NMR and EPR Studies of the Bis(pyridine) and Bis(tert-butyl isocyanide) Complexes of Iron(III) Octaethylchlorin

Electronic structure of low-spin six-coordinate iron(III) meso-tetrapropylchlorin complexes

Low-spin iron(III) tetrapropylchlorins [ Fe ( T n PrC ) L 2]± (L = HIm, 1-MeIm, DMAP, CN-, 4-CNPy, tBuNC) adopt the dxy-type ground state regardless of the nature of axial ligands. Among the complexes examined, [ Fe ( T n PrC )( t BuNC )2]+ has shown quite unique spectroscopic properties as described below. (1) 1 H NMR signals were extremely broad as compared with those of other complexes. In particular, 5,20- CH 2(α) signal was too broad to detect. (2) No signals except C γ were observed in 13 C NMR spectra. (3) Tetragonal splitting parameter (|Δ|) estimated by the EPR g values at 4.2 K reached as much as 12.4 λ, which is the largest |Δ| value among all the low-spin iron(III) porphyrins and porphyrinoids reported previously. On the basis of these results, we have concluded that [ Fe ( T n PrC )( t BuNC )2]+ adopts the low-spin iron(III) with (dxz, dyz)4(dxy)1 electronic ground state at 4.2–30 K where the EPR spectra are taken, while it should be expressed as the low-spin Fe ( II ) chlorin π-radical cation [ Fe II ( T n PrC .)( t BuNC )2]+ at ambient temperature where the NMR spectra are taken.

Formation and characterization of five- and six-coordinate iron(III) corrolazine complexes

Electronic structures of five- and six-coordinate iron(III) corrolazine complexes are determined by means of 1H NMR, 13C NMR, EPR, and Mössbauer spectroscopy as well as SQUID magnetometry. A series of five-coordinate complexes, [FeIII(TBP8Cz)(L)]* where the axial ligands(L) are cyanide(CN-), imidazole(HIm), 1-methylimidazole(1-MeIm), 4-(N,N-dimethylamino)pyridine(DMAP), pyridine(Py), 4-cyanopyridine(4-CNPy), and tert-butylisocyanide(tBuNC), are obtained by the addition of 1 to 2 equiv. of the ligands to the dichloromethane solutions of FeIII(TBP8Cz) at 298 K: TBP8Cz is a trianion of 2,3,7,8,12,13,17,18-octakis(4-tert-butylphenyl)corrolazine. These complexes commonly show the S = 3/2 at 298 K. By contrast, formation of the six-coordinate complexes depends on the nature of the axial ligands. While the addition of 3 equiv. of CN- has completely converted FeIII(TBP8Cz) to (Bu4N)2[FeIII(TBP8Cz)(CN)2] at 298 K, the conversion to the bis-adduct is only attained below ca. 200 K in the case of HIm, 1-MeIm, and DMAP even in the presence of 50 equiv. of the ligands. If the axial ligand is Py, 4-CNPy, or tBuNC, the formation of [FeIII(TBP8Cz)(L)2] is confirmed only at an extremely low temperature (15 K). Close inspection of the 1H NMR and EPR spectra has revealed that all the bis-adducts adopt the (dxy)2(dxz, dyz)3 ground state. While FeIII(TBP8Cz) forms paramagnetic bis- and mono-adduct in toluene solution at 298 K in the presence of excess amount of CN- and tBuNC, respectively, the corresponding porphyrazine complex, [FeIII(TBP8Pz)]Cl , forms diamagnetic bis-CN and bis-tBuNC under the same conditions: TBP8Pz is a dianion of 2,3,7,8,12,13,17,18-octakis(4-tert-butylphenyl)-porphyrazine. Thus, the iron(III) ion of porphyrazine complex is more easily reduced than that of the corresponding corrolazine complex.

