Oxygen-Atom Transfer by a Naked Manganese(V)-Oxo-Porphyrin Complex Reveals Axial Ligand Effect

Mechanistic insights into the selectivity of norcarane oxidation by oxoMn(V) porphyrin complexes

OxoMn(V) porphyrin complexes perform competitive hydroxylation, desaturation, and radical rearrangement reactions using diagnostic substrate norcarane. Initial C-H cleavage proceeds through the two hydrogen abstraction steps from the two adjacent carbon on the norcarane, then the selective reaction is performed to generate various products. Using density functional theory calculations, we show that the hydroxylation and desaturation reactions are triggered by a rate-determining H-abstraction step, whereas the rate-determining step for the radical rearrangement is located at the rebound step ( TS2 ). We find that the  endo- 2  reaction is favorable over other reactions, which is consistent with the experimental result. Furthermore, the competitive pathways for norcarane oxidation depend on the non-covalent interaction between norcarane and porphyrin-ring, and orbital energy gaps between donor and acceptor orbitals because of stable or unstable acceptor orbital. The stereo- and regio-selectivities of norcarane oxidation are hardly sensitive to the zero-point energy and thermal free energy corrections.

Synthesis of atomically precise single-crystalline Ru2-based coordination polymers

Methods to incorporate kinetically inert metal nodes and highly basic ligands into single-crystalline metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are scarce, which prevents synthesis and systematic variation of many potential heterogeneous catalyst materials. Here we demonstrate that metallopolymerization of kinetically inert Ru2 metallomonomers via labile Ag-N bonds provides access to a family of atomically precise single-crystalline Ru2-based coordination polymers with varied network topology and primary coordination sphere.

A putative heme manganese(v)-oxo species in the C–H activation and epoxidation reactions in an aqueous buffer

Synthesis and reactivity studies of manganese(v)-oxo species in the C–H activation of alkyl hydrocarbons and epoxidation of cyclohexene in aqueous conditions are investigated.

Kinetics and mechanistic studies on the formation and reactivity of high valent MnO porphyrin species: mono-ortho or para-substituted porphyrins versus a di-ortho-substituted one

High valent Mn(O) species of a series of electron-rich and -deficient meso-tetra(aryl)porphyrins (aryl = phenyl, 2-Cl-phenyl, 2-nitrophenyl, 2-Me-phenyl, 2-Br-phenyl, 2,6-di-Cl-phenyl 4-OMe-phenyl, 4-Me-phenyl, 4-Cl-phenyl and 4-pyridyl) were prepared at 273 K.

Biomimetic Reactivity of Oxygen-Derived Manganese and Iron Porphyrinoid Complexes

Heme proteins utilize the heme cofactor, an iron porphyrin, to perform a diverse range of reactions including dioxygen binding and transport, electron transfer, and oxidation/oxygenations. These reactions share several key metalloporphyrin intermediates, typically derived from dioxygen and its congeners such as hydrogen peroxide. These species are composed of metal-dioxygen, metal-superoxo, metal-peroxo, and metal-oxo adducts. A wide variety of synthetic metalloporphyrinoid complexes have been synthesized to generate and stabilize these intermediates. These complexes have been studied to determine the spectroscopic features, structures, and reactivities of such species in controlled and well-defined environments. In this Review, we summarize recent findings on the reactivity of these species with common porphyrinoid scaffolds employed for biomimetic studies. The proposed mechanisms of action are emphasized. This Review is organized by structural type of metal-oxygen intermediate and broken into subsections based on the metal (manganese and iron) and porphyrinoid ligand (porphyrin, corrole, and corrolazine).

A Systematic Account on Aromatic Hydroxylation by a Cytochrome P450 Model Compound I: A Low-Pressure Mass Spectrometry and Computational Study

Cytochrome P450 enzymes are heme-containing mono-oxygenases that mainly react through oxygen-atom transfer. Specific features of substrate and oxidant that determine the reaction rate constant for oxygen atom transfer are still poorly understood and therefore, we did a systematic gas-phase study on reactions by iron(IV)-oxo porphyrin cation radical structures with arenes. We present herein the first results obtained by using Fourier transform-ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry and provide rate constants and product distributions for the assayed reactions. Product distributions and kinetic isotope effect studies implicate a rate-determining aromatic hydroxylation reaction that correlates with the ionization energy of the substrate and no evidence of aliphatic hydroxylation products is observed. To further understand the details of the reaction mechanism, a computational study on a model complex was performed. These studies confirm the experimental hypothesis of dominant aromatic over aliphatic hydroxylation and show that the lack of an axial ligand affects the aliphatic pathways. Moreover, a two-parabola valence bond model is used to rationalize the rate constant and identify key properties of the oxidant and substrate that drive the reaction. In particular, the work shows that aromatic hydroxylation rates correlate with the ionization energy of the substrate as well as with the electron affinity of the oxidant.

