The Kinetic Isotope Effect as a Probe of Spin Crossover in the CH Activation of Methane by the FeO+Cation

High-valent nonheme Fe(IV)O/Ru(IV)O complexes catalyze C-H activation reactivity and hydrogen tunneling: a comparative DFT investigation

A comprehensive density functional theory investigation has been presented towards the comparison of the C-H activation reactivity between high-valent iron-oxo and ruthenium-oxo complexes. A total of four compounds, e.g., [Ru(IV)O(tpy-dcbpy)] (1), [Fe(IV)O(tpy-dcbpy)] (1'), [Ru(IV)O(TMCS)] (2), and [Fe(IV)O(TMCS)] (2'), have been considered for this investigation. The macrocyclic ligand framework tpy(dcbpy) implies tpy = 2,2':6',2''-terpyridine, dcbpy = 5,5'-dicarboxy-2,2'-bipyridine, and TMCS is TMC with an axially tethered -SCH2CH2 group. Compounds 1 and 2' are experimentally synthesized standard complexes with Ru and Fe, whereas compounds 1' and 2 were considered to keep the macrocycle intact when switching the central metal atom. Three reactants including benzyl alcohol, ethyl benzene, and dihydroanthracene were selected as substrates for C-H activation. It is noteworthy to mention that Fe(IV)O complexes exhibit higher reactivity than those of their Ru(IV)O counterparts. Furthermore, regardless of the central metal, the complex featuring a tpy-dcbpy macrocycle demonstrates higher reactivity than that of TMCS. Here, a thorough analysis of the reactivity-controlling characteristics-such as spin state, steric factor, distortion energy, energy of the electron acceptor orbital, and quantum mechanical tunneling-was conducted. Fe(IV)O exhibits the exchanged enhanced two-state-reactivity with the quintet reactive state, whereas Ru(IV)O has only a triplet reactive state. Both the distortion energy and acceptor orbital energy are low in the case of Fe(IV)O supporting its higher reactivity. All the investigated C-H activation processes involve a significant contribution from hydrogen tunneling, which is more pronounced in the case of Ru, although it cannot alter the reactivity pattern. Furthermore, it has also been found that, independent of the central metal, aliphatic hydroxylation is always preferable to aromatic hydroxylation. Overall, this work is successful in establishing and investigating the cause of enzymes' natural preference for Fe over Ru as a cofactor for C-H activation enzymes.

Room-Temperature Conversion of Methane to Methanediol by [FeO2]. J Phys Chem Lett 2023;14:1633-1640. [PMID: 36752636 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpclett.2c03786] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0]

Inspired by the activities of P-450 enzyme and Rieske oxygenases in nature, in which the high-valent Fe-oxo complexes play a key role for oxidation of alkanes, the oxidation process of methane by the high-valent iron oxide cation [FeO₂]⁺ has been explored by using Fourier transform-ion cyclotron resonance (FT-ICR) mass spectrometry complemented by high-level quantum chemical calculations. In contrast to the previously reported [FeO]⁺/CH₄ and [Fe(O)OH]⁺/CH₄ systems, which afford [FeOH]⁺ as the main product, the generation of Fe⁺ dominates the reaction of [FeO₂]⁺ with CH₄. Theoretical calculations suggest a novel "oxygen rebound" pathway for the liberation of methanediol. In particular, the inevitable valence increase of Fe prior to C-H activation is similar to the cytochrome P-450 mediated processes. To our best knowledge, this study provides the first example of methane activation by the high-valent Fe(V)-oxo species in the gas phase, which may thus bridge the gas-phase model and the condensed-phase biosystems.

A radical mechanism for C–H bond cross-coupling and N2 activation catalysed by β-diketiminate iron complexes

Density functional theory calculations and electronic structure analyses reveal a radical mechanism with spin-crossovers for C–H bond cross-coupling and N2 activation catalysed by β-diketiminate iron complexes.

