Heme-copper-dioxygen complexes: toward understanding ligand-environmental effects on the coordination geometry, electronic structure, and reactivity

A Bioinspired Nonheme FeIII-(O22-)-CuII Complex with an St = 1 Ground State

Cytochrome c oxidase (CcO) is a heme copper oxidase (HCO) that catalyzes the natural reduction of oxygen to water. A profound understanding of some of the elementary steps leading to the intricate 4e-/4H+ reduction of O2 is presently lacking. A total spin St = 1 FeIII-(O22-)-CuII (IP) intermediate is proposed to reduce the overpotentials associated with the reductive O-O bond rupture by allowing electron transfer from a tyrosine moiety without the necessity of any spin-surface crossing. Direct evidence of the involvement of IP in the CcO catalytic cycle is, however, missing. A number of heme copper peroxido complexes have been prepared as synthetic models of IP, but all of them possess the catalytically nonrelevant St = 0 ground state resulting from antiferromagnetic coupling between the S = 1/2 FeIII and CuII centers. In a complete nonheme approach, we now report the spectroscopic characterization and reactivity of the FeIII-(O22-)-CuII intermediates 1 and 2, which differ only by a single -CH3 versus -H substituent on the central amine of the tridentate ligands binding to copper. Complex 1 with an end-on peroxido core and ferromagnetically (St = 1) coupled FeIII and CuII centers performs H-bonding-mediated O-O bond cleavage in the presence of phenol to generate oxoiron(IV) and exchange-coupled copper(II) and PhO• moieties. In contrast, the μ-η2:η1 peroxido complex 2, with a St = 0 ground state, is unreactive toward phenol. Thus, the implications for spin topology contributions to O-O bond cleavage, as proposed for the heme FeIII-(O22-)-CuII intermediate in CcO, can be extended to nonheme chemistry.

Heme-copper and Heme O2-derived synthetic (bioinorganic) chemistry toward an understanding of cytochrome c oxidase dioxygen chemistry

Cytochrome c oxidase (CcO), also widely known as mitochondrial electron-transport-chain complex IV, is a multi-subunit transmembrane protein responsible for catalyzing the last step of the electron transport chain, dioxygen reduction to water, which is essential to the establishment and maintenance of the membrane proton gradient that drives ATP synthesis. Although many intermediates in the CcO catalytic cycle have been spectroscopically and/or computationally authenticated, the specifics regarding the IP intermediate, hypothesized to be a heme-Cu (hydro)peroxo species whose O-O bond homolysis is supported by a hydrogen-bonding network of water molecules, are largely obscured by the fast kinetics of the A (FeIII-O2•-/CuI/Tyr) → PM (FeIV=O/CuII-OH/Tyr•) step. In this review, we have focused on the recent advancements in the design, development, and characterization of synthetic heme-peroxo‑copper model complexes, which can circumvent the abovementioned limitation, for the investigation of the formation of IP and its O-O cleavage chemistry. Novel findings regarding (a) proton and electron transfer (PT/ET) processes, together with their contributions to exogenous phenol induced O-O cleavage, (b) the stereo-electronic tunability of the secondary coordination sphere (especially hydrogen-bonding) on the geometric and spin state alteration of the heme-peroxo‑copper unit, and (c) a plausible mechanism for the Tyr-His cofactor biogenesis, are discussed in great detail. Additionally, since the ferric-superoxide and the ferryl-oxo (Compound II) species are critically involved in the CcO catalytic cycle, this review also highlights a few fundamental aspects of these heme-only (i.e., without copper) species, including the structural and reactivity influences of electron-donating trans-axial ligands and Lewis acid-promoted H-bonding.

Metformin mitigates radiation toxicity exerting antioxidant and genoprotective properties

The antidiabetic drug metformin (MF) exhibits redox-modulating effects in various pathologies associated with oxidative stress and mitigates ionizing radiation-induced toxicity, but the underlying mechanisms remain to be elucidated. Thus, we studied some radiomitigatory effects of MF and explored the possible mechanisms behind them. Highly sensitive luminescence methods and non-competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) were used in in vitro studies, and in vivo the damage to bone marrow cells and its repair were assessed by the micronucleus test. In a solution, MF at concentrations exceeding 0.1 µM effectively intercepts •OH upon X-ray-irradiation, but does not react directly with H2O2. MF accelerates the decomposition of H2O2 catalyzed by copper ions. MF does not affect the radiation-induced formation of H2O2 in the solution of bovine gamma-globulin (BGG), but has a modulating effect on the generation of H2O2 in the solution of bovine serum albumin (BSA). MF at 0.05-1 mM decreases the radiation-induced formation of 8-oxoguanine in a DNA solution depending on the concentration of MF with a maximum at 0.25 mM. MF at doses of 3 mg/kg body weight (bw) and 30 mg/kg bw administered to mice after irradiation, but not before irradiation, reduces the frequency of micronucleus formation in polychromatophilic erythrocytes of mouse red bone marrow. Our work has shown that the radiomitigatory properties of MF are mediated by antioxidant mechanisms of action, possibly including its ability to chelate polyvalent metal ions.

Metformin counters oxidative stress and mitigates adverse effects of radiation exposure: An overview

Metformin (1,1-dimethylbiguanidine hydrochloride) (MF) is a drug that has long been in use for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus and recently is coming into use in the radiation therapy of cancer and other conditions. Exposure to ionizing radiation disturbs the redox homeostasis of cells and causes damage to proteins, membranes, and mitochondria, destroying a number of biological processes. After irradiation, MF activates cellular antioxidant and repair systems by signaling to eliminate the harmful consequences of disruption of redox homeostasis. The use of MF in the treatment of the negative effects of irradiation has great potential in medical patients after radiotherapy and in victims of nuclear accidents or radiologic terrorism.

