Unsymmetrical FeIIICoII and GaIIICoII Complexes as Chemical Hydrolases: Biomimetic Models for Purple Acid Phosphatases (PAPs)

Phosphoester bond hydrolysis by a discrete zirconium-oxo cluster: mechanistic insights into the central role of the binuclear ZrIV-ZrIV active site

Effective degradation of non-natural phosphate triesters (PTs) widely used in pesticides and warfare agents is of paramount relevance for human and environmental safety, particularly under acidic conditions where they are highly stable. Here, we present a detailed reactivity and mechanistic study pioneering discrete {Zr6O8} clusters, which are commonly employed as building blocks for Zr-MOFs and as non-classical soluble coordination compounds for the degradation of PTs using the pesticide ethyl paraoxon as a model. Combined computational studies, mechanistic experiments, and EXAFS analysis show that the reactivity of these clusters arises from their ZrIV-ZrIV bimetallic sites, which hydrolyze ethyl paraoxon under acidic conditions through an intramolecular pathway. Remarkably, the energetics of the reaction is dependent on the protonation state of the active sites, and a weakly acidic medium favors the reaction. Moreover, catalyst stability allowed for its recovery and reuse. Such a mechanism is in close analogy to enzymatic reactions and different from that previously reported for Zr-MOFs. These findings outline the potential of MIV-MIV active sites for PT degradation under challenging aqueous acidic conditions and contribute to the development of bioinspired catalysts and materials.

Redox Processes Involving Oxygen: The Surprising Influence of Redox-Inactive Lewis Acids

Metalloenzymes with heteromultimetallic active sites perform chemical reactions that control several biogeochemical cycles. Transformations catalyzed by such enzymes include dioxygen generation and reduction, dinitrogen reduction, and carbon dioxide reduction-instrumental transformations for progress in the context of artificial photosynthesis and sustainable fertilizer production. While the roles of the respective metals are of interest in all these enzymatic transformations, they share a common factor in the transfer of one or multiple redox equivalents. In light of this feature, it is surprising to find that incorporation of redox-inactive metals into the active site of such an enzyme is critical to its function. To illustrate, the presence of a redox-inactive Ca2+ center is crucial in the Oxygen Evolving Complex, and yet particularly intriguing given that the transformation catalyzed by this cluster is a redox process involving four electrons. Therefore, the effects of redox inactive metals on redox processes-electron transfer, oxygen- and hydrogen-atom transfer, and O-O bond cleavage and formation reactions-mediated by transition metals have been studied extensively. Significant effects of redox inactive metals have been observed on these redox transformations; linear free energy correlations between Lewis acidity and the redox properties of synthetic model complexes are observed for several reactions. In this Perspective, these effects and their relevance to multielectron processes will be discussed.

Synthesis, characterization and computational investigation of the phosphatase activity of a dinuclear Zinc(II) complex containing a new heptadentate asymmetric ligand

We report the synthesis of a new asymmetric heptadentate ligand based on the 1,3-diaminopropan-2-ol backbone. The ligand 3-[[3-(bis-pyridin-2-ylmethyl-amino)-2-hydroxy-propyl]-(2-carbamoyl-ethyl)-amino]-propionamide (HL1) contains two amide and two pyridine groups attached to the 1,3-diaminopropan-2-ol core. Reaction between HL1 and Zn(ClO₄)₂.6H₂O resulted in the formation of the dinuclear [Zn₂(L1)(μ-OAc)](ClO₄)₂ complex, characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction, ¹H, ¹³C and ¹⁵N NMR, ESI-(+)-MS, CHN elemental analysis as well as infrared spectroscopy. The phosphatase activity of the complex was studied in the pH range 6-11 employing pyridinium bis(2,4-dinitrophenyl)phosphate (py(BDNPP)) as substrate. The complex exhibited activity dependent on the pH, presenting an asymmetric bell shape profile with the highest activity at pH 9; at high pH ligand exchange is rate-limiting. The hydrolysis of BDNPP^- at pH 9 displayed behavior characteristic of Michaelis-Menten kinetics, with k_cat = 5.06 × 10^-3 min^-1 and K_m = 5.7 ± 1.0 mM. DFT calculations map out plausible reaction pathways and identify a terminal, Zn(II)-bound hydroxide as likely nucleophile.

