Thermal Stability and Absorption Spectroscopic Behavior of (μ-Peroxo)dicopper Complexes Regulated with Intramolecular Hydrogen Bonding Interactions

Mechanistic Insights into Amphoteric Reactivity of an Iron-Bispidine Complex

The reactivity of FeIII -alkylperoxido complexes has remained a riddle to inorganic chemists owing to their thermal instability and impotency towards organic substrates. These iron-oxygen adducts have been known as sluggish oxidants towards oxidative electrophilic and nucleophilic reactions. Herein, we report the synthesis and spectroscopic characterization of a relatively stable mononuclear high-spin FeIII -alkylperoxido complex supported by an engineered bispidine framework. Against the notion, this FeIII -alkylperoxido complex serves as a rare example of versatile reactivity in both electrophilic and nucleophilic reactions. Detailed mechanistic studies and computational calculations reveal a novel reaction mechanism, where a putative superoxido intermediate orchestrates the amphoteric property of the oxidant. The design of the backbone is pivotal to convey stability and reactivity to alkylperoxido and superoxido intermediates. Contrary to the well-known O-O bond cleavage that generates an FeIV -oxido species, the FeIII -alkylperoxido complex reported here undergoes O-C bond scission to generate a superoxido moiety that is responsible for the amphiphilic reactivity.

Heme-copper and Heme O2-derived synthetic (bioinorganic) chemistry toward an understanding of cytochrome c oxidase dioxygen chemistry

Cytochrome c oxidase (CcO), also widely known as mitochondrial electron-transport-chain complex IV, is a multi-subunit transmembrane protein responsible for catalyzing the last step of the electron transport chain, dioxygen reduction to water, which is essential to the establishment and maintenance of the membrane proton gradient that drives ATP synthesis. Although many intermediates in the CcO catalytic cycle have been spectroscopically and/or computationally authenticated, the specifics regarding the IP intermediate, hypothesized to be a heme-Cu (hydro)peroxo species whose O-O bond homolysis is supported by a hydrogen-bonding network of water molecules, are largely obscured by the fast kinetics of the A (FeIII-O2•-/CuI/Tyr) → PM (FeIV=O/CuII-OH/Tyr•) step. In this review, we have focused on the recent advancements in the design, development, and characterization of synthetic heme-peroxo‑copper model complexes, which can circumvent the abovementioned limitation, for the investigation of the formation of IP and its O-O cleavage chemistry. Novel findings regarding (a) proton and electron transfer (PT/ET) processes, together with their contributions to exogenous phenol induced O-O cleavage, (b) the stereo-electronic tunability of the secondary coordination sphere (especially hydrogen-bonding) on the geometric and spin state alteration of the heme-peroxo‑copper unit, and (c) a plausible mechanism for the Tyr-His cofactor biogenesis, are discussed in great detail. Additionally, since the ferric-superoxide and the ferryl-oxo (Compound II) species are critically involved in the CcO catalytic cycle, this review also highlights a few fundamental aspects of these heme-only (i.e., without copper) species, including the structural and reactivity influences of electron-donating trans-axial ligands and Lewis acid-promoted H-bonding.

Calcium-Ion Binding Mediates the Reversible Interconversion of Cis and Trans Peroxido Dicopper Cores

Coupled dinuclear copper oxygen cores (Cu₂ O₂ ) featured in type III copper proteins (hemocyanin, tyrosinase, catechol oxidase) are vital for O₂ transport and substrate oxidation in many organisms. μ-1,2-cis peroxido dicopper cores (^C P) have been proposed as key structures in the early stages of O₂ binding in these proteins; their reversible isomerization to other Cu₂ O₂ cores are directly relevant to enzyme function. Despite the relevance of such species to type III copper proteins and the broader interest in the properties and reactivity of bimetallic ^C P cores in biological and synthetic systems, the properties and reactivity of ^C P Cu₂ O₂ species remain largely unexplored. Herein, we report the reversible interconversion of μ-1,2-trans peroxido (^T P) and ^C P dicopper cores. Ca^II mediates this process by reversible binding at the Cu₂ O₂ core, highlighting the unique capability for metal-ion binding events to stabilize novel reactive fragments and control O₂ activation in biomimetic systems.