Second Sphere Effects on Oxygen Reduction and Peroxide Activation by Mononuclear Iron Porphyrins and Related Systems

Activation and reduction of O₂ and H₂O₂ by synthetic and biosynthetic iron porphyrin models have proved to be a versatile platform for evaluating second-sphere effects deemed important in naturally occurring heme active sites. Advances in synthetic techniques have made it possible to install different functional groups around the porphyrin ligand, recreating artificial analogues of the proximal and distal sites encountered in the heme proteins. Using judicious choices of these substituents, several of the elegant second-sphere effects that are proposed to be important in the reactivity of key heme proteins have been evaluated under controlled environments, adding fundamental insight into the roles played by these weak interactions in nature. This review presents a detailed description of these efforts and how these have not only demystified these second-sphere effects but also how the knowledge obtained resulted in functional mimics of these heme enzymes.

Calcium-Ion Binding Mediates the Reversible Interconversion of Cis and Trans Peroxido Dicopper Cores

Coupled dinuclear copper oxygen cores (Cu₂ O₂ ) featured in type III copper proteins (hemocyanin, tyrosinase, catechol oxidase) are vital for O₂ transport and substrate oxidation in many organisms. μ-1,2-cis peroxido dicopper cores (^C P) have been proposed as key structures in the early stages of O₂ binding in these proteins; their reversible isomerization to other Cu₂ O₂ cores are directly relevant to enzyme function. Despite the relevance of such species to type III copper proteins and the broader interest in the properties and reactivity of bimetallic ^C P cores in biological and synthetic systems, the properties and reactivity of ^C P Cu₂ O₂ species remain largely unexplored. Herein, we report the reversible interconversion of μ-1,2-trans peroxido (^T P) and ^C P dicopper cores. Ca^II mediates this process by reversible binding at the Cu₂ O₂ core, highlighting the unique capability for metal-ion binding events to stabilize novel reactive fragments and control O₂ activation in biomimetic systems.

Molecular understanding of heteronuclear active sites in heme-copper oxidases, nitric oxide reductases, and sulfite reductases through biomimetic modelling

Heme-copper oxidases (HCO), nitric oxide reductases (NOR), and sulfite reductases (SiR) catalyze the multi-electron and multi-proton reductions of O2, NO, and SO32-, respectively. Each of these reactions is important to drive cellular energy production through respiratory metabolism and HCO, NOR, and SiR evolved to contain heteronuclear active sites containing heme/copper, heme/nonheme iron, and heme-[4Fe-4S] centers, respectively. The complexity of the structures and reactions of these native enzymes, along with their large sizes and/or membrane associations, make it challenging to fully understand the crucial structural features responsible for the catalytic properties of these active sites. In this review, we summarize progress that has been made to better understand these heteronuclear metalloenzymes at the molecular level though study of the native enzymes along with insights gained from biomimetic models comprising either small molecules or proteins. Further understanding the reaction selectivity of these enzymes is discussed through comparisons of their similar heteronuclear active sites, and we offer outlook for further investigations.

Structural Determination of an Unusual CuI -Porphyrin-π-Bond in a Hetero-Pacman Cu-Zn-Complex

The synthesis and characterization of a hetero‐dinuclear compound is presented, in which a copper(I) trishistidine type coordination unit is positioned directly above a zinc porphyrin unit. The close distance between the two coordination fragments is secured by a rigid xanthene backbone, and a unique (intramolecular) copper porphyrin‐π‐bond was determined for the first time in the molecular structure. This structural motif was further analyzed by temperature‐dependent NMR studies: In solution at room temperature the coordinative bond fluctuates, while it can be frozen at low temperatures. Preliminary reactivity studies revealed a reduced reactivity of the copper(I) moiety towards dioxygen. The results adumbrate why nature is avoiding metal porphyrin‐π‐bonds by fixing reactive metal centers in a predetermined distance to each other within multimetallic enzymatic reaction centers.

Oxygen Reduction by Iron Porphyrins with Covalently Attached Pendent Phenol and Quinol

Phenols and quinols participate in both proton transfer and electron transfer processes in nature either in distinct elementary steps or in a concerted fashion. Recent investigations using synthetic heme/Cu models and iron porphyrins have indicated that phenols/quinols can react with both ferric superoxide and ferric peroxide intermediates formed during O₂ reduction through a proton coupled electron transfer (PCET) process as well as via hydrogen atom transfer (HAT). Oxygen reduction by iron porphyrins bearing covalently attached pendant phenol and quinol groups is investigated. The data show that both of these can electrochemically reduce O₂ selectively by 4e^-/4H⁺ to H₂O with very similar rates. However, the mechanism of the reaction, investigated both using heterogeneous electrochemistry and by trapping intermediates in organic solutions, can be either PCET or HAT and is governed by the thermodynamics of these intermediates involved. The results suggest that, while the reduction of the Fe^III-O₂̇^- species to Fe^III-OOH proceeds via PCET when a pendant phenol is present, it follows a HAT pathway with a pendant quinol. In the absence of the hydroxyl group the O₂ reduction proceeds via an electron transfer followed by proton transfer to the Fe^III-O₂̇^- species. The hydrogen bonding from the pendant phenol group to Fe^III-O₂̇^- and Fe^III-OOH species provides a unique advantage to the PCET process by lowering the inner-sphere reorganization energy by limiting the elongation of the O-O bond upon reduction.

Intermolecular Interactions and Intramolecular Couplings of Binuclear Porphyrin Models for Cytochrome c Oxidase

Cytochrome c oxidase (CcO) has a binuclear active site composed of a high-spin heme group and a tris-histidine-ligated copper ion (Cu_B). By using two different porphyrin models derived by Gunter (H₂TPyPP) and us (H₂TImPP), we have isolated several mono- and binuclear complexes including one carbonyl and three chloride derivatives which are determined by 100 K single-crystal X-ray. Low-temperature (4 K) EPR and multitemperature (295-25 K) Mössbauer investigations on the products not only confirmed the spin states of the two metal ions (S = 5/2 Fe³⁺ and S = 1/2 Cu²⁺) but also revealed the intermolecular interactions and intramolecular couplings which are in accordance with the crystal structural features.