Hydrolytic activity of new bioinspired MnIIIMnII and FeIIIMnII complexes as mimetics of PAPs: Biological and environmental interest

Coordination compounds that mimic Purple Acid Phosphatases (PAPs) have drawn attention in the bioinorganic field due to their capacity to cleave phosphodiester bonds. However, their catalytic activity upon phosphate triesters is still unexplored. Thus, we report the synthesis and characterization of two binuclear complexes, [Mn^IIMn^III(L₁)(OAc)₂]BF₄ (1) and [Mn^IIFe^III(L₁)(OAc)₂]BF₄ (2) (H₂L₁ = 2-[N,N-bis-(2- pyridilmethyl)aminomethyl]-4-methyl-6-[N-(2-hydroxy-3-formyl-5-methylbenzyl)-N-(2-pyridylmethyl)aminomethyl]phenol), their hydrolytic activity and antioxidant potential. The complexes were fully characterized, including the X-Ray diffraction (XRD) of 1. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations were performed to better understand their electronic and structural properties and phosphate conjugates. The catalytic activity was analyzed for two model substrates, a diester (BDNPP) and a triester phosphate (DEDNPP). The results suggest enhancement of the hydrolysis reaction by 170 to 1500 times, depending on the substrate and complex. It was possible to accompany the catalytic reaction of DEDNPP hydrolysis by phosphorus nuclear magnetic resonance (³¹P NMR), showing that both 1 and 2 are efficient catalysts. Moreover, we also addressed that 1 and 2 present a relevant antioxidant potential, protecting the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, used as eukaryotic model of study, against the exposure of cells to acute oxidative stress.

Proton controlled synthesis of two dicopper(II) complexes and their magnetic and biomimetic catalytic studies together with probing the binding mode of the substrate to the metal center

This paper describes the synthesis, and structural and spectroscopic characterizations of two doubly bridged dicopper(II) complexes, [Cu₂(μ-H₂L)(μ-OMe)](ClO₄)₄·2H₂O (1) and [Cu₂(μ-L)(μ-OH)](ClO₄)₂ (2), with a binucleating ligand (HL) derived from the Schiff base condensation of DFMP and N,N-dimethyldipropylenetriamine, and their biomimetic catalytic activities were related to CAO and phenoxazinone synthase using 3,5-di-tert-butylcatechol and o-aminophenol (OAPH), respectively, as model substrates. Structural studies reveal that the major differences in these structures appear to be from the distinct roles of the tertiary amine groups of the ligands, which are protonated in 1, whereas it coordinates the metal centers in 2. Magnetic studies disclose that two copper(II) centers are strongly antiferromagnetically coupled with slightly different J values, which is further interpreted and discussed. They exhibited very different biomimetic catalytic activities; whereas 2 is an efficient catalyst, complex 1 showed somewhat lower substrate oxidation. The higher reactivity in 2 is rationalized by the strong involvement of the tertiary amine group of the Schiff base ligand, where the substrate oxidation is favored because of the transfer of protons from the substrate to the tertiary amine group, showing the importance of the functional groups in proximity to the bimetallic active site. Emphasis was also given to probing the binding mode of the substrate using an electronically deficient tetrabromomocatechol (Br₄CatH₂) and the isolated compound [Cu₆(μ-HL)₂(μ-OH)₂(Br₄Cat)₄](NO₃)₂·4H₂O (3) which suggests that monodentate asymmetric binding of 3,5-di-tert-butylcatechol and OAPH occurs during the course of the catalytic reaction.

