meso Substituent effects on the geometric and electronic structures of high-spin and low-spin iron(III) complexes of mono-meso-substituted octaethylporphyrins

Unusual Stabilisation of Remarkably Bent Tetra-Cationic Tetra-radical Intermolecular Fe(III) μ-Oxo Tetranuclear Complexes

A hitherto unknown series of air stable, π-conjugated, remarkably bent tetra-cation tetra-radical intermolecular Fe(III) μ-oxo tetranuclear complex, isolated from the dication diradical diiron(III) porphyrin dimers, has been synthesised and spectroscopically characterised along with single crystal X-ray structure determination of two such molecules. These species facilitate long-range charge/radical delocalisation through the bridge across the entire tetranuclear unit manifesting an unusually intense NIR band. Assorted spin states of Fe(III) centres are stabilised within these unique tetranuclear frameworks: terminal six-coordinate iron centres stabilise the admixed intermediate spin states while the central five-coordinate iron centres stabilise the high-spin states. Variable temperature magnetic susceptibility measurements indicated strong antiferromagnetic coupling for the Fe(III)-O-Fe(III) unit while the exchange interactions between the Fe centres and the porphyrin π-cation radicals are weaker as supported both by magnetic data and DFT calculations. The nature of orbital overlap between the SOMOs of Fe(III) and π* orbital of the porphyrin was found to rationalise the observed exchange coupling, establishing such a complex magnetic exchange in this tetranuclear model with a significant bioinorganic relevance.

Spin-Flip via Subtle Electronic Perturbation in Axially Ligated Diiron(III) Porphyrin Dimer

Spin state switching in the metal center is a crucial phenomenon in many enzymatic reactions in biology. The spin state alteration, a critical step in cytochrome P450 catalysis, is driven most likely through a weak perturbation upon substrate binding in the enzyme, which is still not well clarified. In the current work, the spin state transition of iron(III) from high to intermediate via an admixed state is observed upon a subtle electronic perturbation to the sulphonate moieties coordinated axially to a diiron(III)porphyrin dimer. While electron-donating substituents stabilize the high-spin state of iron(III), strongly electron-withdrawing groups stabilize an intermediate-spin state, whereas the moderate electron-withdrawing nature of axial ligands resulted in an admixed state. Confirmation of the molecular structures and their spin states have been made utilizing single-crystal X-ray structure analysis, Mössbauer, magnetic, EPR, and 1H NMR spectroscopic investigations. The position of the signals of the porphyrin macrocycle in the paramagnetic 1H NMR is found to be very characteristic of the spin state of the iron center in solution. The Curie plot for the pure high-spin complexes shows the signals' temperature dependency in line with the Curie law. Conversely, the pure intermediate-spin state of iron exhibits an anti-Curie temperature dependence, whereas the admixed-spin state of iron displays significant curvature of the lines in the Curie plot. An extensive DFT analysis displays a linear dependence between the energy difference between dx 2 - y 2 ${{_{x{^{2}}- y{^{2}}}}}$ and dz 2 ${{_{z{^{2}}}}}$ orbital versus Fe-Npor distance for the complexes reported here. Furthermore, a strong linear correlation between the Fe-O distance and the spin density over the oxygen atom, as well as the Fe-Npor distance for the complexes, has been observed. Thus, a slight electronic perturbation at the axial ligand of the diheme resulted in a large change in the electronic structures with a spin-flip. This is at par with the metalloenzymes, which employ minute perturbations around the periphery of the active sites, leading to spin state transitions.