(Hydr)oxo-bridged heme complexes: From structure to reactivity

Iron–porphyrins ([Formula: see text] hemes) are present throughout the biosphere and perform a wide range of functions, particularly those that involve complex multiple-electron redox processes. Some common heme enzymes involved in these processes include cytochrome P450, heme/copper oxidase or heme/non-heme diiron nitric oxide reductase. Consequently, the (hydr)oxo-bridged heme species have been studied for the important roles that they play in many life processes or for their application for catalysis and preparation of new functional materials. This review encompasses important synthetic, structural and reactivity aspects of the (hydr)oxo-bridged heme constructs that govern their function and application. The properties and reactivity of the bridging (hydr)oxo moieties are directly dictated by the coordination environment of the heme core, the nature and ligation of the second metal center attached to the (hydr)oxo group, the presence or absence of a linker, and the degree of flexibility around that linker within the scaffold. Here, we summarize the structural features of all known (hydr)oxo-bridged heme constructs and use those to categorize and thus, provide a more comprehensive picture of structure–function relationships.

Heme-Cu Binucleating Ligand Supports Heme/O2 and FeII-CuI/O2 Reactivity Providing High- and Low-Spin FeIII-Peroxo-CuII Complexes

The focus of this study is in the description of synthetic heme/copper/O₂ chemistry employing a heme-containing binucleating ligand which provides a tridentate chelate for copper ion binding. The addition of O₂ (-80 °C, tetrahydrofuran (THF) solvent) to the reduced heme compound (P^ImH)Fe^II (1), gives the oxy-heme adduct, formally a heme-superoxide complex Fe^III-(O₂^•-) (2) (resonance Raman spectroscopy (rR): ν_O-O, 1171 cm^-1 (Δ¹⁸O₂, -61 cm^-1); ν_Fe-O, 575 cm^-1 (Δ¹⁸O₂, -24 cm^-1)). Simple warming of 2 to room temperature regenerates reduced complex 1; this reaction is reversible, as followed by UV-vis spectroscopy. Complex 2 is electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR)-silent and exhibits upfield-shifted pyrrole resonances (δ 9.12 ppm) in ²H NMR spectroscopy, indicative of a six-coordinate low-spin heme. The coordination of the tethered imidazolyl arm to the heme-superoxide complex as an axial base ligand is suggested. We also report the new fully reduced heme-copper complex [(P^ImH)Fe^IICu^I]⁺ (3), where the copper ion is bound to the tethered tridentate portion of P^ImH. This reacts with O₂ to give a distinctive low-temperature-stable, high-spin (S = 2, overall) peroxo-bridged complex [(P^ImH)Fe^III-(O₂^2-)-Cu^II]⁺ (3a): λ_max, 420 (Soret), 545, 565 nm; δ_pyrr, 93 ppm; ν_O-O, 799 cm^-1 (Δ¹⁸O₂, -48 cm^-1); ν_Fe-O, 524 cm^-1 (Δ¹⁸O₂, -23 cm^-1). To 3a, the addition of dicyclohexylimidazole (DCHIm), which serves as a heme axial base, leads to low-spin (S = 0 overall) species complex [(DCHIm)(P^ImH)Fe^III-(O₂^2-)-Cu^II]⁺ (3b): λ_max, 425 (Soret), 538 nm; δ_pyrr, 10.2 ppm; ν_O-O, 817 cm^-1 (Δ¹⁸O₂, -55 cm^-1); ν_Fe-O, 610 cm^-1 (Δ¹⁸O₂, -26 cm^-1). These investigations into the characterization of the O₂-adducts from (P^ImH)Fe^II (1) with/without additional copper chelation advance our understanding of the dioxygen reactivity of heme-only and heme/Cu-ligand heterobinuclear system, thus potentially relevant to O₂ reduction in heme-copper oxidases or fuel-cell chemistry.

Tuning the Geometric and Electronic Structure of Synthetic High-Valent Heme Iron(IV)-Oxo Models in the Presence of a Lewis Acid and Various Axial Ligands

High-valent ferryl species (e.g., (Por)FeIV═O, Cmpd-II) are observed or proposed key oxidizing intermediates in the catalytic cycles of heme-containing enzymes (P-450s, peroxidases, catalases, and cytochrome c oxidase) involved in biological respiration and oxidative metabolism. Herein, various axially ligated iron(IV)-oxo complexes were prepared to examine the influence of the identity of the base. These were generated by addition of various axial ligands (1,5-dicyclohexylimidazole (DCHIm), a tethered-imidazole system, and sodium derivatives of 3,5-dimethoxyphenolate and imidazolate). Characterization was carried out via UV-vis, electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR), 57Fe Mössbauer, Fe X-ray absorption (XAS), and 54/57Fe resonance Raman (rR) spectroscopies to confirm their formation and compare the axial ligand perturbation on the electronic and geometric structures of these heme iron(IV)-oxo species. Mössbauer studies confirmed that the axially ligated derivatives were iron(IV) and six-coordinate complexes. XAS and 54/57Fe rR data correlated with slight elongation of the iron-oxo bond with increasing donation from the axial ligands. The first reported synthetic H-bonded iron(IV)-oxo heme systems were made in the presence of the protic Lewis acid, 2,6-lutidinium triflate (LutH+), with (or without) DCHIm. Mössbauer, rR, and XAS spectroscopic data indicated the formation of molecular Lewis acid ferryl adducts (rather than full protonation). The reduction potentials of these novel Lewis acid adducts were bracketed through addition of outer-sphere reductants. The oxidizing capabilities of the ferryl species with or without Lewis acid vary drastically; addition of LutH+ to F8Cmpd-II (F8 = tetrakis(2,6-difluorophenyl)porphyrinate) increased its reduction potential by more than 890 mV, experimentally confirming that H-bonding interactions can increase the reactivity of ferryl species.

