Understanding the oxidative relationships of the metal oxo, hydroxo, and hydroperoxide intermediates with manganese(IV) complexes having bridged cyclams: correlation of the physicochemical properties with reactivity

Pd(II)/LA-catalyzed acetanilide olefination with dioxygen

Transition-metal-catalyzed aromatic olefination through direct C-H activation represents an atom and step-economic route for versatile pharmaceutical syntheses, and in many cases, different stoichiometric oxidants are frequently employed for achieving a reasonable catalytic efficiency of the transition metal ions. Herein, we report a Lewis acid promoted Pd(II)-catalyzed acetanilide olefination reaction with atmospheric dioxygen as the oxidant source. The linkage of the Lewis acid to the Pd(II) species through a diacetate bridge significantly improved its catalytic efficiency, and independent kinetic studies on the olefination step revealed that adding the Lewis acid significantly accelerated the olefination rate as well as the C-H activation step. A strong basicity of the internal base in the Pd(II) salt also benefited the olefination reaction plausibly through base-assisted β-hydride elimination.

Identification, Characterization, and Electronic Structures of Interconvertible Cobalt-Oxygen TAML Intermediates

The reaction of Li[(TAML)CoIII]·3H2O (TAML = tetraamido macrocyclic tetraanionic ligand) with iodosylbenzene at 253 K in acetone in the presence of redox-innocent metal ions (Sc(OTf)3 and Y(OTf)3) or triflic acid affords a blue species 1, which is converted reversibly to a green species 2 upon cooling to 193 K. The electronic structures of 1 and 2 have been determined by combining advanced spectroscopic techniques (X-band electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR), electron nuclear double resonance (ENDOR), X-ray absorption spectroscopy/extended X-ray absorption fine structure (XAS/EXAFS), and magnetic circular dichroism (MCD)) with ab initio theoretical studies. Complex 1 is best represented as an S = 1/2 [(Sol)(TAML•+)CoIII---OH(LA)]- species (LA = Lewis/Brønsted acid and Sol = solvent), where an S = 1 Co(III) center is antiferromagnetically coupled to S = 1/2 TAML•+, which represents a one-electron oxidized TAML ligand. In contrast, complex 2, also with an S = 1/2 ground state, is found to be multiconfigurational with contributions of both the resonance forms [(H-TAML)CoIV═O(LA)]- and [(H-TAML•+)CoIII═O(LA)]-; H-TAML and H-TAML•+ represent the protonated forms of TAML and TAML•+ ligands, respectively. Thus, the interconversion of 1 and 2 is associated with a LA-associated tautomerization event, whereby H+ shifts from the terminal -OH group to TAML•+ with the concomitant formation of a terminal cobalt-oxo species possessing both singlet (SCo = 0) Co(III) and doublet (SCo = 1/2) Co(IV) characters. The reactivities of 1 and 2 at different temperatures have been investigated in oxygen atom transfer (OAT) and hydrogen atom transfer (HAT) reactions to compare the activation enthalpies and entropies of 1 and 2.

Brønsted Acids Promote Olefin Oxidations by Bioinspired Nonheme CoIII(PhIO)(OH) Complexes: A Role for Low-Barrier Hydrogen Bonds

Introduction of Brønsted acids into biomimetic nonheme reactions promotes the oxidative ability of metal-oxygen complexes significantly. However, the molecular machinery of the promoted effects is missing. Herein, a comprehensive investigation of styrene oxidation by a cobalt(III)-iodosylbenzene complex, [(TQA)Co^III(OIPh)(OH)]²⁺ (1, TQA = tris(2-quinolylmethyl)amine), in the presence and absence of triflic acid (HOTf) was performed using density functional theory calculations. Results revealed for the first time that there is a low-barrier hydrogen bond (LBHB) between HOTf and the hydroxyl ligand of 1, which forms two valence-resonance structures [(TQA)Co^III(OIPh)(HO^---HOTf)]²⁺ (1_LBHB) and [(TQA)Co^III(OIPh)(H₂O--OTf^-)]²⁺ (1'_LBHB). Due to the oxo-wall, these complexes (1_LBHB and 1'_LBHB) cannot convert to high-valent cobalt-oxyl species. Instead, styrene oxidation by these oxidants (1_LBHB and 1'_LBHB) shows novel spin-state selectivity, i.e., on the ground closed-shell singlet state, styrene is oxidized to an epoxide, whereas on the excited triplet and quintet states, an aldehyde product, phenylacetaldehyde, is formed. The preferred pathway is styrene oxidation by 1'_LBHB, which is initiated by a rate-limiting bond-formation-coupled electron transfer process with an energy barrier of 12.2 kcal mol^-1. The nascent PhIO-styrene-radical-cation intermediate undergoes an intramolecular rearrangement to produce an aldehyde. The halogen bond between the OH^-/H₂O ligand and the iodine of PhIO modulates the activity of the cobalt-iodosylarene complexes 1_LBHB and 1'_LBHB. These new mechanistic findings enrich our knowledge of nonheme chemistry and hypervalent iodine chemistry and will play a positive role in the rational design of new catalysts.

Single-Atom MnN5 Catalytic Sites Enable Efficient Peroxymonosulfate Activation by Forming Highly Reactive Mn(IV)-Oxo Species

Four-nitrogen-coordinated transitional metal (MN₄) configurations in single-atom catalysts (SACs) are broadly recognized as the most efficient active sites in peroxymonosulfate (PMS)-based advanced oxidation processes. However, SACs with a coordination number higher than four are rarely explored, which represents a fundamental missed opportunity for coordination chemistry to boost PMS activation and degradation of recalcitrant organic pollutants. We experimentally and theoretically demonstrate here that five-nitrogen-coordinated Mn (MnN₅) sites more effectively activate PMS than MnN₄ sites, by facilitating the cleavage of the O-O bond into high-valent Mn(IV)-oxo species with nearly 100% selectivity. The high activity of MnN₅ was discerned to be due to the formation of higher-spin-state N₅Mn(IV)═O species, which enable efficient two-electron transfer from organics to Mn sites through a lower-energy-barrier pathway. Overall, this work demonstrates the importance of high coordination numbers in SACs for efficient PMS activation and informs the design of next-generation environmental catalysts.