New AlIIIZnII and AlIIICuII dinuclear complexes: Phosphatase-like activity and cytotoxicity

Herein, we report the synthesis and characterization of the first two Al^III(μ-OH)M^II (M = Zn (1) and Cu (2)) complexes with the unsymmetrical ligand H₂L{2-[[(2-hydroxybenzyl)(2-pyridylmethyl)]aminomethyl]-6-bis(pyridylmethyl)aminomethyl}-4-methylphenol. The complexes were characterized through elemental analysis, X-ray crystallography, IR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry and potentiometric titration. In addition, complex 2 was characterized by electronic spectroscopy. Kinetics studies on the hydrolysis of the model substrate bis(2,4-dinitrophenyl)phosphate by 1 and 2 show Michaelis-Menten behavior, with 1 being slightly more active (8.31%) than 2 (at pH 7.0). The antimicrobial effect of the compounds was studied using four bacterial strains (Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeuruginosa, Shigella sonnei and Shigella dysenteriae) and for both complexes the inhibition of bacterial growth was superior to that caused by sulfapyridine, but inferior to that of tetracycline. The dark cytotoxicity and photocytotoxicity (under UV-A light) of the complexes in a chronic myelogenous leukemia cell line were investigated. Complexes 1 and 2 exhibited significant cytotoxic activity against K562 cells, which undergoes a 2-fold increase on applying 5 min of irradiation with UV-A light. Complex 2 was more effective and a good correlation between cytotoxicity and intracellular concentration was observed, the intracellular copper concentration required to inhibit 50% of cell growth being 3.5 × 10^-15 mol cell^-1.

Recent Advances in Heterogeneous Catalytic Systems Containing Metal Ions for Phosphate Ester Hydrolysis

Organophosphates are a class of organic compounds that are important for living organisms, forming the building blocks for DNA, RNA, and some essential cofactors. Furthermore, non-natural organophosphates are widely used in industrial applications, including as pesticides; in laundry detergents; and, unfortunately, as chemical weapons agents. In some cases, the natural degradation of organophosphates can take thousands of years; this longevity creates problems associated with handling and the storage of waste generated by such phosphate esters, in particular. Efforts to develop new catalysts for the cleavage of phosphate esters have progressed in recent decades, mainly in the area of homogeneous catalysis. In contrast, the development of heterogeneous catalysts for the hydrolysis of organophosphates has not been as prominent. Herein, examples of heterogeneous systems are described and the importance of the development of heterogeneous catalysts applicable to organophosphate hydrolysis is highlighted, shedding light on recent advances related to different solid matrices that have been employed.

A novel triple aqua-, phenoxo- and carboxylato-bridged dinickel(ii) complex, its magnetic properties, and comparative biomimetic catalytic studies with analogous dinickel(ii) complexes

A unique triply bridged dinickel(ii) complex and two doubly bridged dinickel(ii) complexes are reported, and their magnetic properties and comparative biomimetic catalytic performances are studied.

Magnetic anisotropy in square pyramidal cobalt(II) complexes supported by a tetraazo macrocyclic ligand

Two five-coordinate mononuclear Co(ii) complexes [Co(12-TMC)X][B(C6H5)4] (L = 1,4,7,10-tetramethyl-1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane (12-TMC), X = Cl- (1), Br- (2)) have been studied by X-ray single crystallography, magnetic measurements, high-frequency and -field EPR (HF-EPR) spectroscopy and theoretical calculations. Both complexes have a distorted square pyramidal geometry with the Co(ii) ion lying above the basal plane constrained by the rigid tetradentate macrocyclic ligand. In contrast to the reported five-coordinate Co(ii) complex [Co(12-TMC)(NCO)][B(C6H5)4] (3) exhibiting easy-axis anisotropy, an easy-plane magnetic anisotropy was found for 1 and 2via the analyses of the direct-current magnetic data and HF-EPR spectroscopy. Frequency- and temperature-dependent alternating-current magnetic susceptibility measurements demonstrated that complexes 1 and 2 show slow magnetic relaxation at an applied dc field. Ab initio calculations were performed to reveal the impact of the terminal ligands on the nature of the magnetic anisotropies of this series of five-coordinate Co(ii) complexes.