Diheme cytochromes: Effect of mixed-axial ligation on the electronic structure and electrochemical properties with cobalt porphyrin dimer

A series of six-coordinate diCo(III) porphyrin dimers, as synthetic analogues of diheme cytochromes, have been reported here having bis(imidazole), bis(pyridine) and mixed thiophenolate-pyridine/imidazole axial ligands. In the X-ray structures of bis(imidazole) and bis(pyridine) complexes, the axial ligands are in perpendicular orientation while they are parallelly oriented in their monomeric analog. The porphyrin rings are also highly ruffle-distorted in dimer but planar in monomer which reflect the effect of intramolecular interaction between two Co(porphyrin) units in dimers. In the X-ray structure of diCo(III) thiophenolate-pyridine mixed-ligated complex, the axial Co-S and Co-N(py) distances are 2.256(1) and 2.063(2) Å, respectively. The Co-N(py) distance of 2.063(2) Å is much longer than the distances of 1.961(3) and 1.972(3) Å observed in bis(pyridine) complex and the Co-S distance is larger than Co-N(py) in the mixed ligated complex which results in a displacement of Co by 0.15 Å towards the pyridine ligand from the mean porphyrin plane. Indeed, this is the first X-ray structure of a metalloporphyrin with mixed thiophenolate-pyridine axial ligands. The effect of mixed-axial ligation is demonstrated by a blue-shift of the Soret band in the UV-visible spectroscopy and also a positive shift of the Co(III)/Co(II) redox couple as compared to their bis(pyridine) analogue. The redox potentials are shifted to a large negative value just upon replacing the metal from iron to cobalt. The present investigation emphasizes the role of axial ligation, metal ions, and also the effect of heme-heme interaction in controlling the spectral and electrochemical properties.

Heme-Heme Interactions in Diheme Cytochromes: Effect of Mixed-Axial Ligation on the Electronic Structure and Electrochemical Properties

Diheme cytochromes, the simplest members in the multiheme family, play substantial biochemical roles in enzymatic catalysis as well as in electron transfer. A series of diiron(III) porphyrin dimers have been synthesized as active site analogues of diheme cytochromes. The complexes contain six-coordinated iron(III) having thiophenol and imidazole at the fifth and sixth coordination sites, respectively. The iron centers in the complexes have been found to be in a low-spin state, as confirmed through solid-state Mössbauer and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopic investigations. Mössbauer quadrupole splitting of complexes having mixed ligands is substantially larger than that observed when both axial ligands are the same. Rhombic types of EPR spectra with narrow separation between g_x, g_y, and g_z clearly distinguish heme thiolate coordination compared to bis(imidazole)-ligated low-spin heme centers. The redox potential in diheme cytochromes has been found to be tuned by interheme interactions along with the nature of axial ligands. The effect of mixed-axial ligation within the diiron(III) porphyrin dimers is demonstrated by a positive shift in the Fe(III)/Fe(II) redox couple upon thiophenolate coordination compared to their bis(imidazole) analogues. The pK_a of the imidazole also decides the extent of the shift for the Fe(III)/Fe(II) couple, while the potential of the mixed-ligated diiron(III) porphyrin dimer is more positive compared to their monomeric analogue. A variation of around 1.1 V for the Fe(III)/Fe(II) redox potential in the diiron(III) porphyrin dimer can be achieved with the combined effect of axial ligation and a metal spin state, while such a large variation in the redox potential, compared to their monomeric analogues, is attributed to the heme-heme interactions observed in dihemes. Moreover, theoretical calculations also support the experimental shifts in the redox potential values.

Stepwise oxidations of a nickel(ii)–iron(iii) heterobimetallic porphyrin dimer: structure, spectroscopic and theoretical investigation

A novel nickel(ii)–iron(iii) heterobimetallic ethene-bridged porphyrin dimer has been synthesized which upon two-electron oxidation produces a nickel(ii)–iron(iii) dication diradical complex where radicals undergo extensive conjugation through the bridge for all possible interactions.

Chlorido(2,3,7,8,12,13,17,18-octaethylporphyrinato)iron(III): a new triclinic polymorph of Fe(OEP)Cl