Spin Interconversion of Heme-Peroxo-Copper Complexes Facilitated by Intramolecular Hydrogen-Bonding Interactions

Synthetic peroxo-bridged high-spin (HS) heme-(μ-η2:η1-O22-)-Cu(L) complexes incorporating (as part of the copper ligand) intramolecular hydrogen-bond (H-bond) capabilities and/or steric effects are herein demonstrated to affect the complex's electronic and geometric structure, notably impacting the spin state. An H-bonding interaction with the peroxo core favors a low-spin (LS) heme-(μ-η1:η1-O22-)-Cu(L) structure, resulting in a reversible temperature-dependent interconversion of spin state (5 coordinate HS to 6 coordinate LS). The LS state dominates at low temperatures, even in the absence of a strong trans-axial heme ligand. Lewis base addition inhibits the H-bond facilitated spin interconversion by competition for the H-bond donor, illustrating the precise H-bonding interaction required to induce spin-crossover (SCO). Resonance Raman spectroscopy (rR) shows that the H-bonding pendant interacts with the bridging peroxide ligand to stabilize the LS but not the HS state. The H-bond (to the Cu-bound O atom) acts to weaken the O-O bond and strengthen the Fe-O bond, exhibiting ν(M-O) and ν(O-O) values comparable to analogous known LS complexes with a strong donating trans-axial ligand, 1,5-dicyclohexylimidazole, (DCHIm)heme-(μ-η1:η1-O22-)-Cu(L). Variable-temperature (-90 to -130 °C) UV-vis and 2H NMR spectroscopies confirm the SCO process and implicate the involvement of solvent binding. Examining a case of solvent binding without SCO, thermodynamic parameters were obtained from a van't Hoff analysis, accounting for its contribution in SCO. Taken together, these data provide evidence for the H-bond group facilitating a core geometry change and allowing solvent to bind, stabilizing a LS state. The rR data, complemented by DFT analysis, reveal a stronger H-bonding interaction with the peroxo core in the LS compared to the HS complexes, which enthalpically favors the LS state. These insights enhance our fundamental understanding of secondary coordination sphere influences in metalloenzymes.

Influence of intramolecular secondary sphere hydrogen-bonding interactions on cytochrome c oxidase inspired low-spin heme-peroxo-copper complexes

Dioxygen reduction by heme-copper oxidases is a critical biochemical process, wherein hydrogen bonding is hypothesized to participate in the critical step involving the active-site reductive cleavage of the O-O bond. Sixteen novel synthetic heme-(μ-O2 2-)-Cu(XTMPA) complexes, whose design is inspired by the cytochrome c oxidase active site structure, were generated in an attempt to form the first intramolecular H-bonded complexes. Derivatives of the "parent" ligand (XTMPA, TMPA = (tris((2-pyridyl)methyl)amine)) possessing one or two amine pendants preferentially form an H-bond with the copper-bound O-atom of the peroxide bridge. This is evidenced by a characteristic blue shift in the ligand-to-metal charge transfer (LMCT) bands observed in UV-vis spectroscopy (consistent with lowering of the peroxo π* relative to the iron orbitals) and a weakening of the O-O bond determined by resonance Raman spectroscopy (rR), with support from Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations. Remarkably, with the TMPA-based infrastructure (versus similar heme-peroxo-copper complexes with different copper ligands), the typically undetected Cu-O stretch for these complexes was observed via rR, affording critical insights into the nature of the O-O peroxo core for the complexes studied. While amido functionalities have been shown to have greater H-bonding capabilities than their amino counterparts, in these heme-peroxo-copper complexes amido substituents distort the local geometry such that H-bonding with the peroxo core only imparts a weak electronic effect; optimal H-bonding interactions are observed by employing two amino groups on the copper ligand. The amino-substituted systems presented in this work reveal a key orientational anisotropy in H-bonding to the peroxo core for activating the O-O bond, offering critical insights into effective O-O cleavage chemistry. These findings indirectly support computational and protein structural studies suggesting the presence of an interstitial H-bonding water molecule in the CcO active site, which is critical for the desired reactivity. The results are evaluated with appropriate controls and discussed with respect to potential O2-reduction capabilities.

Synthetic Fe/Cu Complexes: Toward Understanding Heme-Copper Oxidase Structure and Function

Heme-copper oxidases (HCOs) are terminal enzymes on the mitochondrial or bacterial respiratory electron transport chain, which utilize a unique heterobinuclear active site to catalyze the 4H+/4e- reduction of dioxygen to water. This process involves a proton-coupled electron transfer (PCET) from a tyrosine (phenolic) residue and additional redox events coupled to transmembrane proton pumping and ATP synthesis. Given that HCOs are large, complex, membrane-bound enzymes, bioinspired synthetic model chemistry is a promising approach to better understand heme-Cu-mediated dioxygen reduction, including the details of proton and electron movements. This review encompasses important aspects of heme-O2 and copper-O2 (bio)chemistries as they relate to the design and interpretation of small molecule model systems and provides perspectives from fundamental coordination chemistry, which can be applied to the understanding of HCO activity. We focus on recent advancements from studies of heme-Cu models, evaluating experimental and computational results, which highlight important fundamental structure-function relationships. Finally, we provide an outlook for future potential contributions from synthetic inorganic chemistry and discuss their implications with relevance to biological O2-reduction.