Lewis acid improved dioxygen activation by a non-heme iron(II) complex towards tryptophan 2,3-dioxygenase activity for olefin oxygenation

Dioxygen activation and catalysis around ambient temperature is a long-standing challenge in chemistry. Inspired by the significant roles of the hydrogen bond network in dioxygen activation and catalysis by redox enzymes, this work presents a Lewis acid improved dioxygen activation by an Fe^II(BPMEN)(OTf)₂ complex towards tryptophan 2,3-dioxygenase (TDO) activity for 3-methylindole and common olefinic CC  bond oxygenation and cleavage (enzymatic Brønsted acid vs. chemical Lewis acid). It was found that the presence of a Lewis acid such as Sc³⁺ could substantially improve olefinic CC  bond oxygenation and cleavage activity through Fe^II(BPMEN)(OTf)₂ catalyzed dioxygen activation. Notably, a more negative ρ value in the Hammett plot of para-substituted styrene oxygenations was observed in the presence of a stronger Lewis acid, disclosing the enhanced electrophilic oxygenation capability of the putative iron(III) superoxo species through its electrostatic interaction with a stronger Lewis acid. Thereof, this work has demonstrated a new strategy in catalyst design for dioxygen activation and catalysis for olefin oxygenation, a significant process in the chemical industry.

Cooperation of multiple active species generated in hydrogen peroxide activation by iron porphyrin for phenolic pollutants degradation

The narrow acid pH range and the nonselectivity of the dominant •OH limit the Fenton systems to remediate the organic wastewater. Inspired by the role of heme in physiological processes, we employed iron porphyrin as a novel homogeneous catalyst to address this issue. Multiple active species are identified during the activation of H₂O₂, including high-valent iron porphyrin ((por)Fe(IV)) species ((por)Fe(IV)-OH, (por)^+•Fe(IV)=O) and oxygen-centered radicals (•OH, HO₂•/•O₂^-), as well as atomic hydrogen (*H) and carbon-centered radicals. With the cooperation of these active species, the degradation of pollutants could be resistant to the interference of concomitant ions and proceed over a wide pH range. This cooperative behavior is further verified by intermediates identified from bisphenol A degradation. Specifically, the presence of *H could facilitate the cleavage of the C-C bond and the addition of unsaturated or aromatic molecules. (Por)^+•Fe(IV)=O could hydroxylate substrates with an oxygen rebound mechanism. Hydrogen atom abstraction of contaminants could be performed by (por)Fe(IV)-OH to form desaturated products by attacking oxygen-centered radicals. The ecotoxicity of bisphenol A could be significantly decreased through degradation. This study would provide a new approach to wastewater treatment and shed light on the interaction between metalloporphyrin and peroxide in an aqueous solution.

Acid Catalysis in the Oxidation of Substrates by Mononuclear Manganese(III)-Aqua Complexes

Acids are known to enhance the reactivities of metal-oxygen intermediates, such as metal-oxo, -hydroperoxo, -peroxo, and -superoxo complexes, in biomimetic oxidation reactions. Although metal-aqua (and metal-hydroxo) complexes have been shown to be potent oxidants in oxidation reactions, acid effects on the reactivities of metal-aqua complexes have never been investigated previously. In this study, a mononuclear manganese(III)-aqua complex, [(dpaq^5NO2)Mn^III(OH₂)]²⁺ (1; dpaq^5NO2 = 2-[bis(pyridin-2-ylmethyl)]amino-N-quinolin-8-ylacetamidate with an NO₂ substituent at the 5 position), which is relatively stable in the presence of triflic acid (HOTf), is used in the investigation of acid-catalyzed oxidation reactions by metal-aqua complexes. As a result, we report a remarkable acid catalysis in the six-electron oxidation of anthracene by 1 in the presence of HOTf; anthraquinone is formed as the product. In the HOTf-catalyzed six-electron oxidation of anthracene by 1, the rate constant increases linearly with an increase of the HOTf concentration. Combined with the observed one-electron oxidation product, anthracene (derivative) radical cation, and the substitution effect at the 5 position of the dpaq ligand in 1 on the rate constants of the oxidation of anthracene, it is concluded that the oxidation of anthracene occurs via an acid-promoted electron transfer (APET) from anthracene to 1. The dependence of the rate constants of the APET from electron donors, including anthracene derivatives, to 1 on the driving force of electron transfer is also shown to be well fitted by the Marcus equation of outer-sphere electron transfer. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first example showing acid catalysis in the oxidation of substrates by metal(III)-aqua complexes.

Structure and Reactivity of Nonporphyrinic Terminal Manganese(IV)-Hydroxide Complexes in the Oxidative Electrophilic Reaction

High-valent transition metal-hydroxide complexes have been proposed as essential intermediates in biological and synthetic catalytic reactions. In this work, we report the single-crystal X-ray structure and spectroscopic characteristics of a mononuclear nonporphyrinic Mn^IV-(OH) complex, [Mn^IV(Me₃-TPADP)(OH)(OCH₂CH₃)]²⁺ (2), using various physicochemical methods. Likewise, [Mn^IV(Me₃-TPADP)(OH)(OCH₂CF₃)]²⁺ (3), which is thermally stable at room temperature, was also synthesized and characterized spectroscopically. The Mn^IV-(OH) adducts are capable of performing oxidation reactions with external organic substrates such as C-H bond activation, sulfoxidation, and epoxidation. Kinetic studies, involving the Hammett correlation and kinetic isotope effect, and product analyses indicate that 2 and 3 exhibit electrophilic oxidative reactivity toward hydrocarbons. Density functional theory calculations support the assigned electronic structure and show that direct C-H bond activation of the Mn^IV-(OH) species is indeed possible.