The previous structure determination of the title compound, [Fe(C36H44N4)Cl], was of a monoclinic polymorph [Senge (2005). Acta Cryst. E61, m399-m400]. The crystal structure of a new triclinic polymorph has been determined based on single-crystal X-ray diffraction data collected at 100 K. The asymmetric unit contains one molecule of the high-spin square-pyramidal iron(III) porphyrinate. The structure exhibits distinct nonstatistical alternative positions for most atoms and was consequently modeled as a whole-molecule disorder. The compound is characterized by an average Fe-N bond length of 2.065 (2) Å, an Fe-Cl bond length of 2.225 (4) Å, and the iron(III) cation displaced by 0.494 (4) Å from the plane of the 24-atom porphyrinate core, essentially the same as in the previously determined polymorph. Common features of the porphyrin plane-plane stacking involve two types of synthons, each of which can be further stabilized with additional H···Cl interactions to the axial chloride ligand, exhibiting concerted interactions of H atoms from the ethyl groups with the π-cloud electron density of adjacent molecules; the shortest methylene H-atom contacts are in the range 2.75-2.91 Å, resulting in plane-plane separations of 3.407 (4) and 3.416 (4) Å, and the shortest methyl H-atom contacts are 2.56-2.95 Å, resulting in plane-plane separations of 4.900 (5) and 4.909 (5) Å in the monoclinic polymorph. The plane-to-plane stacking synthons in the triclinic polymorph are similar, but at greater distances; the shortest methylene H-atom contacts are 2.86-2.94 Å, resulting in plane-plane separations of 3.45 (2) and 3.45 (3) Å, and the shortest methyl H-atom contacts are 2.89-3.20 Å, resulting in plane-plane separations of 5.081 (13) and 5.134 (13) Å, consistent with the density of the triclinic polymorph being 1.5% lower, suggesting lesser packing efficiency and lower stability in the triclinic polymorph. The major molecular differences found in the polymorphs is in three different orientations of the ethyl-group side chains on the periphery of the porphyrin core.

Substrate-induced magnetic ordering and switching of iron porphyrin molecules

To realize molecular spintronic devices, it is important to externally control the magnetization of a molecular magnet. One class of materials particularly promising as building blocks for molecular electronic devices is the paramagnetic porphyrin molecule in contact with a metallic substrate. Here, we study the structural orientation and the magnetic coupling of in-situ-sublimated Fe porphyrin molecules on ferromagnetic Ni and Co films on Cu(100). Our studies involve X-ray absorption spectroscopy and X-ray magnetic circular dichroism experiments. In a combined experimental and computational study we demonstrate that owing to an indirect, superexchange interaction between Fe atoms in the molecules and atoms in the substrate (Co or Ni) the paramagnetic molecules can be made to order ferromagnetically. The Fe magnetic moment can be rotated along directions in plane as well as out of plane by a magnetization reversal of the substrate, thereby opening up an avenue for spin-dependent molecular electronics.

Iron Complexes of N-Confused Pyriporphyrin: NMR Studies

Insertion of iron(II) into 6,11,16,21-tetraaryl-3-aza-m-benziporphyrin (N-confused pyriporphyrin, (PyPH)H) yielded the high-spin iron(II) complex, (PyPH)Fe(II)Br. The coordination of iron(II) to the perimeter nitrogen atom of (PyPH)Fe(II)Br resulted in the formation of the diiron species. Oxidation and oxygenation of (PyPH)Fe(II)Br were followed by 1H NMR spectroscopy. The addition of Br2 to the solution of (PyPH)Fe(II)Br in the absence of dioxygen results in a one-electron oxidation yielding the high-spin iron(III) N-confused pyriporphyrin [(PyPH)Fe(III)Br]+ which preserves the side-on interaction between the inverted pyridine ring and metal ion. The reaction of (PyPH)Fe(II)Br with dioxygen ends up with the formation of a five-coordinate species (PyPO)Fe(III)Br] ((PyPOH)H = 3-aza-22-hydroxy-m-benziporphyrin, PyPO = the corresponding dianion) which is formed by oxygenation at the C(22) position. Coordination of a metal ion by 3-aza-22-hydroxy-benziporphyrin imposes a steric constraint on the geometry of the ligand. The halide ligand of (PyPO)Fe(III)Br coordinates on one of the two inequivalent faces of the macrocycle, leading to two distinct species: syn and anti. The (1)H NMR spectra of paramagnetic iron(II) and iron(III) N-confused pyriporphyrin complexes have been examined. The characteristic patterns of pyrrole and pyridine resonances have been found to be diagnostic of the ground electronic state of iron and the donor nature of the C(22)H and N(3) centers. The enormous downfield H(22) paramagnetic shift, determined for the iron(II) N-confused pyriporphyrin, provides a distinct resonance in a peculiar spectroscopic window (350-800 ppm) for a series of axial ligands which can be considered as a diagnostic sign of an agostic Fe(II)...{C(22)-H} interaction. Coordination of the pyridine moiety via the perimeter N(3) atom is reflected unambiguously by the H(2/4) resonance at 201 ppm.

