and transferred to, SR(2). Water inhibits the reaction because it hydrolyzes the rhenium(VII) intermediate.