Oxygen Activation and Radical Transformations in Heme Proteins and Metalloporphyrins

As a result of the adaptation of life to an aerobic environment, nature has evolved a panoply of metalloproteins for oxidative metabolism and protection against reactive oxygen species. Despite the diverse structures and functions of these proteins, they share common mechanistic grounds. An open-shell transition metal like iron or copper is employed to interact with O2 and its derived intermediates such as hydrogen peroxide to afford a variety of metal-oxygen intermediates. These reactive intermediates, including metal-superoxo, -(hydro)peroxo, and high-valent metal-oxo species, are the basis for the various biological functions of O2-utilizing metalloproteins. Collectively, these processes are called oxygen activation. Much of our understanding of the reactivity of these reactive intermediates has come from the study of heme-containing proteins and related metalloporphyrin compounds. These studies not only have deepened our understanding of various functions of heme proteins, such as O2 storage and transport, degradation of reactive oxygen species, redox signaling, and biological oxygenation, etc., but also have driven the development of bioinorganic chemistry and biomimetic catalysis. In this review, we survey the range of O2 activation processes mediated by heme proteins and model compounds with a focus on recent progress in the characterization and reactivity of important iron-oxygen intermediates. Representative reactions initiated by these reactive intermediates as well as some context from prior decades will also be presented. We will discuss the fundamental mechanistic features of these transformations and delineate the underlying structural and electronic factors that contribute to the spectrum of reactivities that has been observed in nature as well as those that have been invented using these paradigms. Given the recent developments in biocatalysis for non-natural chemistries and the renaissance of radical chemistry in organic synthesis, we envision that new enzymatic and synthetic transformations will emerge based on the radical processes mediated by metalloproteins and their synthetic analogs.

Use of Isotopes and Isotope Effects for Investigations of Diiron Oxygenase Mechanisms

Isotope effects of four broad and overlapping categories have been applied to the study of the mechanisms of chemical reaction and regulation of nonheme diiron cluster-containing oxygenases. The categories are: (a) mass properties that allow substrate-to-product conversions to be tracked, (b) atomic properties that allow specialized spectroscopies, (c) mass properties that impact primarily vibrational spectroscopies, and (d) bond dissociation energy shifts that permit dynamic isotope effect studies of many types. The application of these categories of isotope effects is illustrated using the soluble methane monooxygenase system and CmlI, which catalyzes the multistep arylamine to arylnitro conversion in the biosynthetic pathway for chloramphenicol.

Phenol-Induced O-O Bond Cleavage in a Low-Spin Heme-Peroxo-Copper Complex: Implications for O2 Reduction in Heme-Copper Oxidases

This study evaluates the reaction of a biomimetic heme-peroxo-copper complex, {[(DCHIm)(F8)FeIII]-(O22-)-[CuII(AN)]}+ (1), with a phenolic substrate, involving a net H-atom abstraction to cleave the bridging peroxo O-O bond that produces FeIV═O, CuII-OH, and phenoxyl radical moieties, analogous to the chemistry carried out in heme-copper oxidases (HCOs). A 3D potential energy surface generated for this reaction reveals two possible reaction pathways: one involves nearly complete proton transfer (PT) from the phenol to the peroxo ligand before the barrier; the other involves O-O homolysis, where the phenol remains H-bonding to the peroxo OCu in the transition state (TS) and transfers the H+ after the barrier. In both mechanisms, electron transfer (ET) from phenol occurs after the PT (and after the barrier); therefore, only the interaction with the H+ is involved in lowering the O-O cleavage barrier. The relative barriers depend on covalency (which governs ET from Fe), and therefore vary with DFT functional. However, as these mechanisms differ by the amount of PT at the TS, kinetic isotope experiments were conducted to determine which mechanism is active. It is found that the phenolic proton exhibits a secondary kinetic isotope effect, consistent with the calculations for the H-bonded O-O homolysis mechanism. The consequences of these findings are discussed in relation to O-O cleavage in HCOs, supporting a model in which a peroxo intermediate serves as the active H+ acceptor, and both the H+ and e- required for O-O cleavage derive from the cross-linked Tyr residue present at the active site.

Activation of dioxygen by copper metalloproteins and insights from model complexes

Nature uses dioxygen as a key oxidant in the transformation of biomolecules. Among the enzymes that are utilized for these reactions are copper-containing metalloenzymes, which are responsible for important biological functions such as the regulation of neurotransmitters, dioxygen transport, and cellular respiration. Enzymatic and model system studies work in tandem in order to gain an understanding of the fundamental reductive activation of dioxygen by copper complexes. This review covers the most recent advancements in the structures, spectroscopy, and reaction mechanisms for dioxygen-activating copper proteins and relevant synthetic models thereof. An emphasis has also been placed on cofactor biogenesis, a fundamentally important process whereby biomolecules are post-translationally modified by the pro-enzyme active site to generate cofactors which are essential for the catalytic enzymatic reaction. Significant questions remaining in copper-ion-mediated O2-activation in copper proteins are addressed.

K- and L-edge X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy (XAS) and Resonant Inelastic X-ray Scattering (RIXS) Determination of Differential Orbital Covalency (DOC) of Transition Metal Sites

Continual advancements in the development of synchrotron radiation sources have resulted in X-ray based spectroscopic techniques capable of probing the electronic and structural properties of numerous systems. This review gives an overview of the application of metal K-edge and L-edge X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS), as well as K resonant inelastic X-ray scattering (RIXS), to the study of electronic structure in transition metal sites with emphasis on experimentally quantifying 3d orbital covalency. The specific sensitivities of K-edge XAS, L-edge XAS, and RIXS are discussed emphasizing the complementary nature of the methods. L-edge XAS and RIXS are sensitive to mixing between 3d orbitals and ligand valence orbitals, and to the differential orbital covalency (DOC), that is, the difference in the covalencies for different symmetry sets of the d orbitals. Both L-edge XAS and RIXS are highly sensitive to and enable separation of and donor bonding and back bonding contributions to bonding. Applying ligand field multiplet simulations, including charge transfer via valence bond configuration interactions, DOC can be obtained for direct comparison with density functional theory calculations and to understand chemical trends. The application of RIXS as a probe of frontier molecular orbitals in a heme enzyme demonstrates the potential of this method for the study of metal sites in highly covalent coordination sites in bioinorganic chemistry.

