WATER AND PROTON EXCHANGE PROCESSES ON METAL IONS

Creating Order in Ultrastable Phosphonate Metal-Organic Frameworks via Isolable Hydrogen-Bonded Intermediates

The stability presented by trivalent metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) makes them an attractive class of materials. With phosphonate-based ligands, crystallization is a challenge, as there are significantly more binding motifs that can be adopted due to the extra oxygen tether compared to carboxylate counterparts and the self-assembly processes are less reversible. Despite this, we have reported charge-assisted hydrogen-bonded metal-organic frameworks (HMOFs) consisting of [Cr(H2O)6]3+ and phosphonate ligands, which were crystallographically characterized. We sought to use these HMOFs as a crystalline intermediate to synthesize ordered Cr(III)-phosphonate MOFs. This can be done by dehydrating the HMOF to remove the aquo ligands around the Cr(III) center, forcing metal-phosphonate coordination. Herein, a new porous HMOF, H-CALF-50, is synthesized and then dehydrated to yield the MOF CALF-50. CALF-50 is ordered, although it is not single crystalline. It does, however, have exceptional stability, maintaining crystallinity and surface area after boiling in water for 3 weeks and soaking in 14.5 M H3PO4 for 24 h and 9 M HCl for 72 h. Computational methods are used to study the HMOF to MOF transformation and give insight into the nature of the structure and the degree of heterogeneity.

Amyloid-β Tetramers and Divalent Cations at the Membrane/Water Interface: Simple Models Support a Functional Role

Charge polarization at the membrane interface is a fundamental process in biology. Despite the lower concentration compared to the abundant monovalent ions, the relative abundance of divalent cations (Ca2+, Mg2+, Zn2+, Fe2+, Cu2+) in particular spaces, such as the neuron synapse, raised many questions on the possible effects of free multivalent ions and of the required protection of membranes by the eventual defects caused by the free forms of the cations. In this work, we first applied a recent realistic model of divalent cations to a well-investigated model of a polar lipid bilayer, di-myristoyl phosphatidyl choline (DMPC). The full atomistic model allows a fairly good description of changes in the hydration of charged and polar groups upon the association of cations to lipid atoms. The lipid-bound configurations were analyzed in detail. In parallel, amyloid-β 1-42 (Aβ42) peptides assembled into tetramers were modeled at the surface of the same bilayer. Two of the protein tetramers' models were loaded with four Cu2+ ions, the latter bound as in DMPC-free Aβ42 oligomers. The two Cu-bound models differ in the binding topology: one with each Cu ion binding each of the monomers in the tetramer; one with pairs of Cu ions linking two monomers into dimers, forming tetramers as dimers of dimers. The models here described provide hints on the possible role of Cu ions in synaptic plasticity and of Aβ42 oligomers in storing the same ions away from lipids. The release of structurally disordered peptides in the synapse can be a mechanism to recover ion homeostasis and lipid membranes from changes in the divalent cation concentration.

Kinetic aspects of iron(III)-chelation therapy with deferasirox (DFX) revealed by the solvolytic dissociation rate of the Fe(III)-DFX complex estimated with capillary electrophoretic reactor

Capillary electrophoresis was used to estimate the solvolytic dissociation rate (k_d) of metal complexes of deferasirox (DFX, H₃L), a drug used to treat iron overload. Inert Co^IIIL₂^3- did not dissociate. The estimated k_d value for Fe^IIIL₂^3- was (2.7 ± 0.3) × 10^-4 s^-1 (298 K, pH 7.4). The k_d values of other complexes (Al^IIIL₂^3-, Ni^IIL₂^4-, and Mn^IIL^-) were in the range 10^-3-10^-4 s^-1. In contrast, Zn^IIL^- and Cu^IIL^- were too labile to allow k_d estimation. The fact that the half-life of Fe^IIIL₂^3- (43.3 min) is shorter than the blood half-life of DFX (8-16 h) implies that the blood concentration of DFX should be high enough to prevent dissociation of Fe^IIIL₂^3-. The possibility of a safer iron-chelation therapy that avoids excretion of other essential metal ions such as Zn^II is discussed, highlighting the importance of selectivity in terms of kinetic stability.