Deeper Understanding of Mononuclear Manganese(IV)-Oxo Binding Brønsted and Lewis Acids and the Manganese(IV)-Hydroxide Complex

Binding of Lewis acidic metal ions and Brønsted acid at the metal-oxo group of high-valent metal-oxo complexes enhances their reactivities significantly in oxidation reactions. However, such a binding of Lewis acids and proton at the metal-oxo group has been questioned in several cases and remains to be clarified. Herein, we report the synthesis, characterization, and reactivity studies of a mononuclear manganese(IV)-oxo complex binding triflic acid, {[(dpaq)Mn^IV(O)]-HOTf}⁺ (1-HOTf). First, 1-HOTf was synthesized and characterized using various spectroscopic techniques, including resonance Raman (rRaman) and X-ray absorption spectroscopy/extended X-ray absorption fine structure. In particular, in rRaman experiments, we observed a linear correlation between the Mn-O stretching frequencies of 1-HOTf (e.g., ν_Mn-O at ∼793 cm^-1) and 1-Mⁿ⁺ (Mⁿ⁺ = Ca²⁺, Zn²⁺, Lu³⁺, Al³⁺, or Sc³⁺) and the Lewis acidities of H⁺ and Mⁿ⁺ ions, suggesting that H⁺ and Mⁿ⁺ bind at the metal-oxo moiety of [(dpaq)Mn^IV(O)]⁺. Interestingly, a single-crystal structure of 1-HOTf was obtained by X-ray diffraction analysis, but the structure was not an expected Mn(IV)-oxo complex but a Mn(IV)-hydroxide complex, [(dpaq)Mn^IV(OH)](OTf)₂ (4), with a Mn-O bond distance of 1.8043(19) Å and a Mn-O stretch at 660 cm^-1. More interestingly, 4 reverted to 1-HOTf upon dissolution, demonstrating that 1-HOTf and 4 are interconvertible depending on the physical states, such as 1-HOTf in solution and 4 in isolated solid. The reactivity of 1-HOTf was investigated in hydrogen atom transfer (HAT) and oxygen atom transfer (OAT) reactions and then compared with those of 1-Mⁿ⁺ complexes; an interesting correlation between the Mn-O stretching frequencies of 1-HOTf and 1-Mⁿ⁺ and their reactivities in the OAT and HAT reactions is reported for the first time in this study.

Catalytic Highly Regioselective C-H Oxygenation Using Water as the Oxygen Source: Preparation of 17O/18O-Isotope-Labeled Compounds

We found that the oxygen atom of water is activated to iodosylbenzene derivatives via reversible hydrolysis of PhI(OOCR)₂ and can be used to the oxygen source for ruthenium(bpga)-catalyzed site-selective C-H oxygenation. Ru(bpga)/PhI(OOCR)₂/H₂O system, sterically less bulky methinic and methylenic C-H bonds in various compounds can be converted to desired oxygen functional groups in a site-selective manner. Using this method, oxygen-isotope labeled compounds such as d-[3-¹⁷O/¹⁸O]-mannose can be prepared in a multigram scale.

Mechanistic Insights into the Oxygen Atom Transfer Reactions by Nonheme Manganese Complex: A Computational Case Study on the Comparative Oxidative Ability of Manganese-Hydroperoxo vs High-Valent MnIV═O and MnIV-OH Intermediates

Understanding the comparative oxidative abilities of high-valent metal-oxo/hydroxo/hydroperoxo species holds the key to robust biomimic catalysts that perform desired organic transformations with very high selectivity and efficiency. The comparative oxidative abilities of popular high-valent iron-oxo and manganese-oxo species are often counterintuitive, for example, oxygen atom transfer (OAT) reaction by [(Me₂EBC)Mn^IV-OOH]³⁺, [(Me₂EBC)Mn^IV-OH]³⁺, and [(Me₂EBC)Mn^IV═O]²⁺ (Me₂EBC = 4,11-dimethyl-1,4,8,11-tetraazabicyclo[6.6.2]hexadecane) shows extremely high reactivity for Mn^IV-OOH species and no reactivity for Mn^IV-OH and Mn^IV═O species toward alkyl/aromatic sulfides. Using a combination of density functional theory (DFT) and ab initio domain-based local pair natural orbital coupled-cluster with single, double, and perturbative triples excitation (DLPNO-CCSD(T)) and complete-active space self-consistent field/N-electron valence perturbation theory second order (CASSCF/NEVPT2) calculations, here, we have explored the electronic structures and sulfoxidation mechanism of these species. Our calculations unveil that Mn^IV-OOH reacts through distal oxygen atom with the substrate via electron transfer (ET) mechanism with a very small kinetic barrier (16.5 kJ/mol), placing this species at the top among the best-known catalysts for such transformations. The Mn^IV-OH and Mn^IV═O species have a much larger barrier. The mechanism has also been found to switch from ET in the former to concerted in the latter, rendering both unreactive under the tested experimental conditions. Intrinsic differences in the electronic structures, such as the presence and absence of the multiconfigurational character coupled with the steric effects, are responsible for such variations observed. This comparative oxidative ability that runs contrary to the popular iron-oxo/hydroperoxo reactivity will have larger mechanistic implications in understanding the reactivity of biomimic catalysts and the underlying mechanisms in PSII.

The most reactive iron and manganese complexes with N-pentadentate ligands for dioxygen activation—synthesis, characteristics, applications

The iron and manganese complexes that activate oxygen atom play multiple role in technologically relevant reactions as well as in biological transformations, in which exist in different redox states. Among them, high-valent oxo intermediate seems to be the most important one. Iron, and/or manganese-based processes have found application in many areas, starting from catalysis and sustainable technologies, through DNA oxidative cleavage, to new substances useful in chemotherapeutic drugs. This review is not only the latest detailed list of uses of homogeneous N-pentadentate iron and manganese catalysts for syntheses of valuable molecules with huge applications in green technologies, but also a kind of "a cookbook", collecting "recipes" for the discussed complexes, in which the sources necessary to obtain a full characterization of the compounds are presented. Following the catalytic activity of metalloenzymes, and taking into account the ubiquity of iron and manganese salts, which in combination with properly designed ligands may show similarity to natural systems, the discussed complexes can find application as new anti-cancer drugs. Also, owing to ability of oxygen atom to exchange in reaction with H₂O, they can be successfully applied in photodriven reactions of water oxidation, as well as in chemically regenerated fuel cells as a redox catalyst.