Singlet versus Triplet Reactivity in an Mn(V)-Oxo Species: Testing Theoretical Predictions Against Experimental Evidence

Discerning the factors that control the reactivity of high-valent metal-oxo species is critical to both an understanding of metalloenzyme reactivity and related transition metal catalysts. Computational studies have suggested that an excited higher spin state in a number of metal-oxo species can provide a lower energy barrier for oxidation reactions, leading to the conclusion that this unobserved higher spin state complex should be considered as the active oxidant. However, testing these computational predictions by experiment is difficult and has rarely been accomplished. Herein, we describe a detailed computational study on the role of spin state in the reactivity of a high-valent manganese(V)-oxo complex with para-Z-substituted thioanisoles and utilize experimental evidence to distinguish between the theoretical results. The calculations show an unusual change in mechanism occurs for the dominant singlet spin state that correlates with the electron-donating property of the para-Z substituent, while this change is not observed on the triplet spin state. Minimum energy crossing point calculations predict small spin-orbit coupling constants making the spin state change from low spin to high spin unlikely. The trends in reactivity for the para-Z-substituted thioanisole derivatives provide an experimental measure for the spin state reactivity in manganese-oxo corrolazine complexes. Hence, the calculations show that the V-shaped Hammett plot is reproduced by the singlet surface but not by the triplet state trend. The substituent effect is explained with valence bond models, which confirm a change from an electrophilic to a nucleophilic mechanism through a change of substituent.

A discrete {Co4(μ3-OH)4}(4+) cluster with an oxygen-rich coordination environment as a catalyst for the epoxidation of various olefins

Using the sterically hindered terphenyl-based carboxylate, the tetrameric Co(ii) complex [Co4(μ3-OH)4(μ-O2CAr(4F-Ph))2(μ-OTf)2(Py)4] () with an asymmetric cubane-type core has been synthesized and fully characterized by X-ray diffraction, UV-vis spectroscopy, and electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy. Interestingly, the cubane-type cobalt cluster with 3-chloroperoxybenzoic acid as the oxidant was found to be very effective in the epoxidation of a variety of olefins, including terminal olefins which are more challenging targeting substrates. Moreover, this catalytic system showed a fast reaction rate and high epoxide yields under mild conditions. Based on product analysis and Hammett studies, the use of peroxyphenylacetic acid as a mechanistic probe, H2(18)O-exchange experiments, and EPR studies, it has been proposed that multiple reactive cobalt-oxo species Co(V)[double bond, length as m-dash]O and Co(IV)[double bond, length as m-dash]O were involved in the olefin epoxidation.

Significant hydrogen-bonding effect on the reactivity of high-valent manganese(V)–oxo porphyrins in C–H bond activation: A DFT study

The stereo electronic effects as well as hydrogen bonding effects of imidazole, pyridine and 2,6-dimethylpyridine as N-donor axial ligands on the C–H oxidation activity of high-valent manganese(V)–oxo meso-tetraphenylporphyrin (TPP) and meso-tetrakis(pentaflourophenyl)porphyrin (TPFPP), are investigated by DFT calculations. The electronic and steric properties of axial donors and porphyrin ligands affected on the activation energy of cyclohexane hydroxylation as well as the Mn–O bond strength of the oxo species in transition state. Imidazole with the strong [Formula: see text]-donating ability and the least steric hindrance showed greater co-catalytic activity than those of pyridine and in particularly hindered 2,6-Me2 pyridine in the presence of simple [(TPP)MnO][Formula: see text]. Nevertheless, the C–H bond activation by hindered and electron-deficient perfluorinated catalyst [(TPFPP)MnO][Formula: see text] is in the order of pyridine >2, 6-Me2 pyridine >imidazole. AIM analysis showed hydrogen bonding (HB) between the C–H [Formula: see text] bonds of pyridine (C[Formula: see text]-H of ring) and 2,6-Me2Py (C[Formula: see text]-H of methyl groups) with ortho-C–F bond of phenyl rings of TPFPP in Mn[Formula: see text]O species (C–H…..F–C hydrogen bond) which might be responsible for this unusual behavior. These results are supported by natural bond orbital (NBO) analysis.