Theory Demonstrated a "Coupled" Mechanism for O2 Activation and Substrate Hydroxylation by Binuclear Copper Monooxygenases

Multiscale simulations have been performed to address the longstanding issue of "dioxygen activation" by the binuclear copper monooxygenases (PHM and DβM), which have been traditionally classified as "noncoupled" binuclear copper enzymes. Our QM/MM calculations rule out that Cu_M(II)-O₂^• is an active species for H-abstraction from the substrate. In contrast, Cu_M(II)-O₂^• would abstract an H atom from the cosubstrate ascorbate to form a Cu_M(II)-OOH intermediate in PHM and DβM. Consistent with the recently reported structural features of DβM, the umbrella sampling shows that the "open" conformation of the Cu_M(II)-OOH intermediate could readily transform into the "closed" conformation in PHM, in which we located a mixed-valent μ-hydroperoxodicopper(I,II) intermediate, (μ-OOH)Cu(I)Cu(II). The subsequent O-O cleavage and OH moiety migration to Cu_H generate the unexpected species (μ-O^•)(μ-OH)Cu(II)Cu(II), which is revealed to be the reactive intermediate responsible for substrate hydroxylation. We also demonstrate that the flexible Met ligand is favorable for O-O cleavage reactions, while the replacement of Met with the strongly bound His ligand would inhibit the O-O cleavage reactivity. As such, the study not only demonstrates a "coupled" mechanism for O₂ activation by binuclear copper monooxygenases but also deciphers the full catalytic cycle of PHM and DβM in accord with the available experimental data. These findings of O₂ activation and substrate hydroxylation by binuclear copper monooxygenases could expand our understanding of the reactivities of the synthetic monocopper complexes.

Copper(I) Complex Mediated Nitric Oxide Reductive Coupling: Ligand Hydrogen Bonding Derived Proton Transfer Promotes N2O(g) Release

A cuprous chelate bearing a secondary sphere hydrogen bonding functionality, [(PV-tmpa)Cu^I]⁺, transforms ^•NO_(g) to N₂O_(g) in high-yields in methanol. Ligand derived proton transfer facilitates N-O bond cleavage of a putative hyponitrite intermediate releasing N₂O_(g), underscoring the crucial balance between H-bonding capabilities and acidities in (bio)chemical ^•NO_(g) coupling systems.

Spin Interconversion of Heme-Peroxo-Copper Complexes Facilitated by Intramolecular Hydrogen-Bonding Interactions

Synthetic peroxo-bridged high-spin (HS) heme-(μ-η2:η1-O22-)-Cu(L) complexes incorporating (as part of the copper ligand) intramolecular hydrogen-bond (H-bond) capabilities and/or steric effects are herein demonstrated to affect the complex's electronic and geometric structure, notably impacting the spin state. An H-bonding interaction with the peroxo core favors a low-spin (LS) heme-(μ-η1:η1-O22-)-Cu(L) structure, resulting in a reversible temperature-dependent interconversion of spin state (5 coordinate HS to 6 coordinate LS). The LS state dominates at low temperatures, even in the absence of a strong trans-axial heme ligand. Lewis base addition inhibits the H-bond facilitated spin interconversion by competition for the H-bond donor, illustrating the precise H-bonding interaction required to induce spin-crossover (SCO). Resonance Raman spectroscopy (rR) shows that the H-bonding pendant interacts with the bridging peroxide ligand to stabilize the LS but not the HS state. The H-bond (to the Cu-bound O atom) acts to weaken the O-O bond and strengthen the Fe-O bond, exhibiting ν(M-O) and ν(O-O) values comparable to analogous known LS complexes with a strong donating trans-axial ligand, 1,5-dicyclohexylimidazole, (DCHIm)heme-(μ-η1:η1-O22-)-Cu(L). Variable-temperature (-90 to -130 °C) UV-vis and 2H NMR spectroscopies confirm the SCO process and implicate the involvement of solvent binding. Examining a case of solvent binding without SCO, thermodynamic parameters were obtained from a van't Hoff analysis, accounting for its contribution in SCO. Taken together, these data provide evidence for the H-bond group facilitating a core geometry change and allowing solvent to bind, stabilizing a LS state. The rR data, complemented by DFT analysis, reveal a stronger H-bonding interaction with the peroxo core in the LS compared to the HS complexes, which enthalpically favors the LS state. These insights enhance our fundamental understanding of secondary coordination sphere influences in metalloenzymes.