A Mononuclear Non-Heme Manganese(III)-Aqua Complex in Oxygen Atom Transfer Reactions via Electron Transfer

Metal-oxygen complexes, such as metal-oxo [M(O^2-)], -hydroxo [M(OH^-)], -peroxo [M(O₂^2-)], -hydroperoxo [M(OOH^-)], and -superoxo [M(O₂^•-)] species, are capable of conducting oxygen atom transfer (OAT) reactions with organic substrates, such as thioanisole (PhSMe) and triphenylphosphine (Ph₃P). However, OAT of metal-aqua complexes, [M(OH₂)]ⁿ⁺, has yet to be reported. We report herein OAT of a mononuclear non-heme Mn(III)-aqua complex, [(dpaq)Mn^III(OH₂)]²⁺ (1, dpaq = 2-[bis(pyridin-2-ylmethyl)]amino-N-quinolin-8-yl-acetamidate), to PhSMe and Ph₃P derivatives for the first time; it is noted that no OAT occurs from the corresponding Mn(III)-hydroxo complex, [(dpaq)Mn^III(OH)]⁺ (2), to the substrates. Mechanistic studies reveal that OAT reaction of 1 occurs via electron transfer from 4-methoxythioanisole to 1 to produce the 4-methoxythioanisole radical cation and [(dpaq)Mn^II(OH₂)]⁺, followed by nucleophilic attack of H₂O in [(dpaq)Mn^II(OH₂)]⁺ to the 4-methoxythioanisole radical cation to produce an OH adduct radical, 2,4-(MeO)₂C₆H₃S^•(OH)Me, which disproportionates or undergoes electron transfer to 1 to yield methyl 4-methoxyphenyl sulfoxide. Formation of the thioanisole radical cation derivatives is detected by the stopped-flow transient absorption measurements in OAT from 1 to 2,4-dimethoxythioanisole and 3,4-dimethoxythioanisole, being compared with that in the photoinduced electron transfer oxidation of PhSMe derivatives, which are detected by laser-induced transient absorption measurements. Similarly, OAT from 1 to Ph₃P occurs via electron transfer from Ph₃P to 1, and the proton effect on the reaction rate has been discussed. The rate constants of electron transfer from electron donors, including PhSMe and Ph₃P derivatives, to 1 are fitted well by the electron transfer driving force dependence of the rate constants predicted by the Marcus theory of outer-sphere electron transfer.

Ligand regulation for manganese-catalyzed enantioselective epoxidation of olefins without acid

A novel manganese catalyst bearing an l-proline-derived N4 ligand has been developed for enabling acid-free asymmetric epoxidation of olefins with tert-butyl hydroperoxide as the oxidant. A variety of olefins that are well-matched in size with the ligand pocket can be transformed to epoxides with excellent enantioselectivities. The smaller ligand pocket is also beneficial to the enantioselective epoxidation of simple olefins. Cryospray ionization mass spectrometry experiments reveal that a Mn^IV[double bond, length as m-dash]O species serves as an active epoxidizing species.

Palladium(II)/Lewis Acid-Catalyzed Oxidative Olefination/Annulation of N-Methoxybenzamides: Identifying the Active Intermediates through NMR Characterizations

Although Pd(II)-catalyzed C-H activation in arenes has been widely successful in organic synthesis with many palladacycle compounds isolated as the intermediates in ligand-directed C-H activation, direct identification of the reaction intermediates such as the π-complex prior to the C-H activation is still not successful because of their instability. In the present study, we introduce a Pd(II)/LA (LA: Lewis acid)-catalyzed oxidative olefination/annulation reaction between N-methoxybenzamides and acrylates with oxygen as the oxidant source, in which two intermediates, including an unsymmetrical η⁶-complex and a palladacycle species without the proton releasing to the environment, were identified through NMR characterizations. The in situ formation of the heterobimetallic Pd(II)/LA species such as Pd(II)/Sc(III) may have enhanced the electrophilic properties of the Pd²⁺ cation, thus improving the stability of the π-complex, herein, an unsymmetrical η⁶-complex, and improving its catalytic efficiency. The observed insensitive electronic effect preferred the concerted metalation-deprotonation (CMD) mechanism for this C-H activation, and the detected palladacycle intermediate without the proton releasing to the environment offered an experimental clue to support the proposed CMD mechanism.

An ethylene cross-bridged pentaazamacrocycle and its Cu2+ complex: constrained ligand topology and excellent kinetic stability

Rigid and topologically constrained ethylene cross-bridged tetraazamacrocycles have been increasingly utilised for thirty years as they form remarkably stable transition metal complexes for catalysis, biomedical imaging, and inorganic drug molecule applications. Extending these benefits to pentaazamacrocycles has been achieved and a first transition metal complex prepared and structurally characterized.

A Manganese(IV)-Hydroperoxo Intermediate Generated by Protonation of the Corresponding Manganese(III)-Superoxo Complex

Earlier work revealed that metal-superoxo species primarily function as radicals and/or electrophiles. Herein, we present ambiphilicity of a Mn^III-superoxo complex revealed by its proton- and metal-coupled electron-transfer processes. Specifically, a Mn^IV-hydroperoxo intermediate, [Mn(BDP^BrP)(OOH)]⁺ (1, H₂BDP^BrP = 2,6-bis((2-(S)-di(4-bromo)phenylhydroxylmethyl-1-pyrrolidinyl)methyl)pyridine) was generated by treatment of a Mn^III-superoxo complex, Mn(BDP^BrP)(O₂^•) (2) with trifluoroacetic acid at -120 °C. Detailed insights into the electronic structure of 1 are obtained using resonance Raman and multi-frequency electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopies coupled with density functional theory calculations. Similarly, the reaction of 2 with scandium(III) triflate was shown to give a Mn(IV)/Sc(III) bridging peroxo species, [Mn(BDP^BrP)(OO)Sc(OTf)_n]^(3-n)+ (4). Furthermore, it is found that deprotonation of 1 quantitatively regenerates 2, and that one-electron oxidation of the corresponding Mn^III-hydroperoxo species, Mn(BDP^BrP)(OOH) (3), also yields 1.