Synthesis of Sulfilimines Enabled by Copper-Catalyzed S-Arylation of Sulfenamides

Herein, an unprecedented synthetic route to sulfilimines via a copper-catalyzed Chan-Lam-type coupling of sulfenamides is presented. A key to success in this novel transformation is the chemoselective S-arylation of S(II) sulfenamides to form S(IV) sulfilimines, overriding the competitive, and more thermodynamically favored, C-N bond formation that does not require a change in the sulfur oxidation state. Computations reveal that the selectivity arises from a selective transmetallation event where bidentate sulfenamide coordination through the sulfur and oxygen atoms favors the S-arylation pathway. The mild and environmentally benign catalytic conditions enable broad functional group compatibility, allowing a variety of diaryl or alkyl aryl sulfilimines to be efficiently prepared. The Chan-Lam coupling procedure could also tolerate alkenylboronic acids as coupling partners to afford alkenyl aryl sulfilimines, a class of scaffolds that cannot be directly synthesized via conventional imination strategies. The benzoyl-protecting groups could be conveniently removed from the product, which, in turn, could be readily transformed into several S(IV) and S(VI) derivatives.

On the Hydration of the Rare Earth Ions in Aqueous Solution

The totally symmetric stretching mode $$\nu_{1}$$ν1 Ln–(OH2) of the first hydration shells of all the rare earth (RE) ions across the series from lanthanum to lutetium has been measured on dilute aqueous perchlorate solutions at room temperature. An S-shaped relationship has been found between the $$\nu_{1}$$ν1 Ln–(OH2) peak positions and the Ln–(OH2) bond distances of the lanthanide(III) aqua ions. While the light rare earth ions form nona-hydrates, the heavy ones form octa-hydrates and the rare earth ions in the middle of the series show non integer hydration numbers between 9 and 8. A relationship between wavenumber positions $$\nu_{1}$$ν1 Ln–(OH2) and the Ln–(OH2) bond distances of the RE hydrates has been given. Recent quantum mechanical calculations support the given interpretation.

Preparation of metal–organic frameworks with bimetallic linkers and corresponding properties

A series of metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) with bimetallic linkers were synthesized through a facile reflux route.

Nanosecond Dynamics at Protein Metal Sites: An Application of Perturbed Angular Correlation (PAC) of γ-Rays Spectroscopy

Metalloproteins are essential to numerous reactions in nature, and constitute approximately one-third of all known proteins. Molecular dynamics of proteins has been elucidated with great success both by experimental and theoretical methods, revealing atomic level details of function involving the organic constituents on a broad spectrum of time scales. However, the characterization of dynamics at biomolecular metal sites on nanosecond time scales is scarce in the literature. The aqua ions of many biologically relevant metal ions exhibit exchange of water molecules on the nanosecond time scale or faster, often defining their reactivity in aqueous solution, and this is presumably also a relevant time scale for the making and breaking of coordination bonds between metal ions and ligands at protein metal sites. Ligand exchange dynamics is critical for a variety of elementary steps of reactions in metallobiochemistry, for example, association and dissociation of metal bound water, association of substrate and dissociation of product in the catalytic cycle of metalloenzymes, at regulatory metal sites which require binding and dissociation of metal ions, as well as in the transport of metal ions across cell membranes or between proteins involved in metal ion homeostasis. In Perturbed Angular Correlation of γ-rays (PAC) spectroscopy, the correlation in time and space of two γ-rays emitted successively in a nuclear decay is recorded, reflecting the hyperfine interactions of the PAC probe nucleus with the surroundings. This allows for characterization of molecular and electronic structure as well as nanosecond dynamics at the PAC probe binding site. Herein, selected examples describing the application of PAC spectroscopy in probing the dynamics at protein metal sites are presented, including (1) exchange of Cd²⁺ bound water in de novo designed synthetic proteins, and the effect of remote mutations on metal site dynamics; (2) dynamics at the β-lactamase active site, where the metal ion appears to jump between the two adjacent sites; (3) structural relaxation in small blue copper proteins upon ¹¹¹Ag⁺ to ¹¹¹Cd²⁺ transformation in radioactive nuclear decay; (4) metal ion transfer between two HAH1 proteins with change in coordination number; and (5) metal ion sensor proteins with two coexisting metal site structures. With this Account, we hope to make our modest contribution to the field and perhaps spur additional interest in dynamics at protein metal sites, which we consider to be severely underexplored. Relatively little is known about detailed atomic motions at metal sites, for example, how ligand exchange processes affect protein function, and how the amino acid composition of the protein may control this facet of metal site characteristics. We also aim to provide the reader with a qualitative impression of the possibilities offered by PAC spectroscopy in bioinorganic chemistry, especially when elucidating dynamics at protein metal sites, and finally present data that may serve as benchmarks on a relevant time scale for development and tests of theoretical molecular dynamics methods applied to biomolecular metal sites.