Electron Distribution in Iron Octaethyloxophlorin Complexes. Importance of the Fe(III) Oxophlorin Trianion Form in the Bis-pyridine and Bis-imidazole Complexes

The apportionment of electrons between iron and the porphyrinic macrocycle in complexes of octaethyloxophlorin (H3OEPO) has been a vexing problem. In particular, for (Py)2Fe(OEPO), which is an important intermediate in heme degradation, three resonance structures involving Fe(III), Fe(II), or Fe(I), respectively, have been considered. To clarify this matter, the electronic and geometric structures of (Py)2Fe(III)(OEPO), (Im)2Fe(III)(OEPO).2THF, and (Im)2Fe(III)(OEPO).1.6CHCl3 have been examined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction, measurement of magnetic moments as a function of temperature, and EPR and NMR spectral studies. The results clearly show that both complexes exist in the Fe(III)/oxophlorin trianion form rather than the Fe(II)/oxophlorin radical form previously established for (2,6-xylylNC)(2)Fe(II)(OEPO.). In the solid state from 10 to 300 K, (Py)2Fe(III)(OEPO) exists in the high-spin (S = 5/2) state with the axial ligands in parallel planes, a planar porphyrin, and long axial Fe-N distances. However, in solution it exists predominantly in a low-spin (S = 1/2) form. In contrast, the structures of (Im)2Fe(III)(OEPO).2THF and (Im)2Fe(III)(OEPO).1.6CHCl3 consist of porphyrins with a severe ruffled distortion, axial ligands in nearly perpendicular planes, and relatively short axial Fe-N distances. The crystallographic, magnetic, EPR, and NMR results all indicate that (Im)2Fe(III)(OEPO) exists in the low-spin Fe(III) form in both the solid state and in solution.

Structural, Optical, and Photophysical Properties of Nickel(II) Alkylthioporphyrins: Insights from Experimental and DFT/TDDFT Studies

The ground- and excited-state properties of a Ni(II) porphyrin bearing peripheral alkylthio group, NiOMTP (OMTP = 2,3,7,8,12,13,17,18-octakis methylthio porphyrinate) have been investigated by steady-state and time-resolved absorption spectrometry and DFT/TDDFT theoretical methods. Several conformations corresponding to different deformations of the porphyrin core and to different orientations of the alkylthio groups have been theoretically explored. The nearly degenerate, purely ruffled D(2d) and hybrid (ruffled with a modest degree of saddling) D(2) conformations, both characterized by an up-down (ud) orientation of the vicinal methylthio groups are by far the preferred conformations in the "gas phase". In contrast to NiOEP, it is the orientation of the peripheral substituents rather than the type and degree of distortions of the porphyrin core that determines the stability of the NiOMTP conformers. The ground-state electronic absorption spectra of NiOMTP exhibit significant changes compared to its parent NiP and beta-alkylated analogues, such as NiOEP, resulting in a considerable red shift of the B and the Q bands, intensification and broadening of the Q band, and additional weak absorptions in the region between the Q and B bands. These spectral changes can be understood in terms of the electronic effects of the methylthio groups with nonplanar distortions of the porphyrin ring playing a very minor role. Transient absorption measurements with sub-picosecond resolution performed in toluene and TDDFT calculations reveal that following photoexcitation, NiOMTP deactivates by the pathway 1(pi,pi) --> 3(d(z2),d(x2-y2))--> ground state. The (d,d) state exhibits complex spectral evolution over ca. 8 ps, interpreted in terms of vibrational relaxation and cooling. The cold ligand-field excited state decays with a lifetime of 320 ps. At variance with the highly distorted nickel porphyrins but similar to the planar analogues, the (d,d) spectrum of NiOMTP has transient absorption bands immediately to the red of the bleaching of the ground-state Q and B bands.