Theoretical Study on Electronic Structural Properties of Catalytically Reactive Metalloporphyrin Intermediates

Metalloporphyrins have attracted great attention in the potential application of biomimetic catalysis. Especially, they were widely investigated as green catalysts in the chemical oxidation of various hydrocarbons through the catalytic activation of molecular oxygen. The structural properties of active central metal ions were reported to play a decisive role in catalytic activity. However, those delicate structural changes are difficult to be experimentally captured or elucidated in detail. Herein, we explored the electronic structural properties of metalloporphyrins (metal porphyrin (PMII, PMIIICl)) and their corresponding catalytically active intermediates (metal(III)-peroxo(PMIII-O2), metal(III)-hydroperoxo(PMIII-OH), and metal(IV)-oxo(PMIV=O), (M=Fe, Mn, and Co)) through the density functional theory method. The ground states of these intermediates were determined based on the assessment of relative energy and the corresponding geometric structures of ground states also further confirmed the stability of energy. Furthermore, our analyses of Mulliken charges and frontier molecular orbitals revealed the potential catalytic behavior of reactive metalloporphyrin intermediates.

Studies on the oxidative degradation of paracetamol by a μ-oxo-diiron(III) complex

In higher organisms, metalloenzymes like cytochrome P450, containing a Fe(III) metal center, play an active role in metabolism of paracetamol (APAP). Here, we have chosen a mimicking μ-oxo-diiron complex, [Fe(III)2(μ-O)(phen)4(H2O)2]4+(1, phen = 1,10-phenanthroline), to study spectrophotometrically the kinetics of the redox interactions with APAP. In acidic buffer media (pH = 3.4–5.1), APAP quantitatively reduces 1 following first-order reaction kinetics. Each molecule of 1 accepts two electrons from APAP and is reduced to ferroin [Fe(phen)3]2+. On oxidation, APAP produces N-acetyl-p-benzoquinone imine (NAPQI), which on hydrolysis results in a mixture of benzoquinone, quinone oxime, acetamide, and acetic acid. In reaction media due to successive deprotonations, 1 exists in equilibrium with the species [Fe(III)2(μ-O)(phen)4(H2O)(OH)]3+(1a) and [Fe(III)2(μ-O)(phen)4(OH)2]2+(1b) (pKa= 3.71 and 5.28, respectively). The kinetic analyses suggest for an unusual reactivity order as 1 < 1a ≫ 1b. The mechanistic possibilities suggest that although 1 is reduced by concerted electron transfer (ET) – proton transfer (PT) mechanism, 1a and 1b may be reduced by a concerted PT–ET mechanism where a slow proton-abstraction step is followed by a rapid ET process. It seems that the initial activation of the bridging μ-oxo group by a proton-abstraction results in the higher reactivity of 1a.

Computational Exploration of Chiral Iron Porphyrin-Catalyzed Asymmetric Hydroxylation of Ethylbenzene Where Stereoselectivity Arises from π-π Stacking Interaction

The mechanism and origins of stereoselectivity of chiral iron porphyrin-catalyzed asymmetric hydroxylation of ethylbenzene were explored with density functional theory. The hydrogen atom abstraction is the rate- and stereoselectivity-determining step. In good agreement with experimental results, the formation of the (R)-1-phenylethanol product is found to be the most favorable pathway. The transition state of hydrogen atom abstraction which leads to the (S)-1-phenylethanol product is unfavorable by 1.7 kcal/mol compared to the corresponding transition state which leads to the (R)-1-phenylethanol product. Enantioselectivity arises from an attractive π-π stacking interaction between the phenyl group of ethylbenzene substrate and the naphthyl group of the porphyrin ligand.

High-Spin Mn(V)-Oxo Intermediate in Nonheme Manganese Complex-Catalyzed Alkane Hydroxylation Reaction: Experimental and Theoretical Approach

Mononuclear nonheme manganese complexes are highly efficient catalysts in the catalytic oxidation of hydrocarbons by hydrogen peroxide in the presence of carboxylic acids. Although high-valent Mn(V)-oxo complexes have been proposed as the active oxidants that afford high regio-, stereo-, and enantioselectivities in the catalytic oxidation reactions, the importance of the spin state (e.g., S = 0 or 1) of the proposed Mn(V)-oxo species is an area that requires further study. In the present study, we have theoretically demonstrated that a mononuclear nonheme Mn(V)-oxo species with an S = 1 ground spin state is the active oxidant that effects the stereo- and enantioselective alkane hydroxylation reaction; it is noted that synthetic octahedral Mn(V)-oxo complexes, characterized spectroscopically and/or structurally, possess an S = 0 spin state and are sluggish oxidants. In an experimental approach, we have investigated the catalytic hydroxylation of alkanes by a mononuclear nonheme Mn(II) complex, [(S-PMB)Mn^II]²⁺, and H₂O₂ in the presence of carboxylic acids; alcohol is the major product with high stereo- and enantioselectivities. A synthetic Mn(IV)-oxo complex, [(S-PMB)Mn^IV(O)]²⁺, is inactive in C-H bond activation reactions, ruling out the Mn(IV)-oxo species as an active oxidant. DFT calculations have shown that a Mn(V)-oxo species with an S = 1 spin state, [(S-PMB)Mn^V(O)(OAc)]²⁺, is highly reactive and capable of oxygenating the C-H bond via oxygen rebound mechanism; we propose that the triplet spin state of the Mn(V)-oxo species results from the consequence of breaking the equatorial symmetry due to the binding of an equatorial oxygen from an acetate ligand. Thus, the present study reports that, different from the previously reported S = 0 Mn(V)-oxo species, Mn(V)-oxo species with a triplet ground spin state are highly reactive oxidants that are responsible for the regio-, stereo-, and enantioselectivities in the catalytic hydroxylation of alkanes by mononuclear nonheme manganese complexes and terminal oxidants.