Reactivity and O2 Formation by Mn(IV)- and Mn(V)-Hydroxo Species Stabilized within a Polyfluoroxometalate Framework

Manganese(IV,V)-hydroxo and oxo complexes are often implicated in both catalytic oxygenation and water oxidation reactions. Much of the research in this area is designed to structurally and/or functionally mimic enzymes. On the other hand, the tendency of such mimics to decompose under strong oxidizing conditions makes the use of molecular inorganic oxide clusters an enticing alternative for practical applications. In this context it is important to understand the reactivity of conceivable reactive intermediates in such an oxide-based chemical environment. Herein, a polyfluoroxometalate (PFOM) monosubstituted with manganese, [NaH2(Mn-L)W17F6O55](q-), has allowed the isolation of a series of compounds, Mn(II, III, IV and V), within the PFOM framework. Magnetic susceptibility measurements show that all the compounds are high spin. XPS and XANES measurements confirmed the assigned oxidation states. EXAFS measurements indicate that Mn(II)PFOM and Mn(III)PFOM have terminal aqua ligands and Mn(V)PFOM has a terminal hydroxo ligand. The data are more ambiguous for Mn(IV)PFOM where both terminal aqua and hydroxo ligands can be rationalized, but the reactivity observed more likely supports a formulation of Mn(IV)PFOM as having a terminal hydroxo ligand. Reactivity studies in water showed unexpectedly that both Mn(IV)-OH-PFOM and Mn(V)-OH-PFOM are very poor oxygen-atom donors; however, both are highly reactive in electron transfer oxidations such as the oxidation of 3-mercaptopropionic acid to the corresponding disulfide. The Mn(IV)-OH-PFOM compound reacted in water to form O2, while Mn(V)-OH-PFOM was surprisingly indefinitely stable. It was observed that addition of alkali cations (K(+), Rb(+), and Cs(+)) led to the aggregation of Mn(IV)-OH-PFOM as analyzed by electron microscopy and DOSY NMR, while addition of Li(+) and Na(+) did not lead to aggregates. Aggregation leads to a lowering of the entropic barrier of the reaction without changing the free energy barrier. The observation that O2 formation is fastest in the presence of Cs(+) and ∼fourth order in Mn(IV)-OH-PFOM supports a notion of a tetramolecular Mn(IV)-hydroxo intermediate that is viable for O2 formation in an oxide-based chemical environment. A bimolecular reaction mechanism involving a Mn(IV)-hydroxo based intermediate appears to be slower for O2 formation.

A comprehensive test set of epoxidation rate constants for iron(iv)-oxo porphyrin cation radical complexes

Cytochrome P450 enzymes are heme based monoxygenases that catalyse a range of oxygen atom transfer reactions with various substrates, including aliphatic and aromatic hydroxylation as well as epoxidation reactions. The active species is short-lived and difficult to trap and characterize experimentally, moreover, it reacts in a regioselective manner with substrates leading to aliphatic hydroxylation and epoxidation products, but the origin of this regioselectivity is poorly understood. We have synthesized a model complex and studied it with low-pressure Fourier transform-ion cyclotron resonance (FT-ICR) mass spectrometry (MS). A novel approach was devised using the reaction of [FeIII(TPFPP)]+ (TPFPP = meso-tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)porphinato dianion) with iodosylbenzene as a terminal oxidant which leads to the production of ions corresponding to [FeIV(O)(TPFPP+˙)]+. This species was isolated in the gas-phase and studied in its reactivity with a variety of olefins. Product patterns and rate constants under Ideal Gas conditions were determined by FT-ICR MS. All substrates react with [FeIV(O)(TPFPP+˙)]+ by a more or less efficient oxygen atom transfer process. In addition, substrates with low ionization energies react by a charge-transfer channel, which enabled us to determine the electron affinity of [FeIV(O)(TPFPP+˙)]+ for the first time. Interestingly, no hydrogen atom abstraction pathways are observed for the reaction of [FeIV(O)(TPFPP+˙)]+ with prototypical olefins such as propene, cyclohexene and cyclohexadiene and also no kinetic isotope effect in the reaction rate is found, which suggests that the competition between epoxidation and hydroxylation - in the gas-phase - is in favour of substrate epoxidation. This notion further implies that P450 enzymes will need to adapt their substrate binding pocket, in order to enable favourable aliphatic hydroxylation over double bond epoxidation pathways. The MS studies yield a large test-set of experimental reaction rates of iron(iv)-oxo porphyrin cation radical complexes, so far unprecedented in the gas-phase, providing a benchmark for calibration studies using computational techniques. Preliminary computational results presented here confirm the observed trends excellently and rationalize the reactivities within the framework of thermochemical considerations and valence bond schemes.

