Modeling substrate- and inhibitor-bound forms of liver alcohol dehydrogenase: chemistry of mononuclear nitrogen/sulfur-ligated zinc alcohol, formamide, and sulfoxide complexes

Positional effects of second-sphere amide pendants on electrochemical CO2 reduction catalyzed by iron porphyrins

The development of catalysts for electrochemical reduction of carbon dioxide offers an attractive approach to transforming this greenhouse gas into value-added carbon products with sustainable energy input. Inspired by natural bioinorganic systems that feature precisely positioned hydrogen-bond donors in the secondary coordination sphere to direct chemical transformations occurring at redox-active metal centers, we now report the design, synthesis, and characterization of a series of iron tetraphenylporphyrin (Fe-TPP) derivatives bearing amide pendants at various positions at the periphery of the metal core. Proper positioning of the amide pendants greatly affects the electrocatalytic activity for carbon dioxide reduction to carbon monoxide. In particular, derivatives bearing proximal and distal amide pendants on the ortho position of the phenyl ring exhibit significantly larger turnover frequencies (TOF) compared to the analogous para-functionalized amide isomers or unfunctionalized Fe-TPP. Analysis of TOF as a function of catalyst standard reduction potential enables first-sphere electronic effects to be disentangled from second-sphere through-space interactions, suggesting that the ortho-functionalized porphyrins can utilize the latter second-sphere property to promote CO2 reduction. Indeed, the distally-functionalized ortho-amide isomer shows a significantly larger through-space interaction than its proximal ortho-amide analogue. These data establish that proper positioning of secondary coordination sphere groups is an effective design element for breaking electronic scaling relationships that are often observed in electrochemical CO2 reduction.

Utilizing tautomerization of 2-amino-oxazoline in hydrogen bonding tripodal ligands

A tetradentate tripodal ligand containing 2-amino-oxazoline moieties has been developed. This system tautomerizes upon chelation of a metal ion, forming a flexible cavity capable of accommodating ligands via an intramolecular hydrogen bonding network.

The effects of hydrogen bonds on metal-mediated O2 activation and related processes

Hydrogen bonds stabilize and direct chemistry performed by metalloenzymes. With inspiration from enzymes, we will utilize an approach that incorporates intramolecular hydrogen bond donors to determine their effects on the stability and reactivity of metal complexes. Our premise is that control of secondary coordination sphere interactions will promote new function in synthetic metal complexes. Multidentate ligands have been developed that create rigid organic structures around metal ions. These ligands place hydrogen bond (H-bond) donors proximal to the metal centers, forming specific microenvironments. One distinguishing attribute of these systems is that site-specific modulations in structure can be readily accomplished, in order to evaluate correlations with reactivity. A focus of this research is consideration of dioxygen binding and activation by metal complexes, including developing structure-function relationships in metal-assisted oxidative catalysis.

Model studies of the CuBsite of cytochrome c oxidase utilizing a Zn(ii) complex containing an imidazole–phenol cross-linked ligand

Cytochrome c oxidase, the enzyme complex responsible for the four-electron reduction of O2 to H2O, contains an unusual histidine-tyrosine cross-link in its bimetallic heme a3-CuB active site. We have synthesised an unhindered, tripodal chelating ligand, BPAIP, containing the unusual ortho-imidazole-phenol linkage, which mimics the coordination environment of the CuB center. The ligand was used to investigate the physicochemical (pKa, oxidation potential) and coordination properties of the imidazole-phenol linkage when bound to a dication. Zn(II) coordination lowers the pKa of the phenol by 0.6 log units, and increases the potential of the phenolate/phenoxyl radical couple by approximately 50 mV. These results are consistent with inductive withdrawal of electron density from the phenolic ring. Spectroscopic data and theoretical calculations (DFT) were used to establish that the cationic complex [Zn(BPAIP)Br]+ has an axially distorted trigonal bipyramidal structure, with three coordinating nitrogen ligands (two pyridine and one imidazole) occupying the equatorial plane and the bromide and the tertiary amine nitrogen of the tripod in the axial positions. Interestingly, the Zn-Namine bonding interaction is weak or absent in [Zn(BPAIP)Br]+ and the complex gains stability in basic solutions, as indicated by 1H NMR spectroscopy. These observations are supported by theoretical calculations (DFT), which suggest that the electron-donating capacity of the equatorial imidazole ligand can be varied by modulation of the protonation and/or redox state of the cross-linked phenol. Deprotonation of the phenol makes the equatorial imidazole a stronger sigma-donor, resulting in an increased Zn-Nimd interaction and thereby leading to distortion of the axial ligand axis toward a more tetrahedral geometry.