Electronic Effect on Bimetallic Catalysts: Cleavage of Phosphodiester Mediated by Fe(III)-Zn(II) Purple Acid Phosphatase Mimics

The bimetallic system is an important strategy for the catalytic hydrolysis of phosphodiester. The purple acid phosphatase (PAPs) enzyme is a typical bimetallic catalyst in this field. Mechanistic details for the hydrolysis cleavage of the DNA dinucleotide analogue BNPP^- (BNPP^- = bis(p-nitrophenyl) phosphate) by hetero-binuclear [Fe^III(μ-OH)Zn^IIL]²⁺ complexes (L = 2-[N-bis(2-pyridylmethyl)-aminomethyl]-4-methyl-6-[N'-(2-pyridylmethyl)(2-hydroxybenzyl) aminomethyl] phenol) were investigated using density functional theory calculations. The catalysts with single-bridged hydroxyl and double-bridged hydroxyl groups were compared. The calculation results show that the doubly hydroxide-bridged complex could better bind to substrates. For the BNPP^- hydrolysis, the doubly hydroxide-bridged reactant isomerizes into a single hydroxide-bridged complex, and then the attack is initiated by the hydroxyl group on the iron center. In addition, the catalyst with the electron-donating group (Me) was determined to take precedence over electron-withdrawing groups (Br and NO₂ groups) in the hydrolysis reaction. This is because the substituents affect the high-lying occupied molecular orbitals, tuning the Lewis acidity of iron and pK_a values of the metal-bonded water. These factors influence the hydroxyl nucleophilicity, leading to changes in catalytic activity. To further examine substituent effects, the occupied orbital energies were calculated with several different substituent groups (-CF₃, -OMe, -OH, -NH₂, and -N(Me)₂). It was found that the HOMO or HOMO-1 energy decreases with the increase of the σ_p value. Further, the catalyst activity of the [Fe^III(μ-OH)Zn^IIL]²⁺ complexes was found to be mainly affected by the phenolate ligand (B) coordinated to the iron and zinc centers. These fundamental aspects of the hydrolysis reactions of BNPP^- catalyzed by [Fe^III(μ-OH)Zn^IIL]²⁺ complexes should contribute to improved understanding of the mechanism and to catalyst design involving hetero-binuclear metals complexes.

Polynuclear zinc(II) complexes of thiosemicarbazone: Synthesis, X-ray structure and biological evaluation

Two new dimeric Zn(II) ([{ZnL¹(DMSO₂)}₂]·DMSO (1), [{ZnL²Cl}₂] (2)) and a novel tetrameric Zn(II) complex ([(Zn₂L³)₂(μ-OAc)₂(μ₃-O)₂] (3)), where H₂L¹ = 4-(p-methoxyphenyl) thiosemicarbazone of o-hydroxynapthaldehyde, HL² = 4-(p-methoxyphenyl)thiosemicarbazone of benzoyl pyridine and H₂L³ = 4-(p-chlorophenyl)thiosemicarbazone of o-vanillin are reported. Ligands and their complexes were characterized by spectroscopic and single crystal X-ray diffraction techniques. In addition, the complexes exhibited good binding affinity towards HSA (10¹² M^-1), which is supported by their ability to quench the tryptophan fluorescence emission spectra of HSA. The complexes were also screened for their DNA binding propensity through UV-vis absorption titration, circular dichroism and fluorescence spectral studies. Results show that they effectively interact with CT-DNA through an intercalative mode of binding, with binding constants ranging from 10³ to 10⁴ M^-1. Among the three complexes 1 has the highest binding affinity towards CT-DNA. Further, the phosphatase activity was evaluated using bis(2,4-dinitrophenyl)phosphate (BDNPP) as substrate, however, the complexes did not yield any measurable catalytic activity. Nevertheless the complexes showed significant cytotoxic potential against HeLa and HT-29 cancer cell lines that was assessed through MTT assay and DAPI staining. Remarkably, complex 1 showed better activity than cisplatin against HT-29 cell line.

