The secondary coordination sphere and axial ligand effects on oxygen reduction reaction by iron porphyrins: a DFT computational study

Installing Quinol Proton/Electron Mediators onto Non-Heme Iron Complexes Enables Them to Electrocatalytically Reduce O2 to H2O at High Rates and Low Overpotentials

We prepare iron(II) and iron(III) complexes with polydentate ligands that contain quinols, which can act as electron proton transfer mediators. Although the iron(II) complex with N-(2,5-dihydroxybenzyl)-N,N',N'-tris(2-pyridinylmethyl)-1,2-ethanediamine (H2qp1) is inactive as an electrocatalyst, iron complexes with N,N'-bis(2,5-dihydroxybenzyl)-N,N'-bis(2-pyridinylmethyl)-1,2-ethanediamine (H4qp2) and N-(2,5-dihydroxybenzyl)-N,N'-bis(2-pyridinylmethyl)-1,2-ethanediamine (H2qp3) were found to be much more active and more selective for water production than a previously reported cobalt-H2qp1 electrocatalyst while operating at low overpotentials. The catalysts with H2qp3 can enter the catalytic cycle as either Fe(II) or Fe(III) species; entering the cycle through Fe(III) lowers the effective overpotential. On the basis of their TOF0 values, the successful iron-quinol complexes are better electrocatalysts for oxygen reduction than previously reported iron-porphyrin compounds, with the Fe(III)-H2qp3 arguably being the best homogeneous electrocatalyst for this reaction. With iron, the quinol-for-phenol substitution shifts the product selectivity from H2O2 to water with little impact on the overpotential, but unlike cobalt, this substitution also greatly improves the activity, as assessed by TOFmax, by hastening the protonation and oxygen binding steps. The addition of a second quinol further enhances the activity and selectivity for water but modestly increases the effective overpotential.

Homoprotocatechuate dioxygenase active site: Imitating the secondary sphere base via computational design

Oxidative ring cleavage reactions have attracted great interest and various studies on the catechol ring-cleaving enzyme homoprotocatechuate dioxygenase (HPCD) have been reported in the literature. The available data on how the proton transfer takes place led us to design a potential HPCD model structure. A secondary sphere effect of utmost importance, the assistance of His200, which is critical for the catechol proton to migrate to dioxygen, was cautiously included on the first coordination shell. This was done mainly by modifying the axial ligands in the first coordination shell of HPCD such that the dual basic/acidic role in the proton transfer pathway of His200 was reproduced. Model systems with mono-, bi-, and tridentate ligands are reported. Energetically feasible reaction channels on synthetically promising ligand structures are identified. Key structural and electronic principles for obtaining viable proton transfer paths are outlined.

Computational Mechanistic Investigations of Biocatalytic Nitrenoid C-H Functionalizations via Engineered Heme Proteins

Engineered heme proteins were developed to possess numerous excellent biocatalytic nitrenoid C-H functionalizations. Computational approaches such as density functional theory (DFT), hybrid quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics (QM/MM), and molecular dynamics (MD) calculations were employed to help understand some important mechanistic aspects of these heme nitrene transfer reactions. This review summarizes advances of computational reaction pathway results of these biocatalytic intramolecular and intermolecular C-H aminations/amidations, focusing on mechanistic origins of reactivity, regioselectivity, enantioselectivity, diastereoselectivity as well as effects of substrate substituent, axial ligand, metal center, and protein environment. Some important common and distinctive mechanistic features of these reactions were also described with brief outlook of future development.

Biocatalytic Intramolecular C-H aminations via Engineered Heme Proteins: Full Reaction Pathways and Axial Ligand Effects

Engineered heme protein biocatalysts provide an efficient and sustainable approach to develop amine-containing compounds through C-H amination. A quantum chemical study to reveal the complete heme catalyzed intramolecular C-H amination pathway and protein axial ligand effect was reported, using reactions of an experimentally used arylsulfonylazide with hemes containing L=none, SH^- , MeO^- , and MeOH to simulate no axial ligand, negatively charged Cys and Ser ligands, and a neutral ligand for comparison. Nitrene formation was found as the overall rate-determining step (RDS) and the catalyst with Ser ligand has the best reactivity, consistent with experimental reports. Both RDS and non-RDS (nitrene transfer) transition states follow the barrier trend of MeO^- <SH^- <MeOH<None due to the charge donation capability of the axial ligand to influence the key charge transfer process as the electronic driving forces. Results also provide new ideas for future biocatalyst design with enhanced reactivities.