Effect of Substituent on C-H Activation Catalysed by a nonheme Fe(IV)O Complex: A Computational Investigation of Reactivity and Hydrogen Tunneling

A density functional theory investigation has been presented here to address the C-H activation reactivity and the influence of quantum mechanical tunneling catalyzed by a non-heme iron(IV)-Oxo complex viz. [FeIVOdpaq-X]+...

Partial oxidation of methane to methanol by isolated Pt catalyst supported on a CeO2 nanoparticle

Catalytic transformation of methane (CH₄) into methanol in a single step is a challenging issue for the utilization of CH₄. We present a direct method for converting CH₄ into methanol with high selectivity over a Pt/CeO₂ catalyst which contains ionic Pt²⁺ species supported on a CeO₂ nanoparticle. The Pt/CeO₂ catalyst reproducibly yielded 6.27 mmol/g of Pt with a selectivity of over 95% at 300 °C when CH₄ and CO are used as reactants, while the catalyst had a lower activity when using only CH₄ without CO. Active lattice oxygen created on the Pt and CeO₂ interface provides selective reaction pathways for the conversion of CH₄ to methanol. Based on high-angle annular dark-field scanning transmission electron microscopy, x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, x-ray absorption near-edge structure, extended x-ray absorption fine structure, catalytic studies, and density functional theory calculations, we propose a mechanistic pathway involving CH₄ activation at the active site in the vicinity of Pt²⁺ species.

Kinetic Isotope Effect Determination Probes the Spin of the Transition State, Its Stereochemistry, and Its Ligand Sphere in Hydrogen Abstraction Reactions of Oxoiron(IV) Complexes

This Account outlines interplay of theory and experiment in the quest to identify the reactive-spin-state in chemical reactions that possess a few spin-dependent routes. Metalloenzymes and synthetic models have forged in recent decades an area of increasing appeal, in which oxometal species bring about functionalization of hydrocarbons under mild conditions and via intriguing mechanisms that provide a glimpse of Nature's designs to harness these reactions. Prominent among these are oxoiron(IV) complexes, which are potent H-abstractors. One of the key properties of oxoirons is the presence of close-lying spin-states, which can mediate H-abstractions. As such, these complexes form a fascinating chapter of spin-state chemistry, in which chemical reactivity involves spin-state interchange, so-called two-state reactivity (TSR) and multistate reactivity (MSR). TSR and MSR pose mechanistic challenges. How can one determine the structure of the reactive transition state (TS) and its spin state for these mechanisms? Calculations can do it for us, but the challenge is to find experimental probes. There are, however, no clear kinetic signatures for the reactive-spin-state in such reactions. This is the paucity that our group has been trying to fill for sometime. Hence, it is timely to demonstrate how theory joins experiment in realizing this quest. This Account uses a set of the H-abstraction reactions of 24 synthetic oxoiron(IV) complexes and 11 hydrocarbons, together undergoing H-abstraction reactions with TSR/MSR options, which provide experimentally determined kinetic isotope effect (KIE_exp) data. For this set, we demonstrate that comparing KIE_exp results with calculated tunneling-augmented KIE (KIE_TC) data leads to a clear identification of the reactive spin-state during H-abstraction reactions. In addition, generating KIE_exp data for a reaction of interest, and comparing these to KIE_TC values, provides the mechanistic chemist with a powerful capability to identify the reactive-TS in terms of not only its spin state but also its geometry and ligand-sphere constitution. Since tunneling "cuts through" barriers, it serves as a chemical selectivity factor. Thus, we show that in a family of oxoirons reacting with one hydrocarbon, the tunneling efficiency increases as the ligands become better electron donors. This generates counterintuitive-reactivity patterns, like antielectrophilic reactivity, and induces spin-state reactivity reversals because of differing steric demands of the corresponding ^2S+1TS species, etc. Finally, for the same series, the Account reaches intuitive understanding of tunneling trends. It is shown that the increase of ligand's donicity results in electrostatic narrowing of the barrier, while the decrease of donicity and increase of bond-order asymmetry in the TS (inter alia due to Bell-Evans-Polanyi effects) broadens the barrier. Predictions are made that usage of powerful electron-donating ligands may train H-abstractors to activate the strongest C-H bond in a molecule. The concepts developed here are likely to be applicable to other oxometals in the d- and f-blocks.