Nuclear inelastic scattering and Mössbauer spectroscopy as local probes for ligand binding modes and electronic properties in proteins: vibrational behavior of a ferriheme center inside a β-barrel protein

In this work, we present a study of the influence of the protein matrix on its ability to tune the binding of small ligands such as NO, cyanide (CN(-)), and histamine to the ferric heme iron center in the NO-storage and -transport protein Nitrophorin 2 (NP2) from the salivary glands of the blood-sucking insect Rhodnius prolixus. Conventional Mössbauer spectroscopy shows a diamagnetic ground state of the NP2-NO complex and Type I and II electronic ground states of the NP2-CN(-) and NP2-histamine complex, respectively. The change in the vibrational signature of the protein upon ligand binding has been monitored by Nuclear Inelastic Scattering (NIS), also called Nuclear Resonant Vibrational Spectroscopy (NRVS). The NIS data thus obtained have also been calculated by quantum mechanical (QM) density functional theory (DFT) coupled with molecular mechanics (MM) methods. The calculations presented here show that the heme ruffling in NP2 is a consequence of the interaction with the protein matrix. Structure optimizations of the heme and its ligands with DFT retain the characteristic saddling and ruffling only if the protein matrix is taken into account. Furthermore, simulations of the NIS data by QM/MM calculations suggest that the pH dependence of the binding of NO, but not of CN(-) and histamine, might be a consequence of the protonation state of the heme carboxyls.

NMR studies of nitrophorin distal pocket side chain effects on the heme orientation and seating of NP2 as compared to NP1

The nitrophorins (NP) of the adult blood-sucking insect Rhodnius prolixus fall into two pairs based on sequence identity (NP1,4 (90%) and NP2,3 (79%)), which differ significantly in the size of side chains of residues which contact the heme. These residues include those in the distal pocket of NP2 (I120) and NP1 (T121) and the "belt" that surrounds the heme of NP2 (S40, F42), and NP1(A42, L44). To determine the importance of these residues and others conserved or very similar for the two pairs, including L122(123), L132(133), appropriate mutants of NP2 and NP1 have been prepared and studied by (1)H NMR spectroscopy. Wild-type NP2 has heme orientation ratio (A:B) of 1:8 at equilibrium, while wild-type NP1 has A:B ~1:1 at equilibrium. Another difference between NP2 and NP1 is in the heme seating with regard to His57(59). It is found that among the distal pocket residues investigated, the residue most responsible for heme orientation and seating is I120(T121). F42(L44) and L106(F107) may also be important, but must be investigated in greater detail.

Electronic structure of highly ruffled low-spin iron(III) porphyrinates with electron withdrawing heptafluoropropyl groups at the meso positions

Bis(pyridine)[meso-tetrakis(heptafluoropropyl)porphyrinato]iron(III), [Fe(THFPrP)Py(2)](+), was reported to be the low-spin complex that adopts the purest (d(xz), d(yz))(4)(d(xy))(1) ground state where the energy gap between the iron d(xy) and d(π)(d(xz), d(yz)) orbitals is larger than the corresponding energy gaps of any other complexes reported previously (Moore, K. T.; Fletcher, J. T.; Therien, M. J. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1999, 121, 5196-5209). Although the highly ruffled porphyrin core expected for this complex contributes to the stabilization of the (d(xz), d(yz))(4)(d(xy))(1) ground state, the strongly electron withdrawing C(3)F(7) groups at the meso positions should stabilize the (d(xy))(2)(d(xz), d(yz))(3) ground state. Thus, we have reexamined the electronic structure of [Fe(THFPrP)Py(2)](+) by means of (1)H NMR, (19)F NMR, and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy. The CD(2)Cl(2) solution of [Fe(THFPrP)Py(2)](+) shows the pyrrole-H signal at -10.25 ppm (298 K) in (1)H NMR, the CF(2)(α) signal at -74.6 ppm (298 K) in (19)F NMR, and the large g(max) type signal at g = 3.16 (4.2 K) in the EPR. Thus, contrary to the previous report, the complex is unambiguously shown to adopt the (d(xy))(2)(d(xz), d(yz))(3) ground state. Comparison of the spectroscopic data of a series of [Fe(THFPrP)L(2)](+) with those of the corresponding meso-tetrapropylporphyrin complexes [Fe(TPrP)L(2)](+) with various axial ligands (L) has shown that the meso-C(3)F(7) groups stabilize the (d(xy))(2)(d(xz), d(yz))(3) ground state. Therefore, it is clear that the less common (d(xz), d(yz))(4)(d(xy))(1) ground state can be stabilized by the three major factors: (i) axial ligand with low-lying π* orbitals, (ii) ruffled porphyrin ring, and (iii) electron donating substituent at the meso position.