Isocyanide or nitrosyl complexation to hemes with varying tethered axial base ligand donors: synthesis and characterization

A series of ferrous-heme 2,6-dimethylphenyl isocyanide (DIMPI) and ferrous-heme mononitrosyl complexes have been synthesized and characterized. The heme portion of the complexes studied is varied with respect to the nature of the axial ligand, including complexes, where it is covalently tethered to the porphyrinate periphery. Reduced heme complexes, [(F8)Fe(II)], [(P(Py))Fe(II)], [(P(Im))Fe(II)], and [(P(ImH))Fe(II)], where F8 = tetrakis(2,6-difluorophenyl)-porphyrinate and P(Py), P(Im), and P(ImH) are partially fluorinated tetraaryl porphyrinates with covalently appended axial base pyridyl/imidazolyl or histamine moieties, were employed; P(ImH) is a new construct. Room temperature addition of DIMPI to these iron(II) complexes affords the bis-isocyanide species [(F8)Fe(II)-(DIMPI)2] in the case of [(F8)Fe(II)], while for the other hemes, mono-DIMPI compounds are obtained, [(P(Py))Fe(II)-(DIMPI)] [(2)-DIMPI], [(P(Im))Fe(II)-(DIMPI)] [(3)-DIMPI], and [(P(ImH))Fe(II)-(DIMPI)] [(4)-DIMPI]. The structures of complexes (3)-DIMPI and (4)-DIMPI have been determined by single crystal X-ray crystallography, where interesting H…F(porphryinate aryl group) interactions are observed. (19)F-NMR spectra determined for these complexes suggest that H…F(porphyrinate aryl groups) attractions also occur in solution, the H atom coming either from the DIMPI methyl groups or from a porphyinate axial base imidazole or porphyrinate pyrrole. Similarly, we have used nitrogen monoxide to generate ferrous-nitrosyl complexes, a five-coordinate species for F8, [(F8)Fe(II)-(NO)], or low-spin six-coordinate compounds [(P(Py))Fe(II)-(NO)], [(P(Im))Fe(II)-(NO)], and [(P(ImH))Fe(II)-(NO)]. The DIMPI and mononitrosyl complexes have also been characterized using UV-Vis, IR, (1)H-NMR, and EPR spectroscopies.

A broken-symmetry density functional study of structures, energies, and protonation states along the catalytic O-O bond cleavage pathway in ba3 cytochrome c oxidase from Thermus thermophilus

Broken-symmetry density functional calculations have been performed on the [Fea3, CuB] dinuclear center (DNC) of ba3 cytochrome c oxidase from Thermus thermophilus in the states of [Fea3(3+)-(HO2)(-)-CuB(2+), Tyr237(-)] and [Fea3(4+)[double bond, length as m-dash]O(2-), OH(-)-CuB(2+), Tyr237˙], using both PW91-D3 and OLYP-D3 functionals. Tyr237 is a special tyrosine cross-linked to His233, a ligand of CuB. The calculations have shown that the DNC in these states strongly favors the protonation of His376, which is above propionate-A, but not of the carboxylate group of propionate-A. The energies of the structures obtained by constrained geometry optimizations along the O-O bond cleavage pathway between [Fea3(3+)-(O-OH)(-)-CuB(2+), Tyr237(-)] and [Fea3(4+)[double bond, length as m-dash]O(2-)HO(-)-CuB(2+), Tyr237˙] have also been calculated. The transition of [Fea3(3+)-(O-OH)(-)-CuB(2+), Tyr237(-)] → [Fea3(4+)[double bond, length as m-dash]O(2-)HO(-)-CuB(2+), Tyr237˙] shows a very small barrier, which is less than 3.0/2.0 kcal mol(-1) in PW91-D3/OLYP-D3 calculations. The protonation state of His376 does not affect this O-O cleavage barrier. The rate limiting step of the transition from state A (in which O2 binds to Fea3(2+)) to state PM ([Fea3(4+)[double bond, length as m-dash]O(2-), OH(-)-CuB(2+), Tyr237˙], where the O-O bond is cleaved) in the catalytic cycle is, therefore, the proton transfer originating from Tyr237 to O-O to form the hydroperoxo [Fea3(3+)-(O-OH)(-)-CuB(2+), Tyr237(-)] state. The importance of His376 in proton uptake and the function of propionate-A/neutral-Asp372 as a gate to prevent the proton from back-flowing to the DNC are also shown.

Electrocatalytic O2-Reduction by Synthetic Cytochrome c Oxidase Mimics: Identification of a "Bridging Peroxo" Intermediate Involved in Facile 4e(-)/4H(+) O2-Reduction

A synthetic heme-Cu CcO model complex shows selective and highly efficient electrocatalytic 4e(-)/4H(+) O2-reduction to H2O with a large catalytic rate (>10(5) M(-1) s(-1)). While the heme-Cu model (FeCu) shows almost exclusive 4e(-)/4H(+) reduction of O2 to H2O (detected using ring disk electrochemistry and rotating ring disk electrochemistry), when imidazole is bound to the heme (Fe(Im)Cu), this same selective O2-reduction to water occurs only under slow electron fluxes. Surface enhanced resonance Raman spectroscopy coupled to dynamic electrochemistry data suggests the formation of a bridging peroxide intermediate during O2-reduction by both complexes under steady state reaction conditions, indicating that O-O bond heterolysis is likely to be the rate-determining step (RDS) at the mass transfer limited region. The O-O vibrational frequencies at 819 cm(-1) in (16)O2 (759 cm(-1) in (18)O2) for the FeCu complex and at 847 cm(-1) (786 cm(-1)) for the Fe(Im)Cu complex, indicate the formation of side-on and end-on bridging Fe-peroxo-Cu intermediates, respectively, during O2-reduction in an aqueous environment. These data suggest that side-on bridging peroxide intermediates are involved in fast and selective O2-reduction in these synthetic complexes. The greater amount of H2O2 production by the imidazole bound complex under fast electron transfer is due to 1e(-)/1H(+) O2-reduction by the distal Cu where O2 binding to the water bound low spin Fe(II) complex is inhibited.