1H NMR Investigation of High-Spin and Low-Spin Iron(III) meso-Ethynylporphyrins

The 1H NMR spectra of iron(III) 5-ethynyl-10,15,20-tri(p-tolyl)porphyrin [(ETrTP)Fe(III)X(n)], iron(III) 5-(phenylethynyl)-10,15,20-tri(p-tolyl)porphyrin [(PETrTP)Fe(III)X(n)], iron(III) 5-(phenylbutadiynyl)-10,15,20-tri(p-tolyl)porphyrin [(PBTrTP)Fe(III)X(n)], iron(III) 5,10,15,20-tetra(phenylethynyl)porphyrin [(TPEP)Fe(III)X(n)], iron(III) 1,4-bis-[10,15,20-tri(p-tolyl)porphyrin-5-yl]-1,3-butadiyne {[(TrTP)Fe(III)X(n)]2 B}, and 5,10,15-triphenylporphyrin [(TrPP)Fe(III)X(n)] have been studied to elucidate the impact of meso-ethynyl substitution on the electronic structure and spin density distribution of high-spin (X = Cl-, n = 1) and low-spin (X = CN-, n = 2) derivatives. The meso substituents, i.e., ethynyl, phenylethynyl, and phenylbutadiynyl, provided insight into the efficiency of spin density delocalization along structural elements that are typically applied to transmit electronic effects along multipart polyporphyrinic systems. The positive spin density localized at the meso-carbon of high-spin iron(III) ethynylporphyrins is effectively delocalized along the ethyne or butadiyne fragment as illustrated by the comparison of isotropic shifts of C(meso)-H and -CC-H determined for (TrPP)Fe(III)Cl (-82.6 ppm, 293 K) and (ETrTP)Fe(III)Cl (-49.5 ppm, 298 K). The replacement of the ethynyl hydrogen by phenyl or phenylethynyl provided evidence for the pi spin density distribution around the introduced phenyl ring. An analysis of the isotropic shifts for the low-spin bis-cyanide iron(III) porphyrins series reveals the analogous mechanism of spin density transfer. Treatment of high-spin [(TrTP)Fe(III)Cl]2 B with a base resulted in formation of the cyclic [(TrTP)Fe(III)OFe(III)(TrTP)B]2 complex linked by two mu-oxo bridges. (TPEP)H2 has been characterized by X-ray crystallography as a porphyrin dication where two molecules of trifluoroacetic acid associate with two coordinated trifluoroacetate anions. The X-ray structure of bis-tetrahydrofuran 1,4-bis[10,15,20-tri(p-tolyl)porphyrinatozinc(II)-5-yl]-1,3-butadiyne complex {[(TrTP)Zn(II)(THF)]2 B} reveals two parallel, non-coplanar [(TrTP)Zn(THF)] subunits linked by the linear butadiyne moiety.

Solution 1H NMR study of the accommodation of the side chain of n-butyl-etiohemin-I incorporated into the active site of cyano-metmyoglobin

In order to identify the most readily deformable portion of the heme pocket in myoglobin, equine myoglobin was reconstituted with a meso-n-butyl substituent on centrosymmetric etiohemin-I. Solution 1H NMR data for the low-spin iron(III) cyanide complex of oxidized myoglobin that include 2D nuclear Overhauser enhancement spectroscopy contacts, paramagnetic relaxation, and dipolar shifts resulting from magnetic anisotropy show that the heme binds uniquely to the iron in a manner that arranges the methyl and ethyl substituents on a given pyrrole in a clockwise manner when viewed from the proximal side, and with the n-butyl group seated at the canonical alpha-meso position of native protohemin-IX. The butyl group is oriented sharply toward the proximal side and its protein contacts demonstrate that it is oriented largely into the "xenon hole" in myoglobin. The location of the n-butyl group on the proximal side near the vacancies places it within the region found to be most flexible in molecular dynamics simulation. A small, counterclockwise rotation of the pyrrole N-Fe-N vector of n-butyl-etiohemin-I relative to that for native protohemin, indicated by both the prosthetic group methyl contact shift pattern and the prosthetic group contacts to heme pocket residues, is proposed to allow the xenon hole to accommodate better the n-butyl group. In contrast to previous work, which showed that a bulky polar substituent on etiohemin-I preferentially seats at the canonical gamma-meso position, the nonpolar n-butyl group selects the alpha-meso position.

