A Density Functional Study of the Electronic Structure and Spin Hamiltonian Parameters of Mononuclear Thiomolybdenyl Complexes

Second-Coordination-Sphere Effects Reveal Electronic Structure Differences between the Mitochondrial Amidoxime Reducing Component and Sulfite Oxidase

A combination of X-ray absorption and low-temperature electronic absorption spectroscopies has been used to probe the geometric and electronic structures of the human mitochondrial amidoxime reducing component enzyme (hmARC1) in the oxidized Mo(VI) and reduced Mo(IV) forms. Extended X-ray absorption fine structure analysis revealed that oxidized enzyme possesses a 5-coordinate [MoO2(SCys)(PDT)]- (PDT = pyranopterin dithiolene) active site with a cysteine coordinated to Mo. A 5-coordinate geometry is retained in the reduced state, with the equatorial oxo being protonated. Low-temperature electronic absorption spectroscopy of hmARC1 reveals a spectrum for the oxidized enzyme that is significantly different from what has been reported for sulfite oxidase family enzymes. Time-dependent density functional theory computations on oxidized and reduced hmARC1, and a small molecule analogue for hmARC1ox, have been used to assist us in making detailed band assignments and developing a greater understanding of enzyme electronic structure contributions to reactivity. Our understanding of the hmARCred HOMO and the LUMO of the benzamidoxime substrate reveal a potential π-bonding interaction between these redox orbitals, with two-electron occupation of the substrate LUMO along the reaction coordinate activating the O-N bond for cleavage and promoting oxygen atom transfer to the Mo site.

A Simulation Independent Analysis of Single- and Multi-Component cw ESR Spectra

The accurate analysis of continuous-wave electron spin resonance (cw ESR) spectra of biological or organic free-radicals and paramagnetic metal complexes is key to understanding their structure-function relationships and electrochemical properties. The current methods of analysis based on simulations often fail to extract the spectral information accurately. In addition, such analyses are highly sensitive to spectral resolution and artifacts, users' defined input parameters and spectral complexity. We introduce a simulation-independent spectral analysis approach that enables broader application of ESR. We use a wavelet packet transform-based method for extracting g values and hyperfine (A) constants directly from cw ESR spectra. We show that our method overcomes the challenges associated with simulation-based methods for analyzing poorly/partially resolved and unresolved spectra, which is common in most cases. The accuracy and consistency of the method are demonstrated on a series of experimental spectra of organic radicals and copper-nitrogen complexes. We showed that for a two-component system, the method identifies their individual spectral features even at a relative concentration of 5% for the minor component.

Structural basis of interprotein electron transfer in bacterial sulfite oxidation

Interprotein electron transfer underpins the essential processes of life and relies on the formation of specific, yet transient protein-protein interactions. In biological systems, the detoxification of sulfite is catalyzed by the sulfite-oxidizing enzymes (SOEs), which interact with an electron acceptor for catalytic turnover. Here, we report the structural and functional analyses of the SOE SorT from Sinorhizobium meliloti and its cognate electron acceptor SorU. Kinetic and thermodynamic analyses of the SorT/SorU interaction show the complex is dynamic in solution, and that the proteins interact with Kd = 13.5 ± 0.8 μM. The crystal structures of the oxidized SorT and SorU, both in isolation and in complex, reveal the interface to be remarkably electrostatic, with an unusually large number of direct hydrogen bonding interactions. The assembly of the complex is accompanied by an adjustment in the structure of SorU, and conformational sampling provides a mechanism for dissociation of the SorT/SorU assembly.

d(1) Oxosulfido-Mo(V) Compounds: First Isolation and Unambiguous Characterization of an Extended Series