Influence of intramolecular secondary sphere hydrogen-bonding interactions on cytochrome c oxidase inspired low-spin heme-peroxo-copper complexes

Dioxygen reduction by heme-copper oxidases is a critical biochemical process, wherein hydrogen bonding is hypothesized to participate in the critical step involving the active-site reductive cleavage of the O-O bond. Sixteen novel synthetic heme-(μ-O2 2-)-Cu(XTMPA) complexes, whose design is inspired by the cytochrome c oxidase active site structure, were generated in an attempt to form the first intramolecular H-bonded complexes. Derivatives of the "parent" ligand (XTMPA, TMPA = (tris((2-pyridyl)methyl)amine)) possessing one or two amine pendants preferentially form an H-bond with the copper-bound O-atom of the peroxide bridge. This is evidenced by a characteristic blue shift in the ligand-to-metal charge transfer (LMCT) bands observed in UV-vis spectroscopy (consistent with lowering of the peroxo π* relative to the iron orbitals) and a weakening of the O-O bond determined by resonance Raman spectroscopy (rR), with support from Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations. Remarkably, with the TMPA-based infrastructure (versus similar heme-peroxo-copper complexes with different copper ligands), the typically undetected Cu-O stretch for these complexes was observed via rR, affording critical insights into the nature of the O-O peroxo core for the complexes studied. While amido functionalities have been shown to have greater H-bonding capabilities than their amino counterparts, in these heme-peroxo-copper complexes amido substituents distort the local geometry such that H-bonding with the peroxo core only imparts a weak electronic effect; optimal H-bonding interactions are observed by employing two amino groups on the copper ligand. The amino-substituted systems presented in this work reveal a key orientational anisotropy in H-bonding to the peroxo core for activating the O-O bond, offering critical insights into effective O-O cleavage chemistry. These findings indirectly support computational and protein structural studies suggesting the presence of an interstitial H-bonding water molecule in the CcO active site, which is critical for the desired reactivity. The results are evaluated with appropriate controls and discussed with respect to potential O2-reduction capabilities.

Unprecedented direct cupric-superoxo conversion to a bis-μ-oxo dicopper(III) complex and resulting oxidative activity

Investigations of small molecule copper-dioxygen chemistry can and have provided fundamental insights into enzymatic processes (e.g., copper metalloenzyme dioxygen binding geometries and their associated spectroscopy and substrate reactivity). Strategically designing copper-binding ligands has allowed for insight into properties that favor specific (di)copper-dioxygen species. Herein, the tetradentate tripodal TMPA-based ligand (TMPA = tris((2-pyridyl)methyl)amine) possessing a methoxy moiety in the 6-pyridyl position on one arm (OCH3TMPA) was investigated. This system allows for a trigonal bipyramidal copper(II) geometry as shown by the UV-vis and EPR spectra of the cupric complex [(OCH3TMPA)CuII(OH2)](ClO4)2. Cyclic voltammetry experiments determined the reduction potential of this copper(II) species to be -0.35 V vs. Fc+/0 in acetonitrile, similar to other TMPA-derivatives bearing sterically bulky 6-pyridyl substituents. The copper-dioxygen reactivity is also analogous to these TMPA-derivatives, affording a bis-μ-oxo dicopper(III) complex, [{(OCH3TMPA)CuIII}2(O2-)2]2+, upon oxygenation of the copper(I) complex [(OCH3TMPA)CuI](B(C6F5)4) at cryogenic temperatures in 2-methyltetrahydrofuran. This highly reactive intermediate is capable of oxidizing phenolic substrates through a net hydrogen atom abstraction. However, after bubbling of the precursor copper(I) complex with dioxygen at very low temperatures (-135 °C), a cupric superoxide species, [(OCH3TMPA)CuII(O2 •-)]+, is initially formed before slowly converting to [{(OCH3TMPA)CuIII}2(O2-)2]2+. This appears to be the first instance of the direct conversion of a cupric superoxide to a bis-μ-oxo dicopper(III) species in copper(I)-dioxygen chemistry.