Metal Complexes of meso-Amino-octaethylporphyrin and the Oxidation of NiII(meso-amino-octaethylporphyrin)

The crystal structures of meso-NH2-OEPH2, NiII(meso-NH2-OEP), and CuII(meso-NH2-OEP) (where OEP is the dianion of meso-amino-octaethylporphyrin) have been determined to examine the effects of the meso-substituent on the geometry of the ligand. CuII(meso-NH2-OEP) has a nearly planar geometry while the free ligand itself and NiII(meso-NH2-OEP) have ruf conformations. NiII(meso-NH2-OEP) is much less reactive toward oxidation than are (py)2FeII(meso-NH2-OEP), ClFeIII(meso-NH2-OEP), or NiII(meso-HO-OEP), which all undergo oxidation in pyridine solution when exposed to dioxygen. Treatment of NiII(meso-NH2-OEP) with iron(III) chloride in chloroform solution does result in oxidation of the ligand in two separate processes. One involves oxygenation at the trans-meso position, while the other results in ring cleavage and removal of the amino function. The open-chain tetrapyrrole complex, NiII(OEB-CO2Et), has been characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction and shown to contain a helical ligand with a four-coordinate nickel ion.

Oxidative Verdoheme Formation and Stabilization by Axial Isocyanide Ligation

The effect of isocyanides as axial ligands on the formation and stability of verdoheme by oxidation has been examined. The reaction of [Fe(III)(OEPO)]2 with t-butyl isocyanide under dioxygen-free conditions results in the formation of (t-BuNC)2Fe(II)(OEPO*) with an electron paramagnetic resonance at g=2.009 with a peak-to-peak separation of 23.5 G at 4 K. (OEPO is the trianion of octaethyloxophlorin and OEPO* is the radical dianion obtained from OEPO by one-electron oxidation.) Exposure of chloroform solutions of either (2,6-xylylNC)2Fe(II)(OEPO*) or (t-BuNC)2Fe(II)(OEPO*) to dioxygen followed by the addition of ammonium hexafluorophosphate results in their transformation into the diamagnetic verdohemes, [(2,6-xylylNC)2Fe(II)(OEOP)](PF6) and [(t-BuNC)2Fe(II)(OEOP)](PF6), yields 68 and 70%, respectively. (OEOP is the anion of octaethyl-5-oxaporphyrin.) The oxidation reactions of (2,6-xylylNC)2Fe(II)(OEPO*) and (t-BuNC)2Fe(II)(OEPO*) have also been monitored by 1H NMR spectroscopy. No resonances due to paramagnetic products could be detected, the reactions appear to result only in the formation of the diamagnetic verdohemes, and the products are not susceptible to further oxidation.

Reactions ofmeso-Hydroxyhemes with Carbon Monoxide and Reducing Agents in Search of the Elusive Species Responsible for theg= 2.006 Resonance of Carbon Monoxide-Treated Heme Oxygenase. Isolation of Diamagnetic Iron(II) Complexes of Octaethyl-meso-hydroxyporphyrin