Reaction of Tp(iPr)Mo(VI)OS(OAr) with cobaltocene in toluene results in the precipitation of brown, microcrystalline oxosulfido-Mo(V) compounds, [CoCp2][Tp(iPr)Mo(V)OS(OAr)] (Cp(-) = η(5)-C5H5(-), Tp(iPr)(-) = hydrotris(3-isopropylpyrazol-1-yl)borate, OAr(-) = phenolate or 2-(s)Bu, 2-(t)Bu, 3-(t)Bu, 4-(s)Bu, 4-Ph, 3,5-(s)Bu2, 2-CO2Me, 2-CO2Et or 2-CO2Ph derivative thereof). The compounds are air- and water-sensitive and display ν(Mo═O) and ν(Mo[Formula: see text]S) IR absorption bands at ca. 890 and 435 cm(-1), respectively, 20-40 cm(-1) lower in energy than the corresponding bands in Tp(iPr)MoOS(OAr). They are electrochemically active and exhibit three reversible cyclovoltammetric waves (E(Mo(VI)/Mo(V)) = -0.40 to -0.66 V, E([CoCp2](+)/CoCp2) = -0.94 V and E(CoCp2/[CoCp2](-)) = -1.88 V vs SCE). Structural characterization of [CoCp2][Tp(iPr)MoOS(OC6H4CO2Et-2)]·2CH2Cl2 revealed a distorted octahedral Mo(V) anion with Mo═O and Mo[Formula: see text]S distances of 1.761(5) and 2.215(2) Å, respectively, longer than corresponding distances in related Tp(iPr)MoOS(OAr) compounds. The observation of strong S(1s) → (S(3p) + Mo(4d)) S K-preedge transitions indicative of a d(1) sulfido-Mo(V) moiety and the presence of short Mo═O (ca. 1.72 Å) and Mo[Formula: see text]S (ca. 2.25 Å) backscattering contributions in the Mo K-edge EXAFS further support the oxosulfido-Mo(V) formulation. The compounds are EPR-active, exhibiting highly anisotropic (Δg 0.124-0.150), rhombic, frozen-glass spectra with g1 close to the value observed for the free electron (ge = 2.0023). Spectroscopic studies are consistent with the presence of a highly covalent Mo[Formula: see text]S π* singly occupied molecular orbital. The compounds are highly reactive, with reactions localized at the terminal sulfido ligand. For example, the compounds react with cyanide and PPh3 to produce thiocyanate and SPPh3, respectively, and various (depending on solvent) oxo-Mo(V) species. Reactions with copper reagents also generally lead to desulfurization and the formation of oxo-Mo(V) or -Mo(IV) complexes.

Oxyl and hydroxyl radical transfer in mitochondrial amidoxime reducing component-catalyzed nitrite reduction

A combination of electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy and computational approaches has provided insight into the nature of the reaction coordinate for the one-electron reduction of nitrite by the mitochondrial amidoxime reducing component (mARC) enzyme. The results show that a paramagnetic Mo(V) species is generated when reduced enzyme is exposed to nitrite, and an analysis of the resulting EPR hyperfine parameters confirms that mARC is remarkably similar to the low-pH form of sulfite oxidase. Two mechanisms for nitrite reduction have been considered. The first shows a modest reaction barrier of 14 kcal/mol for the formation of ·NO from unprotonated nitrite substrate. In marked contrast, protonation of the substrate oxygen proximal to Mo in the Mo(IV)-O-N-O substrate-bound species results in barrierless conversion to products. A fragment orbital analysis reveals a high degree of Mo-O(H)-N-O covalency that provides a π-orbital pathway for one-electron transfer to the substrate and defines orbital constraints on the Mo-substrate geometry for productive catalysis in mARC and other pyranopterin molybdenum enzymes that catalyze this one-electron transformation.

Pulsed electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy of (33)S-labeled molybdenum cofactor in catalytically active bioengineered sulfite oxidase

Molybdenum enzymes contain at least one pyranopterin dithiolate (molybdopterin, MPT) moiety that coordinates Mo through two dithiolate (dithiolene) sulfur atoms. For sulfite oxidase (SO), hyperfine interactions (hfi) and nuclear quadrupole interactions (nqi) of magnetic nuclei (I ≠ 0) near the Mo(V) (d(1)) center have been measured using high-resolution pulsed electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) methods and interpreted with the help of density functional theory (DFT) calculations. These have provided important insights about the active site structure and the reaction mechanism of the enzyme. However, it has not been possible to use EPR to probe the dithiolene sulfurs directly since naturally abundant (32)S has no nuclear spin (I = 0). Here we describe direct incorporation of (33)S (I = 3/2), the only stable magnetic sulfur isotope, into MPT using controlled in vitro synthesis with purified proteins. The electron spin echo envelope modulation (ESEEM) spectra from (33)S-labeled MPT in this catalytically active SO variant are dominated by the "interdoublet" transition arising from the strong nuclear quadrupole interaction, as also occurs for the (33)S-labeled exchangeable equatorial sulfite ligand [ Klein, E. L., et al. Inorg. Chem. 2012 , 51 , 1408 - 1418 ]. The estimated experimental hfi and nqi parameters for (33)S (aiso = 3 MHz and e(2)Qq/h = 25 MHz) are in good agreement with those predicted by DFT. In addition, the DFT calculations show that the two (33)S atoms are indistinguishable by EPR and reveal a strong intermixing between their out-of-plane pz orbitals and the dxy orbital of Mo(V).