Dinuclear metal(ii)-acetato complexes based on bicompartmental 4-chlorophenolate: syntheses, structures, magnetic properties, DNA interactions and phosphodiester hydrolysis

A series of dinuclear metal(ii)-acetato complexes: [Ni2(μ-L(Cl)O)(μ2-OAc)2](PF6)·3H2O (1), [Ni2(μ-L(Cl)O)(μ2-OAc)2](ClO4)·CH3COCH3 (2), [Cu2(μ-L(Cl)O)(μ2-OAc)(ClO4)](ClO4) (3), [Cu2(μ-L(Cl)O)(OAc)2](PF6)·H2O (4), [Zn2(μ-L(Cl)O)(μ2-OAc)2](PF6) (5) and [Mn2(L(Cl)-O)(μ2-OAc)2](ClO4)·H2O (6), where L(Cl)O(-) = 2,6-bis[bis(2-pyridylmethyl)aminomethyl]-4-chlorophenolate, were synthesized. The complexes were structurally characterized by spectroscopic techniques and single crystal X-ray crystallography. Six-coordinate geometries with doubly bridged acetato ligands were found in Ni(ii), Zn(ii) and Mn(ii) complexes 1, 2, 5 and 6, whereas with Cu(ii) complexes a five-coordinate species was obtained with 4, and mixed five- and six-coordinate geometries with a doubly bridged dimetal core were observed in 3. The magnetic properties of complexes 1-4 and 6 were studied at variable temperatures and revealed weak to very weak antiferromagnetic interactions in 1, 2, 4 and 6 (J = -0.55 to -9.4 cm(-1)) and ferromagnetic coupling in 3 (J = 15.4 cm(-1)). These results are consistent with DFT calculations performed at the B3LYP/def2-TZVP(-f) level of theory. Under physiological conditions, the interaction of the dinculear complexes 1-5 with supercoiled plasmid ds-DNA did not show any pronounced nuclease activity, but Ni(ii) complexes 1 and 2 revealed a strong ability to unwind the supercoiled conformation of ds-DNA. The mechanistic studies performed on the interaction of the Ni(ii) complexes with DNA demonstrated the important impact of the nickel(ii) ion in the unwinding process. In combination with the DNA study, the phosphatase activity of complexes 1, 3, and 5 was examined by the phosphodiester hydrolysis of bis(2,4-dinitrophenol)phosphate (BDNPP) in the pH range of 5.5-10.5 at 25 °C. The Michaelis-Menten kinetics performed at pH 7 and 10.7 showed that catalytic efficiencies kcat/KM (kcat = catalytic rate constant, KM = substrate binding constant) decrease in the order: Ni(ii), 1 > Zn(ii), 5 > Cu(ii), 3. A similar trend was also observed with the turnover numbers at pH = 7. The results are discussed in relation to the coordination geometry and nature of the metal center as well as the steric environment imposed by the compartmental phenoxido ligand.

Magnetic anisotropy and relaxation behavior of six-coordinate tris(pivalato)-Co(ii) and -Ni(ii) complexes

Magnetic measurements, HFEPR and theoretical calculations have been used to study the magnetic anisotropy of the six-coordinate field-induced single ion magnet (NBu₄)[Co(piv)₃] and its Ni analogue.

