2-Phenoxypyridyl dinucleating ligands for assembly of diiron(II) complexes: efficient reactivity with O(2) to form (mu-Oxo)diiron(III) units

Triptycene-based Bis(benzimidazole) Carboxylate-Bridged Biomimetic Diiron(II) Complexes

A triptycene-based bis(benzimidazole) ester ligand, L3, was designed to enhance the electron donating ability of the heterocyclic nitrogen atoms relative to those of the first generation bis(benzoxazole) analogs, L1 and L2. A convergent synthesis of L3 was designed and executed. Three-component titration experiments using UV-visible spectroscopy revealed that the desired diiron(II) complex could be obtained with a 1:2:1 ratio of L3:Fe(OTf)2(MeCN)2:external carboxylate reactants. X-ray crystallographic studies of two diiron complexes derived in this manner from L3 revealed their formulas to be [Fe2L3(μ-OH)(μ-O2CR)(OTf)2], where R = 2,6-bis(p-tolyl)benzoate (7) or triphenylacetate (8). The structures are similar to that of a diiron complex derived from L1, [Fe2L1(μ-OH)(μ-O2CArTol)(OTf)2] (9) with a notable difference being that, in 7 and 8, the geometry at iron more closely resembles square-pyramidal than trigonal-bipyramidal. Mössbauer spectroscopic analyses of 7 and 8 indicate the presence of high-spin diiron(II) cores. These results demonstrate the importance of substituting benzimidazole for benzoxazole for assembling biomimetic diiron complexes with syn disposition of two N-donor ligands, as found in O2-activating carboxylate-bridged diiron centers in biology.

Evolution of strategies to prepare synthetic mimics of carboxylate-bridged diiron protein active sites

We present a comprehensive review of research conducted in our laboratory in pursuit of the long-term goal of reproducing the structures and reactivity of carboxylate-bridged diiron centers used in biology to activate dioxygen for the conversion of hydrocarbons to alcohols and related products. This article describes the evolution of strategies devised to achieve these goals and illustrates the challenges in getting there. Particular emphasis is placed on controlling the geometry and coordination environment of the diiron core, preventing formation of polynuclear iron clusters, maintaining the structural integrity of model complexes during reactions with dioxygen, and tuning the ligand framework to stabilize desired oxygenated diiron species. Studies of the various model systems have improved our understanding of the electronic and physical characteristics of carboxylate-bridged diiron units and their reactivity toward molecular oxygen and organic moieties. The principles and lessons that have emerged from these investigations will guide future efforts to develop more sophisticated diiron protein model complexes.

Toward functional carboxylate-bridged diiron protein mimics: achieving structural stability and conformational flexibility using a macrocylic ligand framework

A dinucleating macrocycle, H(2)PIM, containing phenoxylimine metal-binding units has been prepared. Reaction of H(2)PIM with [Fe(2)(Mes)(4)] (Mes = 2,4,6-trimethylphenyl) and sterically hindered carboxylic acids, Ph(3)CCO(2)H or Ar(Tol)CO(2)H (2,6-bis(p-tolyl)benzoic acid), afforded complexes [Fe(2)(PIM)(Ph(3)CCO(2))(2)] (1) and [Fe(2)(PIM)(Ar(Tol)CO(2))(2)] (2), respectively. X-ray diffraction studies revealed that these diiron(II) complexes closely mimic the active site structures of the hydroxylase components of bacterial multicomponent monooxygenases (BMMs), particularly the syn disposition of the nitrogen donor atoms and the bridging μ-η(1)η(2) and μ-η(1)η(1) modes of the carboxylate ligands at the diiron(II) centers. Cyclic voltammograms of 1 and 2 displayed quasi-reversible redox couples at +16 and +108 mV vs ferrocene/ferrocenium, respectively. Treatment of 2 with silver perchlorate afforded a silver(I)/iron(III) heterodimetallic complex, [Fe(2)(μ-OH)(2)(ClO(4))(2)(PIM)(Ar(Tol)CO(2))Ag] (3), which was structurally and spectroscopically characterized. Complexes 1 and 2 both react rapidly with dioxygen. Oxygenation of 1 afforded a (μ-hydroxo)diiron(III) complex [Fe(2)(μ-OH)(PIM)(Ph(3)CCO(2))(3)] (4), a hexa(μ-hydroxo)tetrairon(III) complex [Fe(4)(μ-OH)(6)(PIM)(2)(Ph(3)CCO(2))(2)] (5), and an unidentified iron(III) species. Oxygenation of 2 exclusively formed di(carboxylato)diiron(III) compounds, a testimony to the role of the macrocylic ligand in preserving the dinuclear iron center under oxidizing conditions. X-ray crystallographic and (57)Fe Mössbauer spectroscopic investigations indicated that 2 reacts with dioxygen to give a mixture of (μ-oxo)diiron(III) [Fe(2)(μ-O)(PIM)(Ar(Tol)CO(2))(2)] (6) and di(μ-hydroxo)diiron(III) [Fe(2)(μ-OH)(2)(PIM)(Ar(Tol)CO(2))(2)] (7) units in the same crystal lattice. Compounds 6 and 7 spontaneously convert to a tetrairon(III) complex, [Fe(4)(μ-OH)(6)(PIM)(2)(Ar(Tol)CO(2))(2)] (8), when treated with excess H(2)O.