Assignment of the ferriheme resonances of high- and low-spin forms of the symmetrical hemin-reconstituted nitrophorins 1-4 by 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy: the dynamics of heme ruffling deformations

The four major nitrophorins (NPs) of the adult blood-sucking insect Rhodnius prolixus have been reconstituted with the "symmetrical hemin" 2,4-dimethyldeuterohemin, and their NMR spectra have been investigated as the high-spin (S=5/2) aqua and low-spin (S=1/2) N-methylimidazole (NMeIm) and cyanide complexes. The NMeIm complexes allow assignment of the high-spin hemin resonances by saturation transfer difference spectroscopy. The cyanide complexes were investigated as paramagnetic analogues of the NO complexes. It is shown that the hemin ring is highly distorted from planarity, much more so for NP2 than for NP1 and NP4 (with ruffling being the major distortion mode), for both high- and low-spin forms. For the cyanide complexes, the conformation of the distorted ring changes on the NMR timescale to yield chemical exchange (exchange spectroscopy, EXSY) cross peaks for NP1sym(CN), NP3sym(CN) and NP4sym(CN) but not for NP2sym(CN). These changes in nonplanar conformation are visualized as a "rolling" of the ruffled macrocycle ridges through some number of degrees, the lowest-energy ruffling mode. This probably occurs in response to slow protein dynamics that cause the I120 and L132 side chains in the distal heme pocket to move in opposite directions (up and away vs. down and toward the hemin ring). This in turn changes the out-of-plane displacements of the 2M and 3M of the symmetrical hemin on the NMR timescale. Two other types of dynamics, i.e., changes in heme seating and NMeIm rotation, are also observed. The highly distorted heme and the dynamics it causes are unique to the NPs and a few other heme proteins with highly distorted macrocycles.

Assignment of Ferriheme Resonances for High- and Low-Spin Forms of Nitrophorin 3 by H and C NMR Spectroscopy and Comparison to Nitrophorin 2: Heme Pocket Structural Similarities and Differences

Nitrophorin 3 (NP3) is the only one of the four major NO-binding heme proteins found in the saliva of the blood-sucking insect Rhodnius prolixus (also called the Kissing Bug) for which it has not been possible to obtain crystals of diffraction quality for structure determination by X-ray crystallography. Thus we have used NMR spectroscopy, mainly of the hyperfine-shifted ferriheme substituent resonances, to learn about the similarities and differences in the heme pocket and the iron active site of NP3 as compared to NP2, which has previously been well-characterized by both X-ray crystallography and NMR spectroscopy. Only one residue in the heme pocket differs between the two, F27 of NP2 is Y27 for NP3; in both cases this residue is expected to interact strongly with the 2-vinyl side chain of the B heme rotational isomer or the 4-vinyl of the A heme rotational isomer. Both the high-spin (S = 5/2) aquo complex, NP3-H(2)O, and the low-spin (S = 1/2) N-methylimidazole (NMeIm) complex of NP3 have been studied. It is found that the chemical shifts of the protons of both forms are similar to those of the corresponding NP2 complexes, but with minor differences that indicate a slightly different angle for the proximal histidine (H57) ligand plane. The B heme rotational isomer is preferred by both NP3 and NP2 in both spin states, but to a greater extent when phenylalanine is present at position 27 (A:B = 1:8 for NP2, 1:6 for NP3-Y27F, 1:4 for NP3, and 1:3 for NP2-F27Y). Careful analysis of the 5Me and 8Me shifts of the A and B isomers of the two high-spin nitrophorins leads to the conclusion that the heme environment for the two isomers differs in some way that cannot be explained at the present time. The kinetics of deprotonation of the high-spin complexes of NP2 and NP3 are very different, with NP2 giving well-resolved high-spin aquo and "low-spin" hydroxo proton NMR spectra until close to the end of the titration, while NP3 exhibits broadened (1)H NMR spectra indicative of an intermediate rate of exchange on the NMR timescale between the two forms throughout the titration. The heme methyl shifts of NP2-OH are similar in magnitude and spread to those of NP2-CN, while those of metmyoglobin-hydroxo complexes are much larger in magnitude but not spread. It is concluded that the hydroxo complex of NP2 is likely S = 1/2 with a mixed (d(XY))(2)(d(XZ),d(YZ))(3)/(d(xy))(1)(d(xz),d(yz))(4) electron configuration, while those of met-Mb-OH are likely S = 1/2,3/2 mixed spin systems.