To examine possible models for the g = 2.006 resonance seen when the hydroxylated heme-heme oxygenase complex in the Fe(III) state is treated with CO, the reactivities of CO and reducing agents with (py)(2)Fe(III)(OEPO) and [Fe(III)(OEPO)](2) (OEPO is the trianion of octaethyl-meso-hydroxyporphyrin) have been examined. A pyridine solution of (py)(2)Fe(III)(OEPO) reacts in a matter of minutes with zinc amalgam (or with hydrazine) under an atmosphere of dioxygen-free dinitrogen to produce bright-red (py)(2)Fe(II)(OEPOH).2py.0.33H(2)O, which has been isolated in crystalline form. The (1)H NMR spectrum of (py)(2)Fe(II)(OEPOH) in a pyridine-d(5) solution is indicative of the presence of a diamagnetic compound, and no EPR resonance was observed for this compound. Treatment of a solution of (py)(2)Fe(II)(OEPOH) in pyridine-d(5) with carbon monoxide produces spectral changes after a 30 s exposure that are indicative of the formation of diamagnetic (OC)(py)Fe(II)(OEPOH). Treatment of a green pyridine solution of (py)(2)Fe(III)(OEPO) with carbon monoxide reveals a slow color change to deep red over a 16 h period. Although a resonance at g = 2.006 was observed in the EPR spectrum of the sample during the reaction, the isolated product is EPR silent. The spectroscopic features of the final solution are identical to those of a solution formed by treating (py)(2)Fe(II)(OEPOH) with carbon monoxide. Addition of hydrazine to solutions of (OC)(py)Fe(II)(OEPOH) produces red, diamagnetic (OC)(N(2)H(4))Fe(II)(OEPOH).py in crystalline form. The X-ray crystal structures of (py)(2)Fe(II)(OEPOH).2py.0.33H(2)O and (OC)(N(2)H(4))Fe(II)(OEPOH).py have been determined. Solutions of diamagnetic (OC)(N(2)H(4))Fe(II)(OEPOH).py and (OC)(py)Fe(II)(OEPOH) are extremely air sensitive and are immediately converted in a pyridine solution into paramagnetic (py)(2)Fe(III)(OEPO) in the presence of dioxygen.

The Effects of Axial Ligands on Electron Distribution and Spin States in Iron Complexes of Octaethyloxophlorin, Intermediates in Heme Degradation

The results presented here show that the nature of the axial ligand can alter the distribution of electrons between the metal and the porphyrin in complexes where there is an oxygen atom replacing one of the meso protons. The complexes (1-MeIm)(2)Fe(III)(OEPO) and (2,6-xylylNC)(2)Fe(II)(OEPO(*)) (where OEPO is the trianionic octaethyloxophlorin ligand and OEPO(*) is the dianionic octaethyloxophlorin radical) were prepared by addition of an excess of the appropriate axial ligand to a slurry of [Fe(III)(OEPO)](2) in chloroform under anaerobic conditions. The magnetic moment of (2,6-xylylNC)(2)Fe(II)(OEPO(*)) is temperature invariant and consistent with a simple S = (1)/(2) ground state. This complex with an EPR resonance at g = 2.004 may be considered as a model for the free-radical like EPR signal seen when the meso-hydroxylated heme/heme oxygenase complex is treated with carbon monoxide. In contrast, the magnetic moment of (1-MeIm)(2)Fe(III)(OEPO) drops with temperature and indicates a spin-state change from an S = (5)/(2) or an admixed S = (3)/(2),(5)/(2) state at high temperatures (near room temperature) to an S = (1)/(2) state at temperatures below 100 K. X-ray diffraction studies show that each complex crystallizes in centrosymmetric form with the expected six-coordinate geometry. The structure of (1-MeIm)(2)Fe(III)(OEPO) has been determined at 90, 129, and 296 K and shows a gradual and selective lengthening of the Fe-N(axial bond). This behavior is consistent with population of a higher spin state at elevated temperatures.

Facile Ring Opening of Iron(III) and Iron(II) Complexes of meso-Amino-octaethylporphyrin by Dioxygen