Bioinspired Manganese and Iron Complexes for Enantioselective Oxidation Reactions: Ligand Design, Catalytic Activity, and Beyond

The development of efficient methods for the enantioselective oxidation of organic molecules continues to be an important goal in organic synthesis; in particular, the use of earth-abundant metal catalysts and environmentally friendly oxidants in catalytic asymmetric oxidation reactions has attracted significant interest over the last several decades. In nature, metalloenzymes catalyze a wide range of oxidation reactions by activating dioxygen under mild conditions. Inspired by selective and efficient oxidation reactions catalyzed by metalloenzymes, researchers have developed a number of synthetic model compounds that mimic the functionality of metalloenzymes. Among the reported biomimetic model compounds, tetradentate aminopyridine (N4) ligands have emerged as appealing frameworks because of their easy synthesis and facile diversification, and their complexes with metals such as Fe and Mn have proven to be versatile and powerful catalysts for a variety of (enantioselective) oxidation reactions. In this Account, we describe our efforts on the design of chiral N4 ligands and the use of their manganese and iron complexes in asymmetric oxidation reactions with H₂O₂ as the terminal oxidant, aiming to show general strategies for asymmetric oxidation reactions that can guide the rational design of ligands and relevant metal catalysts. In studies of manganese catalysts, the aryl-substituted (R,R)-mcp [mcp = N,N'-dimethyl-N,N'-bis(pyridine-2-ylmethyl)cyclohexane-1,2-diamine] manganese complexes exhibited high enantioselectivity in the asymmetric epoxidation (AE) of various olefins with H₂O₂ while requiring stoichiometric acetic acid as an additive for the activation of H₂O₂. To address this issue, we established bulkier N4 ligands for this catalytic system in which a catalytic amount of sulfuric acid enables the manganese-complex-catalyzed AE with improved stereocontrol and efficiency. In addition, this system was found to be active for the oxidative kinetic resolution of secondary alcohols. Further exploration of the structure-reactivity relationships has shown that aminobenzimidazole N4 ligands derived from l-proline, in which the conventional pyridine donors are replaced by benzimidazoles, act as promising ligands. These novel C₁-symmetric manganese catalysts showed dramatically improved activities with unprecedented turnover numbers in the AE reactions. Notably, this class of manganese complexes can catalyze the oxidation of the C-H bonds of spirocyclic hydrocarbons and spiroazacyclic compounds in a highly enantioselective manner, providing ready access to chiral spirocyclic β,β'-diketones and spirocyclic alcohols. Remarkably, iron catalysts with these chiral N4 ligands are effective for AE of olefins, enabling rare examples of highly enantioselective syntheses of epoxides by the iron catalysts. Finally, mechanistic studies provide valuable insights into the roles of the carboxylic acid and sulfuric acid in the catalytic oxidation reactions. Thus, the results described in this Account have demonstrated the importance of tunability and compatibility of the ligands for the development of efficient oxidation catalysts with earth-abundant transition metals and environmentally benign oxidants, and we hope that our study will pave the way for the discovery of efficient oxidation catalysis.

A Mn(iv)-peroxo complex in the reactions with proton donors

Protons play an important role in promoting O-O or M-O bond cleavage of metal-peroxo complexes. Treatment of side-on O2-bound [PPN][MnIV(TMSPS3)(O2)] (1, PPN = bis(triphenylphosphine)iminium and TMSPS3H3 = 2,2',2''-trimercapto-3,3',3''-tris(trimethylsilyl)triphenylphosphine) with perchloric acid (HClO4) in the presence of PR3 (R = phenyl or p-tolyl) results in the formation of neutral five-coordinate MnIII(OPR3)(TMSPS3) complexes (R = phenyl, 2a; p-tolyl, 2b), which are confirmed by X-ray crystallography. Isotope labelling experiments demonstrate that the oxygen atom in the phosphine oxide product derives from the peroxo ligand of 1. Reactions of 1 with weak proton donors, such as phenylthiol, phenol, substituted phenol and methanol, are also investigated to explore the reactivity of the MnIV-peroxo complex, leading to the isolation of a series of five-coordinate [MnIII(L)(TMSPS3)]- complexes (L = phenylthiolate, phenolate or methoxide). Mechanistic aspects of the reactions of the MnIV-peroxo complex with proton donors are discussed as well.

Redox Reactivity of a Mononuclear Manganese-Oxo Complex Binding Calcium Ion and Other Redox-Inactive Metal Ions

Mononuclear nonheme manganese(IV)-oxo complexes binding calcium ion and other redox-inactive metal ions, [(dpaq)Mn^IV(O)]⁺-M ⁿ⁺ (1-Mⁿ⁺, M ⁿ⁺ = Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, Zn²⁺, Lu³⁺, Y³⁺, Al³⁺, and Sc³⁺) (dpaq = 2-[bis(pyridin-2-ylmethyl)]amino- N-quinolin-8-yl-acetamidate), were synthesized by reacting a hydroxomanganese(III) complex, [(dpaq)Mn^III(OH)]⁺, with iodosylbenzene (PhIO) in the presence of redox-inactive metal ions (M ⁿ⁺). The Mn(IV)-oxo complexes were characterized using various spectroscopic techniques. In reactivity studies, we observed contrasting effects of M ⁿ⁺ on the reactivity of 1-M ⁿ⁺ in redox reactions such as electron-transfer (ET), oxygen atom transfer (OAT), and hydrogen atom transfer (HAT) reactions. In the OAT and ET reactions, the reactivity order of 1-M ⁿ⁺, such as 1-Sc³⁺ ≈ 1-Al³⁺ > 1-Y³⁺ > 1-Lu³⁺ > 1-Zn²⁺ > 1-Mg²⁺ > 1-Ca²⁺, follows the Lewis acidity of M ⁿ⁺ bound to the Mn-O moiety; that is, the stronger the Lewis acidity of M ⁿ⁺, the higher the reactivity of 1-M ⁿ⁺ becomes. In sharp contrast, the reactivity of 1-M ⁿ⁺ in the HAT reaction was reversed, giving the reactivity order 1-Ca²⁺ > 1-Mg²⁺ > 1-Zn²⁺ > 1-Lu³⁺> 1-Y³⁺> 1-Al³⁺ ≈ 1-Sc³⁺; that is, the higher is Lewis acidity of M ⁿ⁺, the lower the reactivity of 1-M ⁿ⁺ in the HAT reaction. The latter result implies that the Lewis acidity of M ⁿ⁺ bound to the Mn-O moiety can modulate the basicity of the metal-oxo moiety, thus influencing the HAT reactivity of 1-M ⁿ⁺; cytochrome P450 utilizes the axial thiolate ligand to increase the basicity of the iron-oxo moiety, which enhances the reactivity of compound I in C-H bond activation reactions.