Mn(II) Oxidation by the Multicopper Oxidase Complex Mnx: A Binuclear Activation Mechanism

The bacterial protein complex Mnx contains a multicopper oxidase (MCO) MnxG that, unusually, catalyzes the two-electron oxidation of Mn(II) to MnO₂ biomineral, via a Mn(III) intermediate. Although Mn(III)/Mn(II) and Mn(IV)/Mn(III) reduction potentials are expected to be high, we find a low reduction potential, 0.38 V (vs Normal Hydrogen Electrode, pH 7.8), for the MnxG type 1 Cu²⁺, the electron acceptor. Indeed the type 1 Cu²⁺ is not reduced by Mn(II) in the absence of molecular oxygen, indicating that substrate oxidation requires an activation step. We have investigated the enzyme mechanism via electronic absorption spectroscopy, using chemometric analysis to separate enzyme-catalyzed MnO₂ formation from MnO₂ nanoparticle aging. The nanoparticle aging time course is characteristic of nucleation and particle growth; rates for these processes followed expected dependencies on Mn(II) concentration and temperature, but exhibited different pH optima. The enzymatic time course is sigmoidal, signaling an activation step, prior to turnover. The Mn(II) concentration and pH dependence of a preceding lag phase indicates weak Mn(II) binding. The activation step is enabled by a pK_a > 8.6 deprotonation, which is assigned to Mn(II)-bound H₂O; it induces a conformation change (consistent with a high activation energy, 106 kJ/mol) that increases Mn(II) affinity. Mnx activation is proposed to decrease the Mn(III/II) reduction potential below that of type 1 Cu(II/I) by formation of a hydroxide-bridged binuclear complex, Mn(II)(μ-OH)Mn(II), at the substrate site. Turnover is found to depend cooperatively on two Mn(II) and is enabled by a pK_a 7.6 double deprotonation. It is proposed that turnover produces a Mn(III)(μ-OH)₂Mn(III) intermediate that proceeds to the enzyme product, likely Mn(IV)(μ-O)₂Mn(IV) or an oligomer, which subsequently nucleates MnO₂ nanoparticles. We conclude that Mnx exploits manganese polynuclear chemistry in order to facilitate an otherwise difficult oxidation reaction, as well as biomineralization. The mechanism of the Mn(III/IV) conversion step is elucidated in an accompanying paper .

Direct Observation of Nanosecond Water Exchange Dynamics at a Protein Metal Site

Nanosecond ligand exchange dynamics at metal sites within proteins is essential in catalysis, metal ion transport, and regulatory metallobiochemistry. Herein we present direct observation of the exchange dynamics of water at a Cd²⁺ binding site within two de novo designed metalloprotein constructs using ^111mCd perturbed angular correlation (PAC) of γ-rays and ¹¹³Cd NMR spectroscopy. The residence time of the Cd²⁺-bound water molecule is tens of nanoseconds at 20 °C in both proteins. This constitutes the first direct experimental observation of the residence time of Cd²⁺ coordinated water in any system, including the simple aqua ion. A Leu to Ala amino acid substitution ∼10 Å from the Cd²⁺ site affects both the equilibrium constant and the residence time of water, while, surprisingly, the metal site structure, as probed by PAC spectroscopy, remains essentially unaltered. This implies that remote mutations may affect metal site dynamics, even when structure is conserved.

Kinetic Studies of the Coordination of Mono- and Ditopic Ligands with First Row Transition Metal Ions

The reactions of the ditopic ligand 1,4-bis(2,2':6',2″-terpyridin-4'-yl)benzene (1) as well as the monotopic ligands 4'-phenyl-2,2':6',2″-terpyridine (2) and 2,2':6',2″-terpyridine (3) with Fe(2+), Co(2+), and Ni(2+) in solution are studied. While the reaction of 1 with Fe(2+), Co(2+), and Ni(2+) results in metallo-supramolecular coordination polyelectrolytes (MEPEs), ligands 2 and 3 give mononuclear complexes. All compounds are analyzed by UV/vis and fluorescence spectroscopy. Fluorescence spectroscopy indicates that protonation as well as coordination to Zn(2+) leads to an enhanced fluorescence of the terpyridine ligands. In contrast, Fe(2+), Co(2+), or Ni(2+) quench the fluorescence of the ligands. The kinetics of the reactions are studied by stopped-flow fluorescence spectroscopy. Analysis of the measured data is presented and the full kinetic rate laws for the coordination of the terpyridine ligands 1, 2, and 3 to Fe(2+), Co(2+), and Ni(2+) are presented. The coordination occurs within a few seconds, and the rate constant increases in the order Ni(2+) < Co(2+) < Fe(2+). With the rate constants at hand, the polymer growth of Ni-MEPE is computed.