O2 activation by bis(imino)pyridine iron(II)-thiolate complexes

The new iron(II)-thiolate complexes [((iPr)BIP)Fe(II)(SPh)(Cl)] (1) and [((iPr)BIP)Fe(II)(SPh)(OTf)] (2) [BIP = bis(imino)pyridine] were prepared as models for cysteine dioxygenase (CDO), which converts Cys to Cys-SO(2)H at a (His)(3)Fe(II) center. Reaction of 1 and 2 with O(2) leads to Fe-oxygenation and S-oxygenation, respectively. For 1 + O(2), the spectroscopic and reactivity data, including (18)O isotope studies, are consistent with an assignment of an iron(IV)-oxo complex, [((iPr)BIP)Fe(IV)(O)(Cl)](+) (3), as the product of oxygenation. In contrast, 2 + O(2) results in direct S-oxygenation to give a sulfonato product, PhSO(3)(-). The positioning of the thiolate ligand in 1 versus 2 appears to play a critical role in determining the outcome of O(2) activation. The thiolate ligands in 1 and 2 are essential for O(2) reactivity and exhibit an important influence over the Fe(III)/Fe(II) redox potential.

Synthesis, structure, and solution properties of [(mim-TASN)FeCl2]+ and its μ-oxo derivative

A series of iron(III) complexes based on the tetradentate ligand 4-((1-methyl-1H-imidazol-2-yl)methyl)-1-thia-4,7-diazacyclononane (L) has been synthesized, and their solution properties investigated. Addition of FeCl(3) to methanol solutions of L yields [LFeCl(2)]FeCl(4) as a dark red solid. X-ray crystallographic analysis reveals a pseudo-octahedral environment around iron(III) with the three nitrogen donors of L coordinated facially. Ion exchange reactions with NaPF(6) in methanol facilitate chloride exchange resulting in a different diastereomer for the [LFeCl(2)](+) cation. X-ray analysis of [LFeCl(2)]PF(6) finds meridional coordination of the three nitrogen donors of L. Electrochemical studies of [LFeCl(2)](+) in acetonitrile display a single Fe(III)/(II) reduction potential at -280 mV versus ferrocenium/ferrocene. In methanol, a broad cathodic wave is observed because of partial exchange of one chloride for methoxide with half-potentials of -170 mV and -440 mV for [LFeCl(2)](+/0) and [LFeCl(OCH(3))](+/0), respectively. The equilibrium constants for chloride exchange are 7 × 10(-4) M(-1) for Fe(III) and 2 × 10(-8) M(-1) for Fe(II). In aqueous solutions chloride exchange yields three accessible complexes as a function of pH. Strongly acidic conditions yield the aqua complex [LFeCl(OH(2))](2+) with a measured pK(a) of 3.8 ± 0.1. Under mildly acidic conditions, the μ-OH complex [(LFeCl)(2)(OH)](3+) with a pK(a) of 6.1 ± 0.3 is obtained. The μ-oxo complex [(LFeCl)(2)(O)](2+) is favored under basic conditions. The diiron Fe(III)/Fe(III) complexes [(LFeCl)(2)(OH)](3+) and [(LFeCl)(2)(O)](2+) can be reduced by one electron to the mixed valence Fe(III)/Fe(II) derivatives at -170 mV and -390 mV, respectively. From pH dependent voltammetric studies, the pK(a) of the mixed valent μ-OH complex [(LFeCl)(2)(OH)](2+) is calculated at 10.3.