Synthetic heme/copper assemblies: toward an understanding of cytochrome c oxidase interactions with dioxygen and nitrogen oxides

Our long-time niche in synthetic biological inorganic chemistry has been to design ligands and generate coordination complexes of copper or iron ions or both, those reacting with dioxygen (O2) or nitrogen oxides (e.g., nitric oxide (NO(g)) and nitrite (NO2(-))) or both. As inspiration for this work, we turn to mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase, which is responsible for dioxygen consumption and is also the predominant target for NO(g) and nitrite within mitochondria. In this Account, we highlight recent advances in studying synthetic heme/Cu complexes in two respects. First, there is the design, synthesis, and characterization of new O2 adducts whose further study will add insights into O2 reductive cleavage chemistry. Second, we describe how related heme/Cu constructs reduce nitrite ion to NO(g) or the reverse, oxidize NO(g) to nitrite. The reactions of nitrogen oxides occur as part of CcO's function, which is intimately tied to cellular O2 balance. We had first discovered that reduced heme/Cu compounds react with O2 giving μ-oxo heme-Fe(III)-O-Cu(II)(L) products; their properties are discussed. The O-atom is derived from dioxygen, and interrogations of these systems led to the construction and characterization of three distinctive classes of heme-peroxo complexes, two high-spin and one low-spin species. Recent investigations include a new approach to the synthesis of low-spin heme-peroxo-Cu complexes, employing a "naked" synthon, where the copper ligand denticity and geometric types can be varied. The result is a collection of such complexes; spectroscopic and structural features (by DFT calculations) are described. Some of these compounds are reactive toward reductants/protons effecting subsequent O-O cleavage. This points to how subtle improvements in ligand environment lead to a desired local structure and resulting optimized reactivity, as known to occur at enzyme active sites. The other sector of research is focused on heme/Cu assemblies mediating the redox interplay between nitrite and NO(g). In the nitrite reductase chemistry, the cupric center serves as a Lewis acid, while the heme is the redox active center providing the electron. The orientation of nitrite in approaching the ferrous heme center and N-atom binding are important. Also, detailed spectroscopic and kinetic studies of the NO(g) oxidase chemistry, in excellent agreement with theoretical calculations, reveal the intermediates and key mechanistic steps. Thus, we suggest that both chemical and biochemical heme/Cu-mediated nitrite reductase and NO(g) oxidase chemistry require N-atom binding to a ferrous heme along with cupric ion O-atom coordination, proceeding via a three-membered O-Fe-N chelate ring transition state. These important mechanistic features of heme/Cu systems interconverting NO(g) and nitrite are discussed for the first time.

Respiratory conservation of energy with dioxygen: cytochrome C oxidase

Cytochrome c oxidase (CcO) is the terminal oxidase of cell respiration which reduces molecular oxygen (O₂) to H2O coupled with the proton pump. For elucidation of the mechanism of CcO, the three-dimensional location and chemical reactivity of each atom composing the functional sites have been extensively studied by various techniques, such as crystallography, vibrational and time-resolved electronic spectroscopy, since the X-ray structures (2.8 Å resolution) of bovine and bacterial CcO have been published in 1995.X-ray structures of bovine CcO in different oxidation and ligand binding states showed that the O₂reduction site, which is composed of Fe (heme a 3) and Cu (CuB), drives a non-sequential four-electron transfer for reduction of O₂to water without releasing any reactive oxygen species. These data provide the crucial structural basis to solve a long-standing problem, the mechanism of the O₂reduction.Time-resolved resonance Raman and charge translocation analyses revealed the mechanism for coupling between O₂reduction and the proton pump: O₂is received by the O₂reduction site where both metals are in the reduced state (R-intermediate), giving the O₂-bound form (A-intermediate). This is spontaneously converted to the P-intermediate, with the bound O₂fully reduced to 2 O²⁻. Hereafter the P-intermediate receives four electron equivalents from the second Fe site (heme a), one at a time, to form the three intermediates, F, O, and E to regenerate the R-intermediate. Each electron transfer step from heme a to the O₂reduction site is coupled with the proton pump.X-ray structural and mutational analyses of bovine CcO show three possible proton transfer pathways which can transfer pump protons (H) and chemical (water-forming) protons (K and D). The structure of the H-pathway of bovine CcO indicates that the driving force of the proton pump is the electrostatic repulsion between the protons on the H-pathway and positive charges of heme a, created upon oxidation to donate electrons to the O₂reduction site. On the other hand, mutational and time-resolved electrometric findings for the bacterial CcO strongly suggest that the D-pathway transfers both pump and chemical protons. However, the structure for the proton-gating system in the D-pathway has not been experimentally identified. The structural and functional diversities in CcO from various species suggest a basic proton pumping mechanism in which heme a pumps protons while heme a 3 reduces O₂as proposed in 1978.

Nitrogen Oxide Atom-Transfer Redox Chemistry; Mechanism of NO(g) to Nitrite Conversion Utilizing μ-oxo Heme-Fe(III)-O-Cu(II)(L) Constructs

While nitric oxide (NO, nitrogen monoxide) is a critically important signaling agent, its cellular concentrations must be tightly controlled, generally through its oxidative conversion to nitrite (NO2(-)) where it is held in reserve to be reconverted as needed. In part, this reaction is mediated by the binuclear heme a3/CuB active site of cytochrome c oxidase. In this report, the oxidation of NO(g) to nitrite is shown to occur efficiently in new synthetic μ-oxo heme-Fe(III)-O-Cu(II)(L) constructs (L being a tridentate or tetradentate pyridyl/alkylamino ligand), and spectroscopic and kinetic investigations provide detailed mechanistic insights. Two new X-ray structures of μ-oxo complexes have been determined and compared to literature analogs. All μ-oxo complexes react with 2 mol equiv NO(g) to give 1:1 mixtures of discrete [(L)Cu(II)(NO2(-))](+) plus ferrous heme-nitrosyl compounds; when the first NO(g) equiv reduces the heme center and itself is oxidized to nitrite, the second equiv of NO(g) traps the ferrous heme thus formed. For one μ-oxo heme-Fe(III)-O-Cu(II)(L) compound, the reaction with NO(g) reveals an intermediate species ("intermediate"), formally a bis-NO adduct, [(NO)(porphyrinate)Fe(II)-(NO2(-))-Cu(II)(L)](+) (λmax = 433 nm), confirmed by cryo-spray ionization mass spectrometry and EPR spectroscopy, along with the observation that cooling a 1:1 mixture of [(L)Cu(II)(NO2(-))](+) and heme-Fe(II)(NO) to -125 °C leads to association and generation of the key 433 nm UV-vis feature. Kinetic-thermodynamic parameters obtained from low-temperature stopped-flow measurements are in excellent agreement with DFT calculations carried out which describe the sequential addition of NO(g) to the μ-oxo complex.