Infrared photodissociation spectroscopic studies of ScO(H2O)n=1–3Ar+ cluster cations: solvation induced reaction of ScO+ and water

We investigate the gaseous ScO(H₂O)_1–3Ar⁺ cations prepared by laser vaporization coupled with supersonic molecular beam using infrared photodissociation spectroscopy in the O–H stretching region.

Aromatic hydroxylation of anthracene derivatives by a chromium(iii)-superoxo complex via proton-coupled electron transfer

Aromatic hydroxylation of anthracene by a mononuclear nonheme Cr(iii)-superoxo complex proceeds via the rate-determining proton-coupled electron transfer, followed by fast further oxidation to anthraquinone.

Thermodynamics of Proton and Electron Transfer in Tetranuclear Clusters with Mn-OH2/OH Motifs Relevant to H2O Activation by the Oxygen Evolving Complex in Photosystem II

We report the synthesis of site-differentiated heterometallic clusters with three Fe centers and a single Mn site that binds water and hydroxide in multiple cluster oxidation states. Deprotonation of Fe^III/II₃Mn^II-OH₂ clusters leads to internal reorganization resulting in formal oxidation at Mn to generate Fe^III/II₃Mn^III-OH. ⁵⁷Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy reveals that oxidation state changes (three for Fe^III/II₃Mn-OH₂ and four for Fe^III/II₃Mn-OH clusters) occur exclusively at the Fe centers; the Mn center is formally Mn^II when water is bound and Mn^III when hydroxide is bound. Experimentally determined p K_a (17.4) of the [Fe^III₂Fe^IIMn^II-OH₂] cluster and the reduction potentials of the [Fe₃Mn-OH₂] and [Fe₃Mn-OH] clusters were used to analyze the O-H bond dissociation enthalpies (BDE_O-H) for multiple cluster oxidation states. BDE_O-H increases from 69 to 78 and 85 kcal/mol for the [Fe^IIIFe^II₂Mn^II-OH₂], [Fe^III₂Fe^IIMn^II-OH₂], and [Fe^III₃Mn^II-OH₂] clusters, respectively. Further insight of the proton and electron transfer thermodynamics of the [Fe₃Mn-OH _x] system was obtained by constructing a potential-p K_a diagram; the shift in reduction potentials of the [Fe₃Mn-OH _x] clusters in the presence of different bases supports the BDE_O-H values reported for the [Fe₃Mn-OH₂] clusters. A lower limit of the p K_a for the hydroxide ligand of the [Fe₃Mn-OH] clusters was estimated for two oxidation states. These data suggest BDE_O-H values for the [Fe^III₂Fe^IIMn^III-OH] and [Fe^III₃Mn^III-OH] clusters are greater than 93 and 103 kcal/mol, which hints to the high reactivity expected of the resulting [Fe₃Mn═O] in this and related multinuclear systems.

Increase of Direct C-C Coupling Reaction Yield by Identifying Structural and Electronic Properties of High-Spin Iron Tetra-azamacrocyclic Complexes

Macrocyclic ligands have been explored extensively as scaffolds for transition metal catalysts for oxygen and hydrogen atom transfer reactions. C-C reactions facilitated using earth abundant metals bound to macrocyclic ligands have not been well-understood but could be a green alternative to replacing the current expensive and toxic precious metal systems most commonly used for these processes. Therefore, the yields from direct Suzuki-Miyaura C-C coupling of phenylboronic acid and pyrrole to produce 2-phenylpyrrole facilitated by eight high-spin iron complexes ([Fe3+L1(Cl)2]+, [Fe3+L4(Cl)2]+, [Fe2+L5(Cl)]+, [Fe2+L6(Cl)2], [Fe3+L7(Cl)2]+, [Fe3+L8(Cl)2]+, [Fe2+L9(Cl)]+, and [Fe2+L10(Cl)]+) were compared to identify the effect of structural and electronic properties on catalytic efficiency. Specifically, catalyst complexes were compared to evaluate the effect of five properties on catalyst reaction yields: (1) the coordination requirements of the catalyst, (2) redox half-potential of each complex, (3) topological constraint/rigidity, (4) N atom modification(s) increasing oxidative stability of the complex, and (5) geometric parameters. The need for two labile cis-coordination sites was confirmed based on a 42% decrease in catalytic reaction yield observed when complexes containing pentadentate ligands were used in place of complexes with tetradentate ligands. A strong correlation between iron(III/II) redox potential and catalytic reaction yields was also observed, with [Fe2+L6(Cl)2] providing the highest yield (81%, -405 mV). A Lorentzian fitting of redox potential versus yields predicts that these catalysts can undergo more fine-tuning to further increase yields. Interestingly, the remaining properties explored did not show a direct, strong relationship to catalytic reaction yields. Altogether, these results show that modifications to the ligand scaffold using fundamental concepts of inorganic coordination chemistry can be used to control the catalytic activity of macrocyclic iron complexes by controlling redox chemistry of the iron center. Furthermore, the data provide direction for the design of improved catalysts for this reaction and strategies to understand the impact of a ligand scaffold on catalytic activity of other reactions.