Assignment of the ferriheme resonances of the low-spin complexes of nitrophorins 1 and 4 by (1)H and (13)C NMR spectroscopy: comparison to structural data obtained from X-ray crystallography

In this work we report the assignment of the majority of the ferriheme resonances of low-spin nitrophorins (NP) 1 and 4 and compare them to those of NP2, published previously. It is found that the structure of the ferriheme complexes of NP1 and NP4, in terms of the orientation of the ligand(s), can be determined with good accuracy by NMR techniques in the low-spin forms and that angle plots proposed previously (Shokhirev, N. V.; Walker, F. A. J. Biol. Inorg. Chem. 1998, 3, 581-594) describe the angle of the effective nodal plane of the axial ligands in solution. The effective nodal plane of low-spin NP1, NP4, and NP2 complexes is in all cases of imidazole and histamine complexes quite similar to the average of the His-59 or -57 and the exogenous ligand angles seen in the X-ray crystal structures. For the cyanide complexes of the nitrophorins, however, the effective nodal plane of the axial ligand does not coincide with the actual histidine-imidazole plane orientation. This appears to be a result of the contribution of an additional source of asymmetry, the orientation of one of the zero-ruffling lines of the heme. Probably this effect exists for the imidazole and histamine complexes as well, but because the effect of asymmetry that occurs from planar exogenous axial ligands is much larger than the effect of heme ruffling the effect of the zero-ruffling line can only be detected for the cyanide complexes, where the only ligand plane is that of the proximal histidine. The three-dimensional structures of the three NP-CN complexes, including that of NP2-CN reported herein, confirm the high degree of ruffling of these complexes. There is an equilibrium between the two heme orientations (A and B) that depends on the heme cavity shape and changes somewhat with exogenous axial ligand. The A:B ratio can be much more accurately measured by NMR spectroscopy than by X-ray crystallography.

NMR and EPR studies of chloroiron(III) tetraphenyl-chlorin and its complexes with imidazoles and pyridines of widely differing basicities