Synthetic Fe/Cu Complexes: Toward Understanding Heme-Copper Oxidase Structure and Function

Heme-copper oxidases (HCOs) are terminal enzymes on the mitochondrial or bacterial respiratory electron transport chain, which utilize a unique heterobinuclear active site to catalyze the 4H+/4e- reduction of dioxygen to water. This process involves a proton-coupled electron transfer (PCET) from a tyrosine (phenolic) residue and additional redox events coupled to transmembrane proton pumping and ATP synthesis. Given that HCOs are large, complex, membrane-bound enzymes, bioinspired synthetic model chemistry is a promising approach to better understand heme-Cu-mediated dioxygen reduction, including the details of proton and electron movements. This review encompasses important aspects of heme-O2 and copper-O2 (bio)chemistries as they relate to the design and interpretation of small molecule model systems and provides perspectives from fundamental coordination chemistry, which can be applied to the understanding of HCO activity. We focus on recent advancements from studies of heme-Cu models, evaluating experimental and computational results, which highlight important fundamental structure-function relationships. Finally, we provide an outlook for future potential contributions from synthetic inorganic chemistry and discuss their implications with relevance to biological O2-reduction.

Intramolecular Hydrogen Bonding Enhances Stability and Reactivity of Mononuclear Cupric Superoxide Complexes

[(L)CuII(O2•-)]+ (i.e., cupric-superoxo) complexes, as the first and/or key reactive intermediates in (bio)chemical Cu-oxidative processes, including in the monooxygenases PHM and DβM, have been systematically stabilized by intramolecular hydrogen bonding within a TMPA ligand-based framework. Also, gradual strengthening of ligand-derived H-bonding dramatically enhances the [(L)CuII(O2•-)]+ reactivity toward hydrogen-atom abstraction (HAA) of phenolic O-H bonds. Spectroscopic properties of the superoxo complexes and their azido analogues, [(L)CuII(N3-)]+, also systematically change as a function of ligand H-bonding capability.

Phenylamino derivatives of tris(2-pyridylmethyl)amine: hydrogen-bonded peroxodicopper complexes

A series of copper complexes bearing new 6-substituted tris(2-pyridylmethyl)amine ligands (L^R) appended with NH(p-R-C₆H₄) groups (R = H, CF₃, OMe) were prepared. These ligands are electronically tunable (ΔE_1/2 = 160 mV) and Cu^I(L^R)⁺ complexes react with oxygen to form hydrogen bonded (trans-1,2-peroxo)dicopper species.

"Two-Story" Calix[6]arene-Based Zinc and Copper Complexes: Structure, Properties, and O2 Binding

A new "two-story" calix[6]arene-based ligand was synthesized, and its coordination chemistry was explored. It presents a tren cap connected to the calixarene small rim through three amido spacers. X-ray diffraction studies of its metal complexes revealed a six-coordinate Zn^II complex with all of the carbonyl groups of the amido arms bound and a five-coordinate Cu^II complex with only one amido arm bound. These dicationic complexes were poorly responsive toward exogenous neutral donors, but the amido arms were readily displaced by small anions or deprotonated with a base to give the corresponding monocationic complexes. Cyclic voltammetry in various solvents showed a reversible wave for the Cu^II/Cu^I couple at very negative potentials, denoting an electron-rich environment. The reversibility of the system was attributed to the amido arms, which can coordinate the metal center in both its +II and +I redox states. The reversibility was lost upon anion binding to Cu. Upon exposure of the Cu^I complex to O₂ at low temperature, a green species was obtained with a UV-vis signature typical of an end-on superoxide Cu^II complex. Such a species was proposed to be responsible for oxygen insertion reactions onto the ligand according to the unusual and selective four-electron oxidative pathway previously described with a "one-story" calix[6]tren ligand.