Promotion of Catalytic Oxygen Reduction Reactions: The Utility of Proton Management Substituents on Cobalt Porphyrins

Three ABAB-type cobalt meso-tetraarylporphyrins with fluorine (F-CoPor), acetic acid (AC-CoPor), and cyanoacetic acid (CN-CoPor) groups at the para-positions of phenyl rings at the 10,20-positions are synthesized and evaluated as catalysts for oxygen reduction reactions (ORRs). In density functional theory calculations, the frontier molecular orbitals of these complexes were found to be stabilized relative to model complexes with electron-withdrawing atoms or moieties on the meso-aryl rings. Electrochemical measurements suggest that electrodes with CN-CoPor (CN-CoPor/C) exhibit the most positive ORR potential values and the highest limiting current density in both acidic and alkali electrolytes, while the F-CoPor/C electrocatalyst exhibits extremely low ORR performance. The electron transfer numbers for the electrocatalysts are more than 3.0, indicating that a mixture of 2- and 4-electron transfer pathways occurs. The results demonstrate that coupling the hydrogen bonding properties and electron-withdrawing abilities through rational design of the substituent at the meso-position is an efficient way to modify the ORR performance.

Homogeneous Catalytic Reduction of O2 to H2O by a Terpyridine-Based FeN3O Complex

We report a new terpyridine-based FeN₃O catalyst, Fe(tpy^tbupho)Cl₂, which reduces O₂ to H₂O. Variable concentration and variable temperature spectrochemical studies with decamethylferrocene as a chemical reductant in acetonitrile solution enabled the elucidation of key reaction parameters for the catalytic reduction of O₂ to H₂O by Fe(tpy^tbupho)Cl₂. These mechanistic studies suggest that a 2 + 2 mechanism is operative, where hydrogen peroxide is produced as a discrete intermediate, prior to further reduction to H₂O. Consistent with this proposal, the spectrochemically measured first-order rate constant k (s^-1) value for H₂O₂ reduction is larger than that for O₂ reduction. Further, significant H₂O₂ production is observed under hydrodynamic conditions in rotating ring-disk electrode measurements, where the product can be swept away from the cathode surface before further reduction occurs.

End-On Copper(I) Superoxo and Cu(II) Peroxo and Hydroperoxo Complexes Generated by Cryoreduction/Annealing and Characterized by EPR/ENDOR Spectroscopy

In this report, we investigate the physical and chemical properties of monocopper Cu(I) superoxo and Cu(II) peroxo and hydroperoxo complexes. These are prepared by cryoreduction/annealing of the parent [LCuI(O2)]+ Cu(I) dioxygen adducts with the tripodal, N4-coordinating, tetradentate ligands L = PVtmpa, DMMtmpa, TMG3tren and are best described as [LCuII(O2•-)]+ Cu(II) complexes that possess end-on (η1-O2•-) superoxo coordination. Cryogenic γ-irradiation (77 K) of the EPR-silent parent complexes generates mobile electrons from the solvent that reduce the [LCuII(O2•-)]+ within the frozen matrix, trapping the reduced form fixed in the structure of the parent complex. Cryoannealing, namely progressively raising the temperature of a frozen sample in stages and then cooling back to low temperature at each stage for examination, tracks the reduced product as it relaxes its structure and undergoes chemical transformations. We employ EPR and ENDOR (electron-nuclear double resonance) as powerful spectroscopic tools for examining the properties of the states that form. Surprisingly, the primary products of reduction of the Cu(II) superoxo species are metastable cuprous superoxo [LCuI(O2•-)]+ complexes. During annealing to higher temperatures this state first undergoes internal electron transfer (IET) to form the end-on Cu(II) peroxo state, which is then protonated to form Cu(II)-OOH species. This is the first time these methods, which have been used to determine key details of metalloenzyme catalytic cycles and are a powerful tools for tracking PCET reactions, have been applied to copper coordination compounds.

Pendent Relay Enhances H2O2 Selectivity during Dioxygen Reduction Mediated by Bipyridine-Based Co-N2O2 Complexes

Generally, cobalt-N₂O₂ complexes show selectivity for hydrogen peroxide during electrochemical dioxygen (O₂) reduction. We recently reported a Co(III)-N₂O₂ complex with a 2,2'-bipyridine-based ligand backbone which showed alternative selectivity: H₂O was observed as the primary reduction product from O₂ (71 ± 5%) with decamethylferrocene as a chemical reductant and acetic acid as a proton donor in methanol solution. We hypothesized that the key selectivity difference in this case arises in part from increased favorability of protonation at the distal O position of the key intermediate Co(III)-hydroperoxide species. To interrogate this hypothesis, we have prepared a new Co(III) compound that contains pendent -OMe groups poised to direct protonation toward the proximal O atom of this hydroperoxo intermediate. Mechanistic studies in acetonitrile (MeCN) solution reveal two regimes are possible in the catalytic response, dependent on added acid strength and the presence of the pendent proton donor relay. In the presence of stronger acids, the activity of the complex containing pendent relays becomes O₂ dependent, implying a shift to Co(III)-superoxide protonation as the rate-determining step. Interestingly, the inclusion of the relay results in primarily H₂O₂ production in MeCN, despite minimal difference between the standard reduction potentials of the three complexes tested. EPR spectroscopic studies indicate the formation of Co(III)-superoxide species in the presence of exogenous base, with greater O₂ reactivity observed in the presence of the pendent -OMe groups.