Crystal structure, magnetic and catalytic oxidation properties of manganese(iii) tetrakis(ethoxycarbonyl)porphyrin

5,10,15,20-tetrakis(ethoxycarbonyl)porphyrin manganese(iii) chloride (Mn^IIITECPCl) existed as a Mn–O coordinated dimer. Mn^IIITECPCl gave high yield in oxidation of styrene by using TBHP or PhIO oxidant and was found recyclable.

Dramatic influence of an anionic donor on the oxygen-atom transfer reactivity of a Mn(V) -oxo complex

Addition of an anionic donor to an Mn(V) (O) porphyrinoid complex causes a dramatic increase in 2-electron oxygen-atom-transfer (OAT) chemistry. The 6-coordinate [Mn(V) (O)(TBP8 Cz)(CN)](-) was generated from addition of Bu4 N(+) CN(-) to the 5-coordinate Mn(V) (O) precursor. The cyanide-ligated complex was characterized for the first time by Mn K-edge X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) and gives MnO=1.53 Å, MnCN=2.21 Å. In combination with computational studies these distances were shown to correlate with a singlet ground state. Reaction of the CN(-) complex with thioethers results in OAT to give the corresponding sulfoxide and a 2e(-) -reduced Mn(III) (CN)(-) complex. Kinetic measurements reveal a dramatic rate enhancement for OAT of approximately 24 000-fold versus the same reaction for the parent 5-coordinate complex. An Eyring analysis gives ΔH(≠) =14 kcal mol(-1) , ΔS(≠) =-10 cal mol(-1)  K(-1) . Computational studies fully support the structures, spin states, and relative reactivity of the 5- and 6-coordinate Mn(V) (O) complexes.

Combined experimental and theoretical study on the reactivity of compounds I and II in horseradish peroxidase biomimetics

For the exploration of the intrinsic reactivity of two key active species in the catalytic cycle of horseradish peroxidase (HRP), Compound I (HRP-I) and Compound II (HRP-II), we generated in situ [Fe(IV) O(TMP(+.) )(2-MeIm)](+) and [Fe(IV) O(TMP)(2-MeIm)](0) (TMP=5,10,15,20-tetramesitylporphyrin; 2-MeIm=2-methylimidazole) as biomimetics for HRP-I and HRP-II, respectively. Their catalytic activities in epoxidation, hydrogen abstraction, and heteroatom oxidation reactions were studied in acetonitrile at -15 °C by utilizing rapid-scan UV/Vis spectroscopy. Comparison of the second-order rate constants measured for the direct reactions of the HRP-I and HRP-II mimics with the selected substrates clearly confirmed the outstanding oxidizing capability of the HRP-I mimic, which is significantly higher than that of HRP-II. The experimental study was supported by computational modeling (DFT calculations) of the oxidation mechanism of the selected substrates with the involvement of quartet and doublet HRP-I mimics ((2,4) Cpd I) and the closed-shell triplet spin HRP-II model ((3) Cpd II) as oxidizing species. The significantly lower activation barriers calculated for the oxidation systems involving (2,4) Cpd I than those found for (3) Cpd II are in line with the much higher oxidizing efficiency of the HRP-I mimic proven in the experimental part of the study. In addition, the DFT calculations show that all three reaction types catalyzed by HRP-I occur on the doublet spin surface in an effectively concerted manner, whereas these reactions may proceed in a stepwise mechanism with the HRP-II mimic as oxidant. However, the high desaturation or oxygen rebound barriers during CH bond activation processes by the HRP-II mimic predict a sufficient lifetime for the substrate radical formed through hydrogen abstraction. Thus, the theoretical calculations suggest that the dissociation of the substrate radical may be a more favorable pathway than desaturation or oxygen rebound processes. Importantly, depending on the electronic nature of the oxidizing species, that is, (2,4) Cpd I or (3) Cpd II, an interesting region-selective conversion phenomenon between sulfoxidation and H-atom abstraction was revealed in the course of the oxidation reaction of dimethylsulfide. The combined experimental and theoretical study on the elucidation of the intrinsic reactivity patterns of the HRP-I and HRP-II mimics provides a valuable tool for evaluating the particular role of the HRP active species in biological systems.