Copper(ii) complexes with peptides based on the second cell binding site of fibronectin: metal coordination and ligand exchange kinetics

Copper(ii) complexes with short peptides based on the second cell binding site of fibronectin, PHSFN and PHSEN, have been characterized by potentiometric, UV-vis, CD, EPR and NMR spectroscopic methods.

Simple soluble Bi(iii) salts as efficient catalysts for the oxidation of alkanes with H2O2

Simple soluble Bi(iii) salts exhibit pronounced catalytic activity in the oxidation of inert alkanes with H₂O₂via a radical mechanism with participation of the HO˙ radicals.

Understanding the rates and molecular mechanism of water-exchange around aqueous ions using molecular simulations

Solvation processes occurring around aqueous ions are of fundamental importance in physics, chemistry, and biology. Over the past few decades, several experimental and theoretical studies were devoted to understanding ion solvation and the processes involved in it. In this article, we present a summary of our recent efforts that, through computer simulations, focused on providing a comprehensive understanding of solvent-exchange processes around aqueous ions. To accomplish these activities, we have looked at the mechanistic properties associated with the water-exchange process, such as potentials of mean force, time-dependent transmission coefficients, and the corresponding rate constants using transition state theory, the reactive flux method, and Grote-Hynes treatments of the dynamic response of the solvent.

Kinetic studies of the [NpO(2)(CO(3))(3)](4-) ion at alkaline conditions using (13)C NMR

Carbonate ligand-exchange rates on the [NpO2(CO3)3]4– ion were determined using a saturation-transfer 13C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) pulse sequence in the pH range of 8.1 ≤ pH ≤ 10.5. Over the pH range 9.3 ≤ pH ≤ 10.5, which compares most directly with previous work of Stout et al.,1 we find an average rate, activation energy, enthalpy, and entropy of kex298 = 40.6(±4.3) s–1, Ea =45.1(±3.8) kJ mol–1, ΔH‡ = 42.6(±3.8) kJ mol–1, and ΔS‡ = −72(±13) J mol–1 K–1, respectively. These activation parameters are similar to the Stout et al. results at pH 9.4. However, their room-temperature rate at pH 9.4, kex298 = 143(±1.0) s–1, is 3 times faster than what we experimentally determined at pH 9.3: kex298 = 45.4(±5.3) s–1. Our rates for [NpO2(CO3)3]4– are also faster by a factor of 3 relative to the isoelectronic [UO2(CO3)3]4– as reported by Brucher et al.2 of kex298 = 13(±3) s–1. Consistent with results for the [UO2(CO3)3]4– ion, we find evidence for a proton-enhanced pathway for carbonate exchange for the [NpO2(CO3)3]4– ion at pH < 9.0.

Manganese(III) porphyrins complexed with P22 virus-like particles as T1-enhanced contrast agents for magnetic resonance imaging

Virus-like particles are powerful platforms for the development of functional hybrid materials. Here, we have grown a cross-linked polymer (cross-linked aminoethyl methacrylate) within the confines of the bacteriophage P22 capsid (P22-xAEMA) and functionalized the polymer with various loadings of paramagnetic manganese(III) protoporphyrin IX (MnPP) complexes for evaluation as a macromolecular magnetic resonance imaging contrast agent. The resulting construct (P22-xAEMA-MnPP) has r1,particle = 7,098 mM(-1) s(-1) at 298 K and 2.1 T (90 MHz) for a loading of 3,646 MnPP molecules per capsid. The Solomon-Bloembergen-Morgan theory for paramagnetic relaxivity predicts conjugating MnPP to P22, a supramolecular structure, would result in an enhancement in ionic relaxivity; however, all loadings experienced low ionic relaxivities, r 1,ionic, ranging from 1.45 to 3.66 mM(-1) s(-1), similar to the ionic relaxivity of free MnPP. We hypothesize that intermolecular interactions between neighboring MnPP molecules block access of water to the metal site, resulting in low r 1,ionic relaxivities. We investigated the effect of MnPP interactions on relaxivity further by either blocking or exposing water binding sites on MnPP. On the basis of these results, future design strategies for enhanced r 1,ionic relaxivity are suggested. The measured r 2,ionic relaxivities demonstrated an inverse relationship between loading and relaxivity. This results in a loading-dependent r 2/r 1 behavior of these materials indicating synthetic control over the relaxivity properties, making them interesting alternatives to current magnetic resonance imaging contrast agents.