Kinetic Isotope Effect Probes the Reactive Spin State, As Well As the Geometric Feature and Constitution of the Transition State during H-Abstraction by Heme Compound II Complexes

What do experimentally measured kinetic isotope effects (KIEs) tell us about H-abstraction reactions with multispin-state reactivity options? Using DFT calculations with tunneling corrections for experimentally studied H-abstraction reactions of porphyrin-Compound II species (Chem.-Eur. J. 2014, 20, 14437; Angew. Chem., Int. Ed. 2008, 47, 7321) with cyclohexane, dihydroanthracene (DHA), and xanthene (Xan), we show here that KIE is a selective probe that identifies the experimentally reactive spin state. At the same time, comparison of calculated and experimental KIE values permits us to determine the structural orientation of the transition states, as well as the presence/absence of an axial ligand, and the effect of porphyrin substituents. The studied compound II (Cpd II) species involve porphine, and porphyrin ligands with different meso-substituents, TPFPP (tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)porphyrin dianion) and TMP (tetramesitylporphyrin dianion), with and without imidazole axial ligands. The DFT calculations reveal three potential pathways: quintet and triplet σ-pathways (⁵Hσ and ³Hσ) that possess linear transition state (TS) structures, and a triplet π -pathway (³Hπ) having a bent TS structure. Without an axial ligand, the ⁵Hσ pathways for these Cpd II complexes cross below the triplet states. The axial ligand raises the barriers for the quintet and triplet σ-pathways and quenches any chances for two-state reactivity, thus proceeding via the ³Hπ pathway. All of these pathways exhibit characteristic KIE values: very large for ³Hπ (48-200), small for ⁵Hσ (3-9), and intermediate for ³Hσ (23-51). The calculated KIEs for (TPFPP)Fe^IV═O without an axial ligand reveal that ³Hσ is the only pathway having a KIE that matches the experimental values, for the reactions with DHA and Xan (Angew. Chem., Int. Ed. 2008, 47, 7321). Indeed, theory shows that tunneling significantly lowers the ³Hσ barrier rendering it the sole reactive state for the reaction. A prediction is made for the reactivity and KIE of (TMP)Fe^IV═O complex, and a comparison is made with the analogous nonheme complexes.

Interplay of Tunneling, Two-State Reactivity, and Bell-Evans-Polanyi Effects in C-H Activation by Nonheme Fe(IV)O Oxidants

The study of C-H bond activation reactions by nonheme Fe(IV)O species with nine hydrocarbons shows that the kinetic isotope effect (KIE) involves strong tunneling and is a signature of the reactive spin states. Theory reproduces the observed spike-like appearance of plots of KIE(exp) against the C-H bond dissociation energy, and its origins are discussed. The experimentally observed Bell-Evans-Polanyi correlations, in the presence of strong tunneling, are reproduced, and the pattern is rationalized.

Determination of Spin Inversion Probability, H-Tunneling Correction, and Regioselectivity in the Two-State Reactivity of Nonheme Iron(IV)-Oxo Complexes

We show by experiments that nonheme Fe(IV)O species react with cyclohexene to yield selective hydrogen atom transfer (HAT) reactions with virtually no C═C epoxidation. Straightforward DFT calculations reveal, however, that C═C epoxidation on the S = 2 state possesses a low-energy barrier and should contribute substantially to the oxidation of cyclohexene by the nonheme Fe(IV)O species. By modeling the selectivity of this two-site reactivity, we show that an interplay of tunneling and spin inversion probability (SIP) reverses the apparent barriers and prefers exclusive S = 1 HAT over mixed HAT and C═C epoxidation on S = 2. The model enables us to derive a SIP value by combining experimental and theoretical results.