Enhanced catalytic four-electron dioxygen (O2) and two-electron hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) reduction with a copper(II) complex possessing a pendant ligand pivalamido group

A copper complex, [(PV-tmpa)Cu(II)](ClO4)2 (1) [PV-tmpa = bis(pyrid-2-ylmethyl){[6-(pivalamido)pyrid-2-yl]methyl}amine], acts as a more efficient catalyst for the four-electron reduction of O2 by decamethylferrocene (Fc*) in the presence of trifluoroacetic acid (CF3COOH) in acetone as compared with the corresponding copper complex without a pivalamido group, [(tmpa)Cu(II)](ClO4)2 (2) (tmpa = tris(2-pyridylmethyl)amine). The rate constant (k(obs)) of formation of decamethylferrocenium ion (Fc*(+)) in the catalytic four-electron reduction of O2 by Fc* in the presence of a large excess CF3COOH and O2 obeyed first-order kinetics. The k(obs) value was proportional to the concentration of catalyst 1 or 2, whereas the k(obs) value remained constant irrespective of the concentration of CF3COOH or O2. This indicates that electron transfer from Fc* to 1 or 2 is the rate-determining step in the catalytic cycle of the four-electron reduction of O2 by Fc* in the presence of CF3COOH. The second-order catalytic rate constant (k(cat)) for 1 is 4 times larger than the corresponding value determined for 2. With the pivalamido group in 1 compared to 2, the Cu(II)/Cu(I) potentials are -0.23 and -0.05 V vs SCE, respectively. However, during catalytic turnover, the CF3COO(-) anion present readily binds to 2 shifting the resulting complex's redox potential to -0.35 V. The pivalamido group in 1 is found to inhibit anion binding. The overall effect is to make 1 easier to reduce (relative to 2) during catalysis, accounting for the relative k(cat) values observed. 1 is also an excellent catalyst for the two-electron two-proton reduction of H2O2 to water and is also more efficient than is 2. For both complexes, reaction rates are greater than for the overall four-electron O2-reduction to water, an important asset in the design of catalysts for the latter.

Kinetics and thermodynamics of formation and electron-transfer reactions of Cu-O2 and Cu2-O2 complexes

The kinetics and thermodynamics of formation of Cu(II)-superoxo (Cu-O2) complexes by the reaction of Cu(I) complexes with dioxygen (O2) and the reduction of Cu(II)-superoxo complexes to dinuclear Cu-peroxo complexes are discussed. In the former case, electron transfer from a Cu(I) complex to O2 occurs concomitantly with binding of O2•- to the corresponding Cu(II) species. This is defined as an inner-sphere Cu(II) ion-coupled electron transfer process. Electron transfer from another Cu(I) complex to preformed Cu(II)-superoxo complexes also occurs concomitantly with binding of the the Cu(II)-peroxo species with the Cu(II) species to produce the dinuclear Cu-peroxo (Cu2-O2) complexes. The kinetics and thermodynamics of outer-sphere electron-transfer reduction of Cu2-O2 complexes are also been discussed in light of the Marcus theory of outer-sphere electron transfer.

Coordination chemistry and reactivity of a cupric hydroperoxide species featuring a proximal H-bonding substituent

At -90 °C in acetone, a stable hydroperoxo complex [(BA)Cu(II)OOH](+) (2) (BA, a tetradentate N(4) ligand possessing a pendant -N(H)CH(2)C(6)H(5) group) is generated by reacting [(BA)Cu(II)(CH(3)COCH(3))](2+) with only 1 equiv of H(2)O(2)/Et(3)N. The exceptional stability of 2 is ascribed to internal H-bonding. Species 2 is also generated in a manner not previously known in copper chemistry, by adding 1.5 equiv of H(2)O(2) (no base) to the cuprous complex [(BA)Cu(I)](+). The broad implications for this finding are discussed. Species 2 slowly converts to a μ-1,2-peroxodicopper(II) analogue (3) characterized by UV-vis and resonance Raman spectroscopies. Unlike a close analogue not possessing internal H-bonding, 2 affords no oxidative reactivity with internal or external substrates. However, 2 can be protonated to release H(2)O(2), but only with HClO(4), while 1 equiv Et(3)N restores 2.