Hydrogen peroxide as oxidant in bio-mimetic catalysis by manganese porphyrin: Theoretical DFT studies

The aim of this study is to elucidate the geometry and electronic structure of various adducts that may be formed between manganese(III) (Mn(III)) porphyrin and hydrogen peroxide. Hydrogen peroxide may interact with Mn(III) porphyrin either as H2O2 or, after dissociation, as OOH–. In the former, it may decompose into two hydroxo groups, which acquire OH– character or an oxo group (=O) and a water molecule. Therefore, the following systems are considered: MnP(H2O2)+, MnP(H2O2)(OH), MnP(OH)3, [Formula: see text], MnPO+, MnPO(OH), MnP(OOH), MnP(OOH)(OH)–, and the possible transformations between them are taken into account. The reported studies are performed within the Density Functional Theory (DFT) method with the GGA-BP functional. The geometry and electronic structures of the structures found along the studied reaction pathways are discussed in terms of interatomic distances, valence angles, Mulliken charges, and spin densities. It was found that different active oxygen species may be formed in the reaction between Mn(III) porphyrin and hydrogen peroxide. As manganese is a transition metal, numerous possible spin states for each of the studied structures are found, where the relative energies of different multiplicities depend strongly on the ligands present in the complex. In view of the catalytic properties, all oxygen-containing ligands are negatively charged, which results in their behaviour as nucleophiles towards hydrocarbons. Finally, the analysis of charge and spin populations on different parts of the studied systems indicate the porphyrin ligand as active in charge transfer processes.

Effect of hydrogen bonding on catalytic activity of some manganese porphyrins in epoxidation reactions

Mn (III)-tetra phenyl porphyrin-acetate (MnTPPOAc) and some kinds of meso-phenyl substituted porphyrins by hydroxyl groups and their Mn (III) complexes were synthesized. These Mn -porphyrins were used as catalyst in the epoxidation of various alkenes with tetra-n-butylammonium hydrogen monopersulfate (n- Bu4NHSO5 ) as oxidant and tetra-n-butylammonium acetate (n- Bu4NOAc ) as the axial ligand. The following order of catalytic activity was observed for cyclooctene: T(2,3-OHP)PMnOAc ≫ T(2,4,6-OHP)PMnOAc ≥ T(4-OHP)PMnOAc ≥ T(2,6-OHP)PMnOAc ≥ TPPMnOAc and T(2,3-OHP)PMnOAc ≫ TPPMnOAc > T(4-OHP)PMnOAc > T(2,4,6-OHP)PMnOAc > T(2,6-OHP)PMnOAc for other alkenes. Different activity and stability of the catalysts were interpreted based on the hydrogen bonding between hydroxyl groups with appropriate orientation on the meso-position of the phenyl groups and axial bases or oxidant. T(2,3-OHP)PMnOAc catalyst has shown optimal condition for effective hydrogen bonding. In the case of other catalysts, electronic and steric factors overcome the hydrogen bonding effect.

Effect of the axial ligand on substrate sulfoxidation mediated by iron(IV)-oxo porphyrin cation radical oxidants

Cytochromes P450 catalyze a range of different oxygen-transfer processes including aliphatic and aromatic hydroxylation, epoxidation, and sulfoxidation reactions. Herein, we have investigated substrate sulfoxidation mediated by models of P450 enzymes as well as by biomimetic oxidants using density functional-theory methods and we have rationalized the sulfoxidation reaction barriers and rate constants. We carried out two sets of calculations: first, we calculated the sulfoxidation by an iron(IV)-oxo porphyrin cation radical oxidant [Fe(IV)=O(Por(+.))SH] that mimics the active site of cytochrome P450 enzymes with a range of different substrates, and second, we studied one substrate (dimethyl sulfide) with a selection of different iron(IV)-oxo porphyrin cation radical oxidants [Fe(IV)=O(Por(+.))L] with varying axial ligands L. The study presented herein shows that the barrier height for substrate sulfoxidation correlates linearly with the ionization potential of the substrate, thus reflecting the electron-transfer processes in the rate-determining step of the reaction. Furthermore, the axial ligand of the oxidant influences the pK(a) value of the iron(IV)-oxo group, and, as a consequence, the bond dissociation energy (BDE(OH) value correlates with the barrier height for the reverse sulfoxidation reaction. These studies have generalized substrate-sulfoxidation reactions and have shown how they fundamentally compare with substrate hydroxylation and epoxidation reactions.