Proton-coupled electron transfer reactivities of electronically divergent heme superoxide intermediates: a kinetic, thermodynamic, and theoretical study

Heme superoxides are one of the most versatile metallo-intermediates in biology, and they mediate a vast variety of oxidation and oxygenation reactions involving O2(g). Overall proton-coupled electron transfer (PCET) processes they facilitate may proceed via several different mechanistic pathways, attributes of which are not yet fully understood. Herein we present a detailed investigation into concerted PCET events of a series of geometrically similar, but electronically disparate synthetic heme superoxide mimics, where unprecedented, PCET feasibility-determining electronic effects of the heme center have been identified. These electronic factors firmly modulate both thermodynamic and kinetic parameters that are central to PCET, as supported by our experimental and theoretical observations. Consistently, the most electron-deficient superoxide adduct shows the strongest driving force for PCET, whereas the most electron-rich system remains unreactive. The pivotal role of these findings in understanding significant heme systems in biology, as well as in alternative energy applications is also discussed.

O2 Reduction by Iron Porphyrins with Electron Withdrawing Groups: To Scale or not to Scale

Iron porphyrins are synthesized by systematically introducing electron withdrawing groups (EWGs) on pyrroles to evaluate the relationship between rate (k) and overpotential (η). The results indicate that while EWGs lead...

Polyaromatic hydrocarbon derivatized azo-oximes of cobalt(iii) for the ligand-redox controlled electrocatalytic oxygen reduction reaction

Two new polyaromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) derivatized cobalt(iii) azo-oxime complexes were synthesized and their activity in electrocatalytic oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) were explored.

Small-molecule activation with iron porphyrins using electrons, photons and protons: some recent advances and future strategies

Substituted tetraphenyl Fe porphyrins are versatile molecular catalysts for the activation of small molecules (such as O₂, H⁺ or CO₂), which could lead to renewable energy storage, the direct production of fuels or new catalytic relevant processes.

Promoting proton coupled electron transfer in redox catalysts through molecular design

Mini-review on using the secondary coordination sphere to facilitate multi-electron, multi-proton catalysis.

Hydrogen atom abstraction by synthetic heme ferric superoxide and hydroperoxide species

To date, artificial dioxygen adducts of heme have not been demonstrated to be able to oxidize organic substrates in sharp contrast to their non-heme analogues and naturally occurring enzymes like heme dioxygenases. To address this apparent anomaly, an iron porphyrin complex is synthesized which includes a pendant quinol group. The corresponding dioxygen bound iron porphyrin species is demonstrated to perform hydrogen atom transfer (HAT) from the quinol group appended to the porphyrin ligand. The resultant ferric peroxide, formed by the first HAT, performs a 2nd HAT generating a ferryl species (FeIV[double bond, length as m-dash]O) and resulting in the 2e-/2H+ oxidation of the pendant hydroquinone to quinone.

Stoichiometric and electrocatalytic production of hydrogen peroxide driven by a water-soluble copper(ii) complex

Herein, a water-soluble molecular copper complex was investigated as a catalyst for O₂ reduction in both water and an organic solvent.

Oxygen Reduction by Homogeneous Molecular Catalysts and Electrocatalysts

The oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) is a key component of biological processes and energy technologies. This Review provides a comprehensive report of soluble molecular catalysts and electrocatalysts for the ORR. The precise synthetic control and relative ease of mechanistic study for homogeneous molecular catalysts, as compared to heterogeneous materials or surface-adsorbed species, enables a detailed understanding of the individual steps of ORR catalysis. Thus, the Review places particular emphasis on ORR mechanism and thermodynamics. First, the thermochemistry of oxygen reduction and the factors influencing ORR efficiency are described to contextualize the discussion of catalytic studies that follows. Reports of ORR catalysis are presented in terms of their mechanism, with separate sections for catalysis proceeding via initial outer- and inner-sphere electron transfer to O₂. The rates and selectivities (for production of H₂O₂ vs H₂O) of these catalysts are provided, along with suggested methods for accurately comparing catalysts of different metals and ligand scaffolds that were examined under different experimental conditions.