High-Oxidation-State 3d Metal (Ti-Cu) Complexes with N-Heterocyclic Carbene Ligation

High-oxidation-state 3d metal species have found a wide range of applications in modern synthetic chemistry and materials science. They are also implicated as key reactive species in biological reactions. These applications have thus prompted explorations of their formation, structure, and properties. While the traditional wisdom regarding these species was gained mainly from complexes supported by nitrogen- and oxygen-donor ligands, recent studies with N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs), which are widely used for the preparation of low-oxidation-state transition metal complexes in organometallic chemistry, have led to the preparation of a large variety of isolable high-oxidation-state 3d metal complexes with NHC ligation. Since the first report in this area in the 1990s, isolable complexes of this type have been reported for titanium(IV), vanadium(IV,V), chromium(IV,V), manganese(IV,V), iron(III,IV,V), cobalt(III,IV,V), nickel(IV), and copper(II). With the aim of providing an overview of this intriguing field, this Review summarizes our current understanding of the synthetic methods, structure and spectroscopic features, reactivity, and catalytic applications of high-oxidation-state 3d metal NHC complexes of titanium to copper. In addition to this progress, factors affecting the stability and reactivity of high-oxidation-state 3d metal NHC species are also presented, as well as perspectives on future efforts.

Relationship between Hydrogen-Atom Transfer Driving Force and Reaction Rates for an Oxomanganese(IV) Adduct

Hydrogen atom transfer (HAT) reactions by high-valent metal-oxo intermediates are important in both biological and synthetic systems. While the HAT reactivity of Fe^IV-oxo adducts has been extensively investigated, studies of analogous Mn^IV-oxo systems are less common. There are several recent reports of Mn^IV-oxo complexes, supported by neutral pentadentate ligands, capable of cleaving strong C-H bonds at rates approaching those of analogous Fe^IV-oxo species. In this study, we provide a thorough analysis of the HAT reactivity of one of these Mn^IV-oxo complexes, [Mn^IV(O)(2pyN2Q)]²⁺, which is supported by an N5 ligand with equatorial pyridine and quinoline donors. This complex is able to oxidize the strong C-H bonds of cyclohexane with rates exceeding those of Fe^IV-oxo complexes with similar ligands. In the presence of excess oxidant (iodosobenzene), cyclohexane oxidation by [Mn^IV(O)(2pyN2Q)]²⁺ is catalytic, albeit with modest turnover numbers. Because the rate of cyclohexane oxidation by [Mn^IV(O)(2pyN2Q)]²⁺ was faster than that predicted by a previously published Bells-Evans-Polanyi correlation, we expanded the scope of this relationship by determining HAT reaction rates for substrates with bond dissociation energies spanning 20 kcal/mol. This extensive analysis showed the expected correlation between reaction rate and the strength of the substrate C-H bond, albeit with a shallow slope. The implications of this result with regard to Mn^IV-oxo and Fe^IV-oxo reactivity are discussed.

Long-Lived Photoexcited State of a Mn(IV)-Oxo Complex Binding Scandium Ions That is Capable of Hydroxylating Benzene

Photoexcitation of a Mn^IV-oxo complex binding scandium ions ([(Bn-TPEN)Mn^IV(O)]²⁺-(Sc(OTf)₃)₂) in a solvent mixture of trifluoroethanol and acetonitrile (v/v = 1:1) resulted in formation of the long-lived photoexcited state, which can hydroxylate benzene to phenol. The photohydroxylation of benzene by [(Bn-TPEN)Mn^IV(O)]²⁺-(Sc(OTf)₃)₂ was made possible by electron transfer from benzene to the long-lived ² E excited state of [(Bn-TPEN)Mn^IV(O)]²⁺-(Sc(OTf)₃)₂ to produce a benzene radical cation, which reacted with water as revealed by laser-induced transient absorption measurements.

A mononuclear manganese(iii)–hydroperoxo complex: synthesis by activating dioxygen and reactivity in electrophilic and nucleophilic reactions

A manganese(iii)–peroxo complex was synthesized by activating dioxygen (O₂) and the amphoteric reactivity of a manganese(iii)–hydroperoxo complex was demonstrated in electrophilic and nucleophilic reactions.

Dioxygen Activation and O-O Bond Formation Reactions by Manganese Corroles

Activation of dioxygen (O2) in enzymatic and biomimetic reactions has been intensively investigated over the past several decades. More recently, O-O bond formation, which is the reverse of the O2-activation reaction, has been the focus of current research. Herein, we report the O2-activation and O-O bond formation reactions by manganese corrole complexes. In the O2-activation reaction, Mn(V)-oxo and Mn(IV)-peroxo intermediates were formed when Mn(III) corroles were exposed to O2 in the presence of base (e.g., OH-) and hydrogen atom (H atom) donor (e.g., THF or cyclic olefins); the O2-activation reaction did not occur in the absence of base and H atom donor. Moreover, formation of the Mn(V)-oxo and Mn(IV)-peroxo species was dependent on the amounts of base present in the reaction solution. The role of the base was proposed to lower the oxidation potential of the Mn(III) corroles, thereby facilitating the binding of O2 and forming a Mn(IV)-superoxo species. The putative Mn(IV)-superoxo species was then converted to the corresponding Mn(IV)-hydroperoxo species by abstracting a H atom from H atom donor, followed by the O-O bond cleavage of the putative Mn(IV)-hydroperoxo species to form a Mn(V)-oxo species. We have also shown that addition of hydroxide ion to the Mn(V)-oxo species afforded the Mn(IV)-peroxo species via O-O bond formation and the resulting Mn(IV)-peroxo species reverted to the Mn(V)-oxo species upon addition of proton, indicating that the O-O bond formation and cleavage reactions between the Mn(V)-oxo and Mn(IV)-peroxo complexes are reversible. The present study reports the first example of using the same manganese complex in both O2-activation and O-O bond formation reactions.