Modeling the Active Site of the Purple Acid Phosphatase Enzyme with Hetero-Dinuclear Mixed Valence M(II)-Fe(III) [M = Zn, Ni, Co, and Cu] Complexes Supported over a [N6O] Unsymmetrical Ligand

The active site of the purple acid phosphatase enzyme has been successfully modeled by a series of hetero-dinuclear M(II)-Fe(III) [M = Zn, Ni, Co, and Cu] type complexes of an unsymmetrical [N₆O] ligand that contained a bridging phenoxide moiety and one imidazoyl and three pyridyl moieties as the terminal N-binding sites. In particular, the hetero-dinuclear complexes, {L[M^II(μ-OAc)₂Fe^III]}(ClO₄)₂ [M = Zn (3a), Ni (3b), Co (4a), and Cu (4b)], were obtained directly from the phenoxy-bridged ligand (HL), namely 2-{[bis(2-methylpyridyl)amino]methyl}-6-{[((1-methylimidazol-2-yl)methyl)(2-pyridylmethyl)amino]methyl}-4-t-butylphenol (2), upon sequential addition of Fe(ClO₄)₃·XH₂O and M(ClO₄)₂·6H₂O (M = Zn and Ni) or M(OAc)₂·XH₂O (M = Co and Cu), in a low-to-moderate (ca. 32-53%) yield. The temperature-dependent magnetic susceptibility measurements indicated weak antiferromagnetic coupling interactions occurring between the two metal centers in their high-spin states. All of the 3(a-b) and 4(a-b) complexes successfully carried out the hydrolysis of the bis(2,4-dinitrophenyl)phosphate (2,4-BDNPP) substrate in a mixed CH₃CN/H₂O (v/v 1:1) medium in the pH range of 5.5-10.5 at room temperature, thereby mimicking the functional activity of the native enzyme. The spectrophotometric titration suggested a monoaquated and dihydroxo species of the type {L[(H₂O)M^II(μ-OH)Fe^III(OH)]}²⁺ to be the catalytically active species for the phosphodiester hydrolysis reaction within the pH range of ca. 5.80-7.15. Last, the kinetic studies on the hydrolysis of the model substrate, 2,4-BDNPP, divulge a Michaelis-Menten-type behavior for all complexes.

Synthesis and characterization of FeIII(μ-OH)ZnII complexes: effects of a second coordination sphere and increase in the chelate ring size on the hydrolysis of a phosphate diester and DNA

Effects of a second coordination sphere and of the chelate ring size in Fe^III(μ-OH)Zn^II complexes properties and catalysis.

Slow Magnetic Relaxations in Cobalt(II) Tetranitrate Complexes. Studies of Magnetic Anisotropy by Inelastic Neutron Scattering and High-Frequency and High-Field EPR Spectroscopy

Three mononuclear cobalt(II) tetranitrate complexes (A)₂[Co(NO₃)₄] with different countercations, Ph₄P⁺ (1), MePh₃P⁺ (2), and Ph₄As⁺ (3), have been synthesized and studied by X-ray single-crystal diffraction, magnetic measurements, inelastic neutron scattering (INS), high-frequency and high-field EPR (HF-EPR) spectroscopy, and theoretical calculations. The X-ray diffraction studies reveal that the structure of the tetranitrate cobalt anion varies with the countercation. 1 and 2 exhibit highly irregular seven-coordinate geometries, while the central Co(II) ion of 3 is in a distorted-dodecahedral configuration. The sole magnetic transition observed in the INS spectroscopy of 1-3 corresponds to the zero-field splitting (2(D² + 3E²)^1/2) from 22.5(2) cm^-1 in 1 to 26.6(3) cm^-1 in 2 and 11.1(5) cm^-1 in 3. The positive sign of the D value, and hence the easy-plane magnetic anisotropy, was demonstrated for 1 by INS studies under magnetic fields and HF-EPR spectroscopy. The combined analyses of INS and HF-EPR data yield the D values as +10.90(3), +12.74(3), and +4.50(3) cm^-1 for 1-3, respectively. Frequency- and temperature-dependent alternating-current magnetic susceptibility measurements reveal the slow magnetization relaxation in 1 and 2 at an applied dc field of 600 Oe, which is a characteristic of field-induced single-molecule magnets (SMMs). The electronic structures and the origin of magnetic anisotropy of 1-3 were revealed by calculations at the CASPT2/NEVPT2 level.