Synthesis, structure, and physical properties for a series of trigonal bipyramidal M(II)-Cl complexes with intramolecular hydrogen bonds

A series of transition metal chloro complexes with the tetradentate tripodal tris(2-amino-oxazoline)amine ligand (TAO) have been synthesized and characterized. X-Ray structural analyses of these compounds demonstrate the formation of the mononuclear complexes [M(II)(TAO)(Cl)](+), where M(II) = Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu and Zn. These complexes exhibit distorted trigonal-bipyramidal geometry, coordinating the metal through an apical tertiary amine, three equatorial imino nitrogen atoms, and an axial chloride anion. All the complexes possess an intramolecular hydrogen-bonding (H-bonding) network within the cavity occupied by the metal-bound chloride ion. The metal-chloride bond distances are atypically long, which is attributed to the effects of the H-bonding network. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy of the Zn complex suggests that the solid-state structures are representative of that observed in solution, and that the H-bonding interactions persist as well. Additionally, density functional theory (DFT) calculations were carried out to probe the electronic structures of the complexes.

Co-ordination behaviour of a novel bisthiourea tripodal ligand: structural, spectroscopic and electrochemical properties of a series of transition metal complexes

The synthesis of a thiourea substituted derivative of tris(pyridyl-2-methyl)amine (TPA) is reported. Two of the three pyridine rings are substituted in the 6-position with benzoylthiourea groups. These thiourea groups undergo intramolecular hydrogen bonding to form six-membered rings which leaves one N-H group available to form hydrogen bonds with other molecules. This reports details how the complexation of this new ligand with transition metal ions yields complexes with differing geometries. Seven co-ordinate Mn(II) and Cd(II), six co-ordinate Ni(II) and five co-ordinate Co(II), Cu(II) and Zn(II) complexes have been isolated.

Cupric superoxo-mediated intermolecular C-H activation chemistry

The new cupric superoxo complex [LCu(II)(O(2)(•-))](+), which possesses particularly strong O-O and Cu-O bonding, is capable of intermolecular C-H activation of the NADH analogue 1-benzyl-1,4-dihydronicotinamide (BNAH). Kinetic studies indicated a first-order dependence on both the Cu complex and BNAH with a deuterium kinetic isotope effect (KIE) of 12.1, similar to that observed for certain copper monooxygenases.

Role of the secondary coordination sphere in metal-mediated dioxygen activation

Alfred Werner proposed nearly 100 years ago that the secondary coordination sphere has a role in determining the physical properties of transition-metal complexes. We now know that the secondary coordination sphere impacts nearly all aspects of transition-metal chemistry, including the reactivity and selectivity in metal-mediated processes. These features are highlighted in the binding and activation of dioxygen by transition-metal complexes. There are clear connections between control of the secondary coordination sphere and the ability of metal complexes to (1) reversibly bind dioxygen or (2) bind and activate dioxygen to form highly reactive metal-oxo complexes. In this Forum Article, several biological and synthetic examples are presented and discussed in terms of structure-function relationships. Particular emphasis is given to systems with defined noncovalent interactions, such as intramolecular H-bonds involving dioxygen-derived ligands. To further illustrate these effects, the homolytic cleavage of C-H bonds by metal-oxo complexes with basic oxo ligands is described.

The combination of transition metal ions and hydrogen-bonding interactions

This feature article presents an overview of the types of hydrogen bonding interactions involving metal complexes and their functional effects. It shows with recent examples why hydrogen bonds have become a crucial functional and structural element in modern inorganic chemistry. The relevance of this combination in tackling current chemistry challenges such as energy production and the development of new materials and more effective catalysts, sensors and medicines is illustrated.

Theoretical Characterization of End-On and Side-On Peroxide Coordination in Ligated Cu2O2 Models

The relative energetics of mu-eta1:eta1 (trans end-on) and mu-eta2:eta2 (side-on) peroxo isomers of Cu2O2 fragments supported by 0, 2, 4, and 6 ammonia ligands have been computed with various density functional, coupled-cluster, and multiconfigurational protocols. There is substantial disagreement between the different levels for most cases, although completely renormalized coupled-cluster methods appear to offer the most reliable predictions. The significant biradical character of the end-on peroxo isomer proves problematic for the density functionals, while the demands on active space size and the need to account for interactions between different states in second-order perturbation theory prove challenging for the multireference treatments. In the latter case, it proved impossible to achieve any convincing convergence.