Spectroscopic and electronic structure studies probing covalency contributions to C-H bond activation and transition-state stabilization in xanthine oxidase

A detailed electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) and computational study of a key paramagnetic form of xanthine oxidase (XO) has been performed and serves as a basis for developing a valence-bond description of C-H activation and transition-state (TS) stabilization along the reaction coordinate with aldehyde substrates. EPR spectra of aldehyde-inhibited XO have been analyzed in order to provide information regarding the relationship between the g, (95,97)Mo hyperfine (A(Mo)), and (13)C hyperfine (A(C)) tensors. Analysis of the EPR spectra has allowed for greater insight into the electronic origin of key delocalizations within the Mo-O(eq)-C fragment and how these contribute to C-H bond activation/cleavage and TS stabilization. A natural bond orbital analysis of the enzyme reaction coordinate with aldehyde substrates shows that both Mo═S π → C-H σ* (ΔE = 24.3 kcal mol(-1)) and C-H σ → Mo═S π* (ΔE = 20.0 kcal mol(-1)) back-donation are important in activating the substrate C-H bond for cleavage. Additional contributions to C-H activation derive from O(eq) lp → C-H σ* (lp = lone pair; ΔE = 8.2 kcal mol(-1)) and S lp → C-H σ* (ΔE = 13.2 kcal mol(-1)) stabilizing interactions. The O(eq)-donor ligand that derives from water is part of the Mo-O(eq)-C fragment probed in the EPR spectra of inhibited XO, and the observation of O(eq) lp → C-H σ* back-donation indicates a key role for O(eq) in activating the substrate C-H bond for cleavage. We also show that the O(eq) donor plays an even more important role in TS stabilization. We find that O(eq) → Mo + C charge transfer dominantly contributes to stabilization of the TS (ΔE = 89.5 kcal mol(-1)) and the Mo-O(eq)-C delocalization pathway reduces strong electronic repulsions that contribute to the classical TS energy barrier. The Mo-O(eq)-C delocalization at the TS allows for the TS to be described in valence-bond terms as a resonance hybrid of the reactant (R) and product (P) valence-bond wave functions.

Structural studies of the molybdenum center of mitochondrial amidoxime reducing component (mARC) by pulsed EPR spectroscopy and 17O-labeling

Mitochondrial amidoxime reducing components (mARC-1 and mARC-2) represent a novel group of Mo-containing enzymes in eukaryotes. These proteins form the catalytic part of a three-component enzyme complex known to be responsible for the reductive activation of several N-hydroxylated prodrugs. No X-ray crystal structures are available for these enzymes as yet. A previous biochemical investigation [Wahl, B., et al. (2010) J. Biol. Chem., 285, 37847-37859 ] has revealed that two of the Mo coordination positions are occupied by sulfur atoms from a pyranopterindithiolate (molybdopterin, MPT) cofactor. In this work, we have used continuous wave and pulsed electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy and density functional theoretical (DFT) calculations to determine the nature of remaining ligands in the Mo(V) state of the active site of mARC-2. Experiments with samples in D(2)O have identified the exchangeable equatorial ligand as a hydroxyl group. Experiments on samples in H(2)(17)O-enriched buffer have shown the presence of a slowly exchangeable axial oxo ligand. Comparison of the experimental (1)H and (17)O hyperfine interactions with those calculated using DFT has shown that the remaining nonexchangeable equatorial ligand is, most likely, protein-derived and that the possibility of an equatorial oxo ligand can be excluded.

Structural distortions upon oxidation in heteroleptic [Cp(2)W(dmit)] tungsten dithiolene complex: combined structural, spectroscopic, and magnetic studies