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

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

Cysteamine and Its Homoleptic Complexes with Group 12 Metal Ions. Differences in the Coordination Chemistry of ZnII, CdII, and HgII with a Small N,S-Donor Ligand

2-Ammoniumethanethiolate, (-)SCH(2)CH(2)NH(3)(+), the first structurally characterized zwitterionic ammoniumthiolate, is the stable form of cysteamine (HL) in the solid state and in aqueous solution. Reactions of ZnCl(2), Cd(Oac)(2), and HgCl(2) with cysteamine and NaOH in a 1:2:2 ratio, respectively, lead to the homoleptic complexes ML(2). Their single-crystal X-ray structures demonstrate basic differences in the coordination chemistry of Zn(II), Cd(II), and Hg(II). While chelating N,S-coordination modes are found for all metal ions, Zn(II) forms a mononuclear complex with a distorted tetrahedral Zn(N(2)S(2)) coordination mode, whereas Hg(II) displays a dimer with Hg(N(2)S(2)) coordinated monomers being connected by two long Hg...S contacts. Solid-state (199)Hg NMR spectra of HgL(2) and [Hg(HL)(2)]Cl(2) reveal a low-field shift of the signals with increasing coordination number. Strong and nearly symmetric Cd-S-Cd bridges in solid CdL(2) lead to a chain structure, Cd(II) displaying a distorted square pyramidal Cd(N(2)S(3)) coordination mode. The ab initio [MP2/LANL2DZ(d,f)] structures of isolated ML(2) show a change from a distorted tetrahedral to bisphenoidal coordination mode in the sequence Zn(II)-Cd(II)-Hg(II). A natural bond orbital analysis showed a high ionic character for the M-S bonds and suggests that the S-M-S fragment is best described by a 3c4e bond. The strength of the M...N interactions and the stability of ML(2) toward decomposition to M and L-L decreases in the sequence Zn > Cd > Hg. Ab initio calculations further suggest that a tetrahedral S-M-S angle stabilizes Zn(II) against substitution by Cd(II) and Hg(II) in a M(N(2)S(2)) environment. Such geometry is provided in zinc-finger proteins, as was found by a database survey.

Cooperativity and intermediates in the equilibrium reactions of Fe(II,III) with ethanethiolate in N-methylformamide solution

The reaction of FeCl(2) or FeCl(3) with sodium ethanethiolate (SEt) in N-methylformamide (NMF) has been reevaluated to rectify a previous Fe(II) oxidation artifact. On titrating Fe(II) with EtS(-) concentrations up to 12 mol Eq, new features in the UV/vis spectrum (epsilon(344)=(3.1+/-0.2)x10(3) M(-1) cm(-1); epsilon(486)=(4.5+/-0.1)x10(2) M(-1) cm(-1)) indicated that the first observable step was the formation of a single complex different from the known tetrahedral tetrathiolate, [Fe(SEt)(4)](2-) . As the EtS(-) concentration increased past 12.5 mol Eq the UV/vis spectrum gradually transformed to that of [Fe(SEt)(4)](2-) (lambda(max)=314 nm). A Hill-formalism fit to the titration data of the initially formed complex indicated cooperative ligation by three ethanethiolate ions, with K(coop)=(1.7+/-0.1)x10(3) M(-3) and Hill "n"=2.4+/-0.1 (r=0.997). The 3:1 EtS(-)-Fe(II) complex is proposed to be [Fe(2)(SEt)(6)](2-). Titration of Fe(III) with EtS(-) showed direct cooperative formation of [Fe(SEt)(4)](-) [epsilon(340)=(3.4+/-0.5)x10(3) M(-1) cm(-1)] with a Hill-formalism K(coop)=(4.3+/-0.1)x10(2) M(-4) and a Hill coefficient "n"=3.7+/-0.2 (r=0.996). Further ligation past [Fe(SEt)(4)](-) was observed at EtS(-) concentrations above 35 mol Eq. The Fe(III) Hill constants are at variance with our previous report. However, the UV/vis spectrum of Fe(III) in NMF solution was found to change systematically over time, consistent with a slow progressive deprotonation of [Fe(nmf)](3+). The observed time-to-time differences in the equilibrium chemistry of Fe(III) with ethanethiolate in NMF thus reflect variation in the microscopic solution composition of FeCl(3) in alkaline NMF solvent. These results are related to the chemistry of nitrogenase FeMo cofactor in alkaline NMF solution.