Hydrogen Bonding Cavities Regulating Redox Behavior and Binding of Metal-Bound Ligands

Binding of 3,5-di-tert-butyl-1,2-benzochatechol (H2DTBC) at Zn(II) complexes of a tetradentate, tripodal ligand L is significantly enhanced (36-4.6 x 10(4) fold), and its reduction potential shifted (90-270 mV) to more positive values by introducing one to three amino hydrogen bond donors. The structure of one of the [(L)Zn(DTBC)] complexes is reported and shows intramolecular N-H...O hydrogen bonding between the ligand-based amino group and the Zn(II)-bound chatecholate, which provides an explanation for the observed behavior.

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.

The strength of hydrogen bonding to metal-bound ligands can contribute to changes in the redox behaviour of metal centres

A series of nine tripodal tetradentate ligands based on tris(pyridyl-2-methyl)amine TPA with hydrogen bond donors R in one, two and three of the pyridine 6-positions (R = NH2 amino, L(Am-1,2,3); NHCH2(t)Bu neopentylamino, L(Np-1,2,3); NHCO(t)Bu pivaloylamido, L(Piv-1,2,3)) and TPA are used to investigate the effect of different hydrogen bonding microenvironments on electrochemical properties of their LCuCl complexes. The hydrogen bond donors are rigidly preorganised and suitably oriented for intramolecular N-H...Cl-Cu hydrogen bonds. Cyclic voltammetry studies show that the reduction potential of the Cu(II)/Cu(I) couple as a function of the ligand follows the order TPA < L(Am-n) < or approximately L(Np-n) < L(Piv-n), and that the magnitude of the effect increases with the number of hydrogen bonding groups. These trends could be explained in terms of the steric and electronic effects exerted by these groups stabilising the Cu(I) oxidation state. In fact, the X-ray structure of the air-stable [(L(Piv-3))Cu(I)Cl] complex is reported and shows elongated Cu-N and Cu-Cl bonds, presumably due to the combination of steric and electron withdrawing effects exerted by the three pivaloylamido groups. We reasoned that the strength of hydrogen bonding in the Cu(I) and Cu(II) oxidation states could differ and therefore contribute also to the aforementioned redox changes; this hypothesis is tested using IR and NMR spectroscopy. IR studies of the [(L(Piv-1,2,3))Cu(I)Cl] and [(L(Piv-1,2,3))Cu(II)Cl]+ complexes in acetonitrile show that the intramolecular N-H...Cl-Cu hydrogen bonding weakens in the order L(Piv-1) > L(Piv-2) > L(Piv-3), and that it is stronger in the Cu(I) complexes. The 1H NMR spectra of the [(L(Piv1,2,3))Cu(I)Cl] complexes are in complete agreement with the IR data, and reveal that the stability of the Cu(I) complexes to oxidation in air increases in the order L(Piv-1) < L(Piv-2) << L(Piv-3). The hydrogen bonds in the Cu(I) complexes are stronger because of the higher electron density on the Cl ligand, when compared to the Cu(II) complexes. This is consistent with ab initio MP2 calculations performed on the complexes [(L(Piv-3))Cu(I)Cl] and [(L(Piv-3))Cu(II)Cl]+. Thus, the electron density of a metal-bound ligand acting as hydrogen bond acceptor is revealed as the major factor in determining the strength of the hydrogen bonds formed. From the IR data the energies of the N-H...Cl-Cu hydrogen bonds is estimated, as is the contribution of changes in hydrogen bond strength with the oxidation state of the copper centre and number of interactions to stabilising the Cu(I) state. Some of the implications of this result in dioxygen activation chemistry are discussed.