What factors influence the rate constant of substrate epoxidation by compound I of cytochrome P450 and analogous iron(IV)-oxo oxidants?

The cytochromes P450 are a versatile range of mono-oxygenase enzymes that catalyze a variety of different chemical reactions, of which the key reactions include aliphatic hydroxylation and C=C double bond epoxidation. To establish the fundamental factors that govern substrate epoxidation by these enzymes we have done a systematic density functional theory study on substrate epoxidation by the active species of P450 enzymes, namely the iron(IV)-oxo porphyrin cation radical oxidant or Compound I. We show here, for the first time, that the rate constant of substrate epoxidation, and hence the activation energy, correlates with the ionization potential of the substrate as well as with intrinsic electronic properties of the active oxidant such as the polarizability volume. To explain these findings we present an electron-transfer model for the reaction mechanism that explains the factors that determine the barrier heights and developed a valence bond (VB) curve crossing mechanism to rationalize the observed trends. In addition, we have found a correlation for substrate epoxidation reactions catalyzed by a range of heme and nonheme iron(IV)-oxo oxidants with the strength of the O-H bond in the iron-hydroxo complex, i.e. BDE(OH), which is supported by the VB model. Finally, the fundamental factors that determine the regioselectivity change between substrate hydroxylation and epoxidation are discussed. It is shown that the regioselectivity of aliphatic hydroxylation versus double bond epoxidation is not influenced by the choice of the oxidant but is purely substrate dependent.

Probing 'spin-forbidden' oxygen-atom transfer: gas-phase reactions of chromium-porphyrin complexes

Oxygen-atom transfer reactions of metalloporphyrin species play an important role in biochemical and synthetic oxidation reactions. An emerging theme in this chemistry is that spin-state changes can play important roles, and a 'two-state' reactivity model has been extensively applied especially in iron porphyrin systems. Herein we explore the gas-phase oxygen-atom transfer chemistry of meso-tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)porphyrin (TPFPP) chromium complexes, as well as some other tetradentate macrocyclic ligands. Electrospray ionization in concert with Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance (FT-ICR) mass spectrometry has been used to characterize and observe reactivity of the ionic species [(TPFPP)Cr(III)](+) (1) and [(TPFPP)Cr(V)O](+) (2). These are attractive systems to examine the effects of spin-state change on oxygen-atom transfer because the d(1) Cr(V) species are doublets, while the Cr(III) complexes have quartet ground states with high-lying doublet excited states. In the gas phase, [(TPFPP)Cr(III)](+) forms adducts with a variety of neutral donors, but O-atom transfer is only observed for NO(2). Pyridine N-oxide adducts of 1 do yield 2 upon collision-induced dissociation (CID), but the ethylene oxide, DMSO, and TEMPO analogues do not. [(TPFPP)Cr(V)O](+) is shown by its reactivity and by CID experiments to be a terminal metal-oxo with a single, vacant coordination site. It also displays limited reaction chemistry, being deoxygenated only by the very potent reductant P(OMe)(3). In general, [(TPFPP)Cr(V)O](+) species are much less reactive than the Fe and Mn analogues. Thermochemical analysis of the reactions points toward the involvement of spin issues in the lower observed reactivity of the chromium complexes.

Probing bare high-valent transition oxo-metal complexes: an electrospray ionization Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance study of reactive intermediates

Functional models of the Compound I intermediate of monooxygenase heme enzymes, namely [(TPFPP)(*+)Fe(IV)=O](+) and [(TPFPP)Mn(V)=O](+) (TPFPP = meso-tetrakis (pentafluorophenyl)porphyrinato dianion), are obtained as bare species by electrospray ionization from solutions of appropriate precursors and their reactivity is investigated in the gas-phase. By an alternative approach involving the reaction of a gaseous oxidant, the naked core of Compound I, [(PP-IX)(*+)Fe(IV)=O](+) (PP-IX = protoporphyrin IX dianion) has been produced as well. This achievement, unprecedented in studies run in solution, is now made possible working in the gas-phase. The long lifetime ensured by the dilute gas-phase allows to reveal both structural details and elementary steps of the catalytic activity of these high-valent oxo-metal intermediates. Depending on the features of the oxo-metal complex, ionic products are formed with neutral substrates involving: (i) addition, (ii) oxygen atom transfer, (iii) formal hydride transfer. In contrast, ionic products indicative of a net initial hydrogen atom transfer event are never observed. The reaction pathways of these ultimate catalytic intermediates void of any trans axial ligand, counterion, solvent or protein environment are thus elucidated.