LZnX complexes of tripodal ligands with intramolecular RN–H hydrogen bonding groups: structural implications of a hydrogen bonding cavity, and of X/R in the hydrogen bonding geometry/strength

Tripodal ligands N(CH2Py)3-n(CH2Py-6-NHR)n(R=H, n=1-3 L1-3, n=0 tpa; R=CH2tBu, n=1-3 L'1-3) are used to investigate the effect of different hydrogen bonding microenvironments on structural features of their LZnX complexes (X=Cl-, NO3-, OH-). The X-ray structures of [(L2)Zn(Cl)](BPh4)2.0.5(H2O.CH3CN), [(L3)Zn(Cl)](BPh4)3.CH3CN, [(L'1)Zn(Cl)](BPh4) 1', [(L'2)Zn(Cl)](BPh4)2'.CH3OH, and [(L'3)Zn(Cl)](BPh4)3' have been determined and exhibit trigonal bipyramidal geometries with intramolecular (internal) N-HCl-Zn hydrogen bonds. The structure of [(L'2)Zn(ONO2)]NO3 4'.H2O with two internal N-HO-Zn hydrogen bonds has also been determined. The axial Zn-Cl distance lengthens from 2.275 A in [(tpa)Zn(Cl)](BPh4) to 2.280-2.347 A in 1-3, 1'-3'. Notably, the average Zn-N(py) distance is also progressively lengthened from 2.069 A in [(tpa)Zn(Cl)](BPh4) to 2.159 and 2.182 A in the triply hydrogen bonding cavity of 3 and 3', respectively. Lengthening of the Zn-Cl and Zn-N(py) bonds is accompanied by a progressive shortening of the trans Zn-N bond from 2.271 A in [(tpa)Zn(Cl)](BPh4) to 2.115 A in 3 (2.113 A in 3'). As a result of the triply hydrogen bonding microenvironment the Zn-Cl and Zn-N(py) distances of 3 are at the upper end of the range observed for axial Zn-Cl bonds, whereas the axial Zn-N distance is one of shortest among N4 ligands that induce a trigonal bipyramidal geometry. Despite the rigidity of these tripodal ligands, the geometry of the intramolecular RN-HX-Zn hydrogen bonds (X=Cl-, OH-, NO3-) is strongly dependent on the nature of X, however, on average, similar for R=H, CH2tBu.

Quantifying the relative contribution of hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic environments, and coordinating groups, in the zinc(ii)–water acidity by synthetic modelling chemistry

Ligands derived from the tripodal N4 ligand tris(pyridylmethyl)amine ((pyCH2)3N, tpa) of general formula (6-RNHpyCH2)nN(CH2py)(3-n)(R = H, n= 1-3 L(1-3); R = neopentyl, n= 1-3 L'(1-3)) were used to elucidate and quantify the magnitude of the effects exerted by hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic environments in the zinc-water acidity of their complexes. The pKa of the zinc-bound water molecule of [(L(1-3))Zn(OH2)]2+ and [(L'(1-3))Zn(OH2)]2+ 1'-3' was determined by potentiometric pH titrations in water (1-3) or water-ethanol (1:1) (1'-3'). The zinc(II) water acidity gradually increases as the number of -NH2 hydrogen bonding groups adjacent to the water molecule increases. Thus, the zinc-bound water of [(L3)Zn(OH2)]2+ and [(tpa)Zn(OH2)]2+ deprotonate with pKa values of 6.0 and 8.0, respectively. The pKa of the water molecule, however, is only raised from 8.0 in [(tpa)Zn(OH2)]2+ to 9.1 in [(bpg)Zn(OH2)]+ (bpa =(pyCH2)2N(CH2COO-)). Moreover, the acidity of the zinc-bound water of several of the five-coordinate zinc(II) complexes with the hydrogen bonding groups is greater than that of four-coordinate [((12)aneN3)Zn(OH2)]2+ (pKa = 7.0). This result shows that the magnitude of the effect exerted by the hydrogen bonding groups can be larger than that induced by changing one neutral by one anionic ligand, and/or even by changing the coordination number of the zinc(II) centre. The X-ray structure of [(L'2)Zn(OH)]ClO4 2' and [(L'3)Zn(OH)]ClO4.CH3CN 3'.CH3CN is reported, and show the neopentylamino groups forming N-H...O hydrogen bonds with the zinc-bound hydroxide. Although, which have hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic groups, have a zinc-bound water more acidic than [(tpa)Zn(OH2)]2+, their pKa is not always lower than that of 1-3. This result suggests that a hydrogen bonding microenvironment may be more effective than a hydrophobic one to increase the zinc-water acidity.