Steric and hydrogen-bonding effects on the stability of copper complexes with small molecules

A series of the copper(II) complexes with tripodal tetradentate tris(pyridyl 2-methyl)amine-based ligands possessing the hydrogen-bonding 6-aminopyridine units (tapa, three amino groups; bapa, two amino groups; mapa, one amino group) have been synthesized, and their copper(II) complexes with a small molecule such as dioxygen and azide have been studied spectroscopically and structurally. The reaction of their Cu(II) complexes with NaN(3) have given the mononuclear copper complexes with azide in an end-on mode, [Cu(tapa)(N(3))]ClO(4) (1a), [Cu(bapa)(N(3))]ClO(4) (2a), [Cu(mapa)(N(3))]ClO(4) (3a), and [Cu(tpa)(N(3))]ClO(4) (4a) (tpa, no amino group). The crystal structures have revealed that the coordination geometries around the metal centers are almost a trigonal-bipyramidal rather than a square-planar except for 1a with an intermediate between them. The UV-vis and ESR spectral data indicate that the increase of NH(2) groups of ligands causes the structural change from trigonal-bipyramidal to square-pyramidal geometry, which is regulated by a combination of steric repulsion and hydrogen bond. The steric repulsion of amino groups with the azide nitrogen gives rise to elongation of the Cu-N(py) bonds, which leads to the positive shift of the redox potentials of the complexes. The hydrogen bonds between the coordinated azide and amino nitrogens (2.84-3.05 A) contribute clearly to the fixation of azide. The Cu(I) complexes with bapa and mapa ligands have been obtained as a precipitate, although that with tapa was not isolated. The reactions of the Cu(I) complexes with dioxygen in MeOH at -75 degrees C have given the trans-micro-1,2 peroxo dinuclear Cu(II) complexes formulated as [((tapa)Cu)(2)(O(2))](2+) (1c), [((bapa)Cu)(2)(O(2))](2+) (2c), and [((mapa)Cu)(2)(O(2))](2+) (3c), whose characterizations were confirmed by UV-vis, ESR, and resonance Raman spectroscopies. UV-vis spectra of 1c, 2c, and 3c exhibited intense bands assignable to pi(O(2)(2)(-))-to-d(Cu) charge transfer (CT) transitions at lambda(max)/nm (epsilon/M(-1)cm(-1)) = 449 (4620), 474 (6860), and 500 (9680), respectively. The series of the peroxo adducts generated was ESR silent. The resonance Raman spectra exhibited the enhanced features assignable to two stretching vibrations nu((16)O-(16)O/(18)O-(18)O)/cm(-1) and nu(Cu-(16)O/Cu-(18)O)/cm(-1) at 853/807 (1c), 858/812 (2c), 847/800 (3c), and at 547/522 (2c), 544/518 (3c), respectively. The thermal stability of the peroxo-copper species has increased with increase in the number of the hydrogen-bonding interactions between the peroxide and amino groups.

Preparation, Structure Characterization, and Oxidation Activity of Ruthenium Complexes with Tripodal Ligands Bearing Noncovalent Interaction Sites

Ruthenium(II/III) complexes with tripodal tris(pyridylmethyl)amine ligands bearing one, two, or three pivalamide groups (MPPA, BPPA, TPPA: amide-series ligands) or neopentylamine ones (MNPA, BNPA, TNPA: amine-series ligands) at the 6-position of the pyridine ring have been synthesized and structurally characterized. The X-ray structure analyses of the single crystals of these complexes reveal that they complete an octahedral geometry with the tripodal ligand and some monodentate ligands. The amide-series ligands prefer to form a Ru(II) complex, while the amine-series ones give a Ru(III) complex. In the presence of PhIO oxidant, the catalytic activities for epoxidation of olefins, hydroxylation of alkane, and dehydrogenation of alcohol have been investigated using the six ruthenium complexes [Ru(II)(tppa)Cl(2)] (1), [Ru(III)(tnpa)Cl(2)]PF(6) (2), [Ru(II)(bppa)Cl]PF(6) (3), [Ru(III)(bnpa)Cl(2)]PF(6) (4), [Ru(II)(mppa)Cl]PF(6) (5), and [Ru(III)(mnpa)Cl(2)]PF(6) (6). Among them, the amide-series complexes, 1, 3, and 5, showed a higher epoxidation activity in comparison with the amine-series ones, 2, 4, and 6. On the other hand, the latter showed a higher reactivity for hydroxylation, allylic oxidation, and C=C bond cleavage reactions compared with the former. Such a complementary reactivity is interpreted by the character of the ruthenium-oxo species involving electronically equivalent formulas, Ru(V)=O and Ru(IV)-O.