Pyridine solutions of ClFe(III)(meso-NH(2)-OEP) undergo oxidative ring opening when exposed to dioxygen. The high-spin iron(III) complex, ClFe(III)(meso-NH(2)-OEP), has been isolated and characterized by X-ray crystallography. In the solid state, it has a five-coordinate structure typical for high-spin (S = 5/2) iron(III) complex. In chloroform-d solution, ClFe(III)(meso-NH(2)-OEP) displays an (1)H NMR spectrum characteristic of a high-spin, five-coordinate complex and is unreactive toward dioxygen. However, in pyridine-d(5) solution a temperature-dependent equilibrium exists between the high-spin (S = 5/2), six-coordinate complex, [(py)ClFe(III)(meso-NH(2)-OEP)], and the six-coordinate, low spin (S = 1/2 with the less common (d(xz)d(yz))(4)(d(xy))(1) ground state)) complex, [(py)(2)Fe(III)(meso-NH(2)-OEP)](+). Such pyridine solutions are air-sensitive, and the remarkable degradation has been monitored by (1)H NMR spectroscopy. These studies reveal a stepwise conversion of ClFe(III)(meso-NH(2)-OEP) into an open-chain tetrapyrrole complex in which the original amino group and the attached meso carbon atom have been converted into a nitrile group. Additional oxidation at an adjacent meso carbon occurs to produce a ligand that binds iron by three pyrrole nitrogen atoms and the oxygen atom introduced at a meso carbon. This open-chain tetrapyrrole complex itself is sensitive to attack by dioxygen and is converted into a tripyrrole complex that is stable to further oxidation and has been isolated. The process of oxidation of the Fe(III) complex, ClFe(III)(meso-NH(2)-OEP), is compared with that of the iron(II) complex, (py)(2)Fe(II)(meso-NH(2)-OEP); both converge to form identical products.

Core-Modified Porphyrin Incorporating a Phenolate Donor. Characterization of Pd(II), Ni(II), Zn(II), Cd(II), and Fe(III) Complexes

Coordinating properties of acetoxybenziporphyrin, (TPBPOAc)H, have been investigated for a number of metal ions. Insertion of Ni, Pd, and Fe results in the cleavage of the acetoxy group leading to complexes (TPBPO)Ni(II), (TPBPO)Pd(II), and (TPBPO)Fe(III)X containing a M-O bond. No cleavage is observed with Zn(II) and Cd(II), which form complexes (TPBPOAc)M(II)Cl, where M = Zn, Cd. (TPBPO)Ni(II) can also be obtained from the dication of hydroxybenziporphyrin, [(TPBPOH)H(3)]Cl(2), which is prepared by acid hydrolysis of the acetoxy compound. The diamagnetic (TPBPO)Ni(II) can be transformed into the paramagnetic (TPBPOAc)Ni(II)Cl in a reaction with acetyl chloride. X-ray structures have been determined for (TPBPO)Pd(II) and (TPBPOAc)Zn(II)Cl. In the palladium species, the phenolate moiety forms a strong bond to the Pd ion and an unusual interaction geometry is observed, enforced by the macrocyclic environment. Association of a TFA molecule to the phenolic oxygen does not cause significant structural changes in the (TPBPO)Pd(II) molecule. In (TPBPOAc)Zn(II)Cl, the metal ion weakly interacts with the phenolic fragment. The paramagnetic Fe(III) complexes, (TPBPO)Fe(III)X, have been investigated with (1)H NMR spectroscopy. The observed spectral patterns are consistent with the presence of a high-spin Fe(III) center and pi delocalization of spin density onto the phenoxide fragment. Each of the compounds (TPBPO)Fe(III)X exists in solution as a mixture of two isomers, which for X = I are shown to remain in a temperature-dependent equilibrium. The observed isomerism results from two nonequivalent orientations of the axial halide with respect to the puckered macrocyclic ring.

Versatile synthesis of meso-aryloxy- and alkoxy-substituted porphyrins via palladium-catalyzed C-O cross-coupling reactions

[reaction: see text] meso-Aryloxy- and alkoxy-substituted porphyrins were conveniently synthesized by direct reactions of meso-halogenated porphyrins with alcohols via palladium-catalyzed C-O cross-coupling reactions. Using a combination of palladium precursor Pd(OAc)(2) or Pd(2)(dba)(3) and phosphine ligand DPEphos or Xantphos allowed both 5-bromo-10,20-diarylporphyrin and 5,15-dibromo-10,20-diarylporphyrin, as well as their zinc complexes, to be effectively coupled with a variety of alcohols to give the corresponding mono- and bis-substituted meso-aryloxy/alkoxyporphyrins in moderate to high yields under mild conditions.