New calcium-selective smart contrast agents for magnetic resonance imaging

Calcium plays a vital role in the human body and especially in the central nervous system. Precise maintenance of Ca(2+) levels is very crucial for normal cell physiology and health. The deregulation of calcium homeostasis can lead to neuronal cell death and brain damage. To study this functional role played by Ca(2+) in the brain noninvasively by using magnetic resonance imaging, we have synthesized a new set of Ca(2+) -sensitive smart contrast agents (CAs). The agents were found to be highly selective to Ca(2+) in the presence of other competitive anions and cations in buffer and in physiological fluids. The structure of CAs comprises Gd(3+)-DO3A (DO3A=1,4,7-tris(carboxymethyl)-1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane) coupled to a Ca(2+) chelator o-amino phenol-N,N,O-triacetate (APTRA). The agents are designed to sense Ca(2+) present in extracellular fluid of the brain where its concentration is relatively high, that is, 1.2-0.8 mM. The determined dissociation constant of the CAs to Ca(2+) falls in the range required to sense and report changes in extracellular Ca(2+) levels followed by an increase in neural activity. In buffer, with the addition of Ca(2+) the increase in relaxivity ranged from 100-157%, the highest ever known for any T1-based Ca(2+)-sensitive smart CA. The CAs were analyzed extensively by the measurement of luminescence lifetime measurement on Tb(3+) analogues, nuclear magnetic relaxation dispersion (NMRD), and (17)O NMR transverse relaxation and shift experiments. The results obtained confirmed that the large relaxivity enhancement observed upon Ca(2+) addition is due to the increase of the hydration state of the complexes together with the slowing down of the molecular rotation and the retention of a significant contribution of the water molecules of the second sphere of hydration.

Strategies for optimizing water-exchange rates of lanthanide-based contrast agents for magnetic resonance imaging

This review describes recent advances in strategies for tuning the water-exchange rates of contrast agents for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Water-exchange rates play a critical role in determining the efficiency of contrast agents; consequently, optimization of water-exchange rates, among other parameters, is necessary to achieve high efficiencies. This need has resulted in extensive research efforts to modulate water-exchange rates by chemically altering the coordination environments of the metal complexes that function as contrast agents. The focus of this review is coordination-chemistry-based strategies used to tune the water-exchange rates of lanthanide(III)-based contrast agents for MRI. Emphasis will be given to results published in the 21st century, as well as implications of these strategies on the design of contrast agents.

Mechanism elucidation of the cis-trans isomerization of an azole ruthenium-nitrosyl complex and its osmium counterpart

Synthesis and X-ray diffraction structures of cis and trans isomers of ruthenium and osmium metal complexes of general formulas (nBu4N)[cis-MCl4(NO)(Hind)], where M = Ru (1) and Os (3), and (nBu4N)[trans-MCl4(NO)(Hind)], where M = Ru (2) and Os (4) and Hind = 1H-indazole are reported. Interconversion between cis and trans isomers at high temperatures (80-130 °C) has been observed and studied by NMR spectroscopy. Kinetic data indicate that isomerizations correspond to reversible first order reactions. The rates of isomerization reactions even at 110 °C are very low with rate constants of 10(-5) s(-1) and 10(-6) s(-1) for ruthenium and osmium complexes, respectively, and the estimated rate constants of isomerization at room temperature are of ca. 10(-10) s(-1). The activation parameters, which have been obtained from fitting the reaction rates at different temperatures to the Eyring equation for ruthenium [ΔH(cis-trans)‡ = 122.8 ± 1.3; ΔH(trans-cis)‡ = 138.8 ± 1.0 kJ/mol; ΔS(cis-trans)‡ = -18.7 ± 3.6; ΔS(trans-cis)‡ = 31.8 ± 2.7 J/(mol·K)] and osmium [ΔH(cis-trans)‡ = 200.7 ± 0.7; ΔH(trans-cis)‡ = 168.2 ± 0.6 kJ/mol; ΔS(cis-trans)‡ = 142.7 ± 8.9; ΔS(trans-cis)‡ = 85.9 ± 3.9 J/(mol·K)] reflect the inertness of these systems. The entropy of activation for the osmium complexes is highly positive and suggests the dissociative mechanism of isomerization. In the case of ruthenium, the activation entropy for the cis to trans isomerization is negative [-18.6 J/(mol·K)], while being positive [31.0 J/(mol·K)] for the trans to cis conversion. The thermodynamic parameters for cis to trans isomerization of [RuCl4(NO)(Hind)]-, viz. ΔH° = 13.5 ± 1.5 kJ/mol and ΔS° = -5.2 ± 3.4 J/(mol·K) indicate the low difference between the energies of cis and trans isomers. The theoretical calculation has been carried out on isomerization of ruthenium complexes with DFT methods. The dissociative, associative, and intramolecular twist isomerization mechanisms have been considered. The value for the activation energy found for the dissociative mechanism is in good agreement with experimental activation enthalpy. Electrochemical investigation provides further evidence for higher reactivity of ruthenium complexes compared to that of osmium counterparts and shows that intramolecular electron transfer reactions do not affect the isomerization process. A dissociative mechanism of cis↔trans isomerization has been proposed for both ruthenium and osmium complexes.