The NMR and EPR spectra of two bisimidazole and three bispyridine complexes of tetraphenylchlorinatoiron(III), [(TPC)Fe(L)2]+ (L = Im-d4, 2-MeHIm, 4-Me2NPy, Py, and 4-CNPy), have been investigated. The full resonance assignments of the [(TPC)Fe(L)2]+ complexes of this study have been made from correlation spectroscopy (COSY) and nuclear Overhauser enhancement spectroscopy (NOESY) experiments and Amsterdam density functional (ADF) calculations. Unlike the [(OEC)Fe(L)2]+ complexes reported previously (Cai, S.; Lichtenberger, D. L.; Walker, F. A. Inorg. Chem. 2005, 44, 1890-1903), the NMR data for the [(TPC)Fe(L)2]+ complexes of this study indicate that the ground state is S = 1/2 for each bisligand complex, whereas a higher spin state was present at NMR temperatures for the Py and 4-CNPy complexes of (OEC)Fe(III). The pyrrole-8,17 and pyrroline-H of all [TPCFe(L)2]+ show large magnitude chemical shifts (hence indicating large spin density on the adjacent carbons that are part of the pi system), while pyrrole-12,13-CH2 and -7,18-CH2 protons show much smaller chemical shifts, as predicted by the spin densities obtained from ADF calculations. The magnitude of the chemical shifts decreases with decreasing donor ability of the substituted pyridine ligands, with the nonhindered imidazole ligand having slightly larger magnitude chemical shifts than the most basic pyridine, even though its basicity is significantly lower (4-Me2NPyH+ pKa = 9.7, H2Im+ pKa = 6.65 (adjusted for the statistical factor of 2 protons)). The temperature dependence of the chemical shifts of all but the 4-Me2NPy bisligand complexes studied over the temperature range of the NMR investigations shows that they have mixed (dxy)2(dxz,dyz)3/(dxzdyz)4(dxy)1 electron configurations that cannot be resolved by temperature-dependent fitting of the proton chemical shifts, with an S = 3/2 excited state in each case that in most cases lies at more than kT at room temperature above the ground state. The observed pattern of chemical shifts of the 4-CNPy complex and analysis of the temperature dependence indicate that it has a pure (dxzdyz)4(dxy)1 ground state and that it is ruffled, because ruffling mixes the a(2u)(pi)-like orbital of the chlorin into the singly occupied molecular orbital (SOMO). This mixing accounts for the negative chemical shift of the pyrroline-H (-6.5 ppm at -40 degrees C) and thus the negative spin density at the pyrroline-alpha-carbons, but the mixing is not to the same extent as observed for [(TPC)Fe(t-BuNC)2]+, whose pyrroline-H chemical shift is -36 ppm at 25 degrees C (Simonneaux, G.; Kobeissi, M. J. Chem. Soc., Dalton Trans. 2001, 1587-1592). Peak assignments for high-spin (TPC)FeCl have been made by saturation transfer techniques that depend on chemical exchange between this complex and its bis-4-Me2NPy adduct.

Iron corrolates: Unambiguous chloroiron(III) (corrolate)2− π-cation radicals

The structures, electron configurations, magnetic susceptibilities, spectroscopic properties, molecular orbital energies and spin density distributions, redox properties and reactivities of iron corrolates having chloride, phenyl, pyridine, NO and other ligands are reviewed. It is shown that with one very strong donor ligand such as phenyl anion the electron configuration of the metal is d(4)S=1 Fe(IV) coordinated to a (corrolate)(3-) anion, while with one weaker donor ligand such as chloride or other halide, the electron configuration is d(5)S=3/2 Fe(III) coordinated to a (corrolate)(2-.) pi-cation radical, with antiferromagnetic coupling between the metal and corrolate radical electron. Many of these complexes have been studied by electrochemical techniques and have rich redox reactivity, in most cases involving two 1-electron oxidations and two 1-electron reductions, and it is not possible to tell, from the shapes of cyclic voltammetric waves, whether the electron is added or removed from the metal or the macrocycle; often infrared, UV-Vis, or EPR spectroscopy can provide this information. (1)H and (13)C NMR spectroscopic methods are most useful in delineating the spin state and pattern of spin density distribution of the complexes listed above, as would also be expected to be the case for the recently-reported formal Fe(V)O corrolate, if this complex were stable enough for characterization by NMR spectroscopy. Iron, manganese and chromium corrolates can be oxidized by iodosylbenzene and other common oxidants used previously with metalloporphyrinates to effect efficient oxidation of substrates. Whether the "resting state" form of these complexes, most generally in the case of iron [FeCl(Corr)], actually has the electron configuration Fe(IV)(Corr)(3-) or Fe(III)(Corr)(2-.) is not relevant to the high-valent reactivity of the complex.