Metallohydrolase biomimetics with catalytic and structural flexibility

The phosphatase activity of zinc complexes containing six- and seven-dentate ligands was evaluated through kinetic and³¹P NMR studies.

Investigation of the interaction of iron(III) complexes with dAMP by ESI-MS, MALDI-MS and potentiometric titration: insights into synthetic nuclease behavior

We report herein the characterization by electrospray ionization (ESI) mass spectrometry (MS), matrix assisted laser desorption ionization (MALDI-MS) and potentiometric titration of three iron(III) compounds: [Fe(III)(HPClNOL)Cl2]·NO3 (1), [Cl(HPClNOL)Fe(III)-(μ-O)-Fe(III)(HPClNOL)Cl]·Cl2·H2O (2) and [(SO4)(HPClNOL)Fe(III)-(μ-O)-Fe(III)(HPClNOL)(SO4)]·6H2O (3), where HPClNOL= 1-(bis-pyridin-2-ylmethyl-amino)-3-chloropropan-2-ol). Despite the fact that the compounds have distinct structures in solid state and non-buffered solution, all compounds present similar ESI and MALDI mass spectra in a buffered medium (pH 7.0). At this pH, the species [(PClNOL)Fe(III)-(μ-O)-Fe(III)(PClNOL)](2+) (m/z 354) was observed for all the compounds under investigation. Potentiometric titration confirms a similar behavior for all compounds, indicating that the dihydroxo form [(OH)(HPClNOL)Fe(III)-(μ-O)-Fe(III)(HPClNOL)(OH)](2+) is the major species at pH 7.0, for all the compounds. The products of the interaction between compounds (1), (2) and (3) and dAMP (2'-deoxyadenosine-5'-monophosphate) in a buffered medium (pH 7.0) were identified by MALDI-MS/MS. The fragmentation data obtained by MS/MS allow one to identify the nature of the interaction between the iron(III) compounds and dAMP, revealing the direct interaction between the iron center and phosphate groups.

Slow magnetic relaxation in mononuclear seven-coordinate cobalt(ii) complexes with easy plane anisotropy

Two mononuclear pentagonal bipyramid cobalt(ii) complexes with positive zero-field splitting D values were demonstrated to exhibit field-induced slow relaxation behaviour.

Electronic and geometric structures of the organophosphate-degrading enzyme from Agrobacterium radiobacter (OpdA)

The organophosphate-degrading enzyme from Agrobacterium radiobacter (OpdA) is a highly efficient catalyst for the degradation of pesticides and some nerve agents such as sarin. OpdA requires two metal ions for catalytic activity, and hydrolysis is initiated by a nucleophilic hydroxide that is bound to one of these metal ions. The precise location of this nucleophile has been contentious, with both a terminal and a metal-ion-bridging hydroxide as likely candidates. Here, we employed magnetic circular dichroism to probe the electronic and geometric structures of the Co(II)-reconstituted dinuclear metal center in OpdA. In the resting state the metal ion in the more secluded α site is five-coordinate, whereas the Co(II) in the solvent-exposed β site is predominantly six-coordinate with two terminal water ligands. Addition of the slow substrate diethyl 4-methoxyphenyl phosphate does not affect the α site greatly but lowers the coordination number of the β site to five. A reduction in the exchange coupling constant indicates that substrate binding also triggers a shift of the μ-hydroxide into a pseudoterminal position in the coordination sphere of either the α or the β metal ion. Mechanistic implications of these observations are discussed.