Four different cation radical salts are obtained upon electrocrystallization of [Cp(2)W(dmit)] (dmit = 1,3-dithiole-2-thione-4,5-dithiolato) in the presence of the BF(4)(-), PF(6)(-), Br(-), and [Au(CN)(2)](-) anions. In these formally d(1) cations, the WS(2)C(2) metallacycle is folded along the S···S hinge to different extents in the four salts, an illustration of the noninnocent character of the dithiolate ligand. Structural characteristics and the charge distribution on atoms, for neutral and ionized complexes with various folding angles, were calculated using DFT methods, together with the normal vibrational modes and theoretical Raman spectra. Raman spectra of neutral complex [Cp(2)W(dmit)] and its salts formed with BF(4)(-), AsF(6)(-), PF(6)(-), Br(-), and [Au(CN)(2)](-) anions were measured using the red excitation (λ = 632.8 nm). A correlation between the folding angle of the metallacycle and the Raman spectroscopic properties is analyzed. The bands attributed to the C═C and C-S stretching modes shift toward higher and lower frequencies by about 0.3-0.4 cm(-1) deg(-1), respectively. The solid state structural and magnetic properties of the three salts are analyzed and compared with those of the corresponding molybdenum complexes. Temperature dependence of the magnetic susceptibility shows the presence of one-dimensional antiferromagnetic interactions in the BF(4)(-), PF(6)(-), and [Au(CN)(2)](-) salts, while an antiferromagnetic ground state is identified in the Br(-) salt below T(Néel) = 7 K. Interactions are systematically weaker in the tungsten salts than in the isostructural molybdenum analogs, a consequence of the decreased spin density on the dithiolene ligand in the tungsten complexes.

Comparative calculation of EPR spectral parameters in [Mo(V)OX4]-, [Mo(V)OX5]2-, and [Mo(V)OX4(H2O)]- complexes

The EPR spectral parameters, i.e. g-tensors and molybdenum hyperfine couplings, for several d(1) systems of the general formula [Mo(V)EX(4)](n-), [Mo(V)OX(5)](2-), and [Mo(V)OX(4)(H(2)O)](-) (E = O, N; X = F, Cl, Br; n = 1 or 2) were calculated using Density Functional Theory. The influence of basis sets, their contraction scheme, the type of exchange-correlation functional, the amount of Hartree-Fock exchange, molecular geometry, and relativistic effects on the calculated EPR spectra parameters have been discussed. The g-tensors and molybdenum hyperfine coupling parameters were calculated using a relativistic Hamiltonian coupled with several LDA, GGA, and 'hybrid' exchange-correlation functionals and uncontracted full-electron DGauss DZVP basis sets. The calculated EPR parameters are found to be sensitive to the Mo=E distance and E=Mo-Cl angle, and thus the choice of starting molecular geometry should be considered as an important factor in predicting the g-tensors and hyperfine coupling constants in oxo-molybdenum compounds. In the present case, the GGA exchange-correlation functionals provide a better agreement between the theory and the experiment.

Facets of early transition metal–sulfur chemistry: Metal–sulfur ligand redox, induced internal electron transfer, and the reactions of metal–sulfur complexes with alkynes

Metal-sulfur ligand redox interplay, induced internal electron transfer reactions, and the generation of dithiolene and organosulfur ligands in the reactions of metal-sulfur compounds with alkynes are important and useful facets of early transition metal-sulfur chemistry. This review focuses on developments in these areas over the past 30 years.

Synthesis, Structural Characterization, and Multifrequency Electron Paramagnetic Resonance Studies of Mononuclear Thiomolybdenyl Complexes

Reaction of Tp*MoVSCl2 with a variety of phenols and thiols in the presence of triethylamine produces mononuclear, thiomolybdenyl complexes Tp*MoVSX2 [Tp* = hydrotris(3,5-dimethylpyrazol-1-yl)borate; X = 2-(ethylthio)phenolate (etp), 2-(n-propyl)phenolate (pp), phenolate; X2 = benzene-1,2-dithiolate (bdt), 4-methylbenzene-1,2-dithiolate (tdt), benzene-1,2-diolate (cat)]. The complexes have been characterized by microanalysis, mass spectrometry, IR, EPR, and UV-visible spectroscopic data, and X-ray crystallography (for the etp, pp, bdt, and cat derivatives). The mononuclear, six-coordinate, distorted-octahedral Mo centers are coordinated by terminal sulfido (MoS = 2.123(1)-2.1368(8) A), tridentate facial Tp*, and monodentate or bidentate O/S-donor ligands. Multifrequency (S-, X-, Q-band) EPR spectra of the complexes and selected molybdenyl analogues were acquired at 130 K and 295 K and yielded a spin Hamiltonian of Cs symmetry or lower, with gzz < gyy < gxx < ge and Az'z' > Ax'x' approximately Ay'y', and a noncoincidence angle in the range of beta = 24-39 degrees . Multifrequency EPR, especially at S-band, was found to be particularly valuable in the unambiguous assignment of the spin Hamiltonian parameters in these low-symmetry complexes. The weaker pi-donor terminal sulfido ligand yields a smaller SOMO-LUMO gap and reduced g-values for the thiomolybdenyl complexes compared with molybdenyl analogues, supporting existing crystallographic and EPR data for an apically coordinated oxo group in the active site of xanthine oxidase.