P22 viral capsids as nanocomposite high-relaxivity MRI contrast agents

Attachment of multiple chelated Gd(3+) ions to the interior of bacteriophage P22 viral capsids affords nanoscale MRI contrast agents with extremely high relaxivity values. Highly fenestrated "wiffleball" morphology is unique to P22 and assures water exchange between the environment and interior cavity of the capsid. The cavity of P22 "wiffleball" was functionalized with a branched oligomer comprising multiple DTPA-Gd complexes resulting in an impressive payload of 1,900 Gd(3+) ions inside each 64 nm capsid. High relaxivities of r(1,ionic) = 21.7 mM(-1) s(-1) and r(1,particle) = 41,300 mM(-1) s(-1) at 298 K, 0.65 T (28 MHz) are reported, with r(1)/r(2) ratio of 0.80 and optimized rotational correlation time for this system. Specific design modifications are suggested for future improvements of viral capsid-based MRI contrast agents directed toward clinical translation.

Water exchange on manganese(III) porphyrins. Mechanistic insights relevant for oxygen evolving complex and superoxide dismutation catalysis

In this work the rate constants (k(ex)) and the activation parameters (DeltaH(double dagger), DeltaS(double dagger), and DeltaV(double dagger)) for the water exchange process on Mn(III) centers have experimentally been determined using temperature and pressure dependent (17)O NMR techniques. For the investigations the Mn(III) porphyrin complexes [Mn(III)(TPPS)S(2)](n-) and [Mn(III)(TMpyP)S(2)](n+) (S = H(2)O and/or OH(-)) have been selected due to their high solution stability in a wide pH range, enabling the measurements of water exchange in the case of both diaqua and aqua-hydroxo complexes. We have experimentally demonstrated that the water exchange on Mn(III) porphyrins is a fast process (k(ex) approximately = 10(7) s(-1)) of an I(d) to I mechanism, strongly influenced by a Jahn-Teller effect and as such almost independent of a porphyrin charge and a trans ligand. This is also supported by our DFT calculations which show only a slight difference in an average Mn(III)-OH(2) bond found for a positively charged model porphyrin with protonated pyridine groups (2.446 A) and for a simple model without any substituents on the porphyrin ring (2.437 A). The calculated effective charge on the Mn center, which is significantly lower than its formal +3 charge (ca. +1.5 for diaqua; +1.4 for aqua-hydroxo), also contributes to its substitution lability. The herein presented results are discussed in connection to a possible fast exchanging substrate binding site in photosystem II and corresponding inorganic model complexes, as well as in the context of a possible inner-sphere catalytic pathway for superoxide dismutation on Mn centers.

Henry Taube: inorganic chemist extraordinaire

The numerous innovative contributions of Henry Taube to modern inorganic chemistry are briefly reviewed. Highlights include the determination of solvation numbers and lability, elucidation of substitution mechanisms, discovery and documentation of inner-sphere electron transfer, and discovery of the remarkable coordination chemistry of ruthenium and osmium ammine complexes with unsaturated ligands and mixed-valence complexes and their fundamental relationship to intramolecular electron transfer.