An unusual peroxo intermediate of the arylamine oxygenase of the chloramphenicol biosynthetic pathway

Streptomyces venezuelae CmlI catalyzes the six-electron oxygenation of the arylamine precursor of chloramphenicol in a nonribosomal peptide synthetase (NRPS)-based pathway to yield the nitroaryl group of the antibiotic. Optical, EPR, and Mössbauer studies show that the enzyme contains a nonheme dinuclear iron cluster. Addition of O(2) to the diferrous state of the cluster results in an exceptionally long-lived intermediate (t(1/2) = 3 h at 4 °C) that is assigned as a peroxodiferric species (CmlI-peroxo) based upon the observation of an (18)O(2)-sensitive resonance Raman (rR) vibration. CmlI-peroxo is spectroscopically distinct from the well characterized and commonly observed cis-μ-1,2-peroxo (μ-η(1):η(1)) intermediates of nonheme diiron enzymes. Specifically, it exhibits a blue-shifted broad absorption band around 500 nm and a rR spectrum with a ν(O-O) that is at least 60 cm(-1) lower in energy. Mössbauer studies of the peroxo state reveal a diferric cluster having iron sites with small quadrupole splittings and distinct isomer shifts (0.54 and 0.62 mm/s). Taken together, the spectroscopic comparisons clearly indicate that CmlI-peroxo does not have a μ-η(1):η(1)-peroxo ligand; we propose that a μ-η(1):η(2)-peroxo ligand accounts for its distinct spectroscopic properties. CmlI-peroxo reacts with a range of arylamine substrates by an apparent second-order process, indicating that CmlI-peroxo is the reactive species of the catalytic cycle. Efficient production of chloramphenicol from the free arylamine precursor suggests that CmlI catalyzes the ultimate step in the biosynthetic pathway and that the precursor is not bound to the NRPS during this step.

A "naked" Fe(III)-(O₂²⁻)-Cu(II) species allows for structural and spectroscopic tuning of low-spin heme-peroxo-Cu complexes

Here we describe a new approach for the generation of heme-peroxo-Cu compounds, using a “naked” complex synthon, [(F₈)Fe^III-(O₂^2–)-Cu^II(MeTHF)₃]⁺ (MeTHF = 2-methyltetrahydrofuran; F₈ = tetrakis(2,6-difluorophenyl)porphyrinate). Addition of varying ligands (L) for Cu allows the generation and spectroscopic characterization of a family of high- and low-spin Fe^III-(O₂^2–)-Cu^II(L) complexes. These possess markedly varying Cu^II coordination geometries, leading to tunable Fe-O, O-O, and Cu-O bond strengths. DFT calculations accompanied by vibrational data correlations give detailed structural insights.

Reactions of a heme-superoxo complex toward a cuprous chelate and •NO(g): CcO and NOD chemistry

Following up on the characterization of a new (heme)FeIII-superoxide species formed from the cryogenic oxygenation of a ferrous-heme (PPy)FeII (1) (PPy = a tetraarylporphyrinate with a covalently tethered pyridine group as a potential axial base), giving (PPy)FeIII-O2•- (2) (Li Y et al., Polyhedron 2013; 58: 60-64), we report here on (i) its use in forming a cytochrome c oxidase (CcO) model compound, or (ii) in a reaction with nitrogen monoxide (•NO; nitric oxide) to mimic nitric oxide dioxygenase (NOD) chemistry. Reaction of (2) with the cuprous chelate [CuI(AN)][B(C6F5)4] (AN = bis[3-(dimethylamino) propyl]amine) gives a meta-stable product [(PPy)FeIII-([Formula: see text])-CuII(AN)][B(C6F5)4] (3a), possessing a high-spin iron(III) and Cu(II) side-on bridged peroxo moiety with a μ-η2:η2-binding motif. This complex thermally decays to a corresponding μ-oxo complex [(PPy)FeIII-(O2-)-CuII(AN)][B(C6F5)4] (3). Both (3) and (3a) have been characterized by UV-vis, 2H NMR and EPR spectroscopies. When (2) is exposed to •NO(g), a ferric heme nitrato compound forms; if 2,4-di-tert-butylphenol is added prior to •NO(g) exposure, phenol ortho-nitration occurs with the iron product being the ferric hydroxide complex (PPy) FeIII(OH) (5). The latter reactions mimic the action of NOD's.

Transition metal complexes and the activation of dioxygen

In order to address how diverse metalloprotein active sites, in particular those containing iron and copper, guide O₂binding and activation processes to perform diverse functions, studies of synthetic models of the active sites have been performed. These studies have led to deep, fundamental chemical insights into how O₂coordinates to mono- and multinuclear Fe and Cu centers and is reduced to superoxo, peroxo, hydroperoxo, and, after O-O bond scission, oxo species relevant to proposed intermediates in catalysis. Recent advances in understanding the various factors that influence the course of O₂activation by Fe and Cu complexes are surveyed, with an emphasis on evaluating the structure, bonding, and reactivity of intermediates involved. The discussion is guided by an overarching mechanistic paradigm, with differences in detail due to the involvement of disparate metal ions, nuclearities, geometries, and supporting ligands providing a rich tapestry of reaction pathways by which O₂is activated at Fe and Cu sites.

Nitric oxide generation from heme/copper assembly mediated nitrite reductase activity

Nitric oxide (NO) as a cellular signaling molecule and vasodilator regulates a range of physiological and pathological processes. Nitrite (NO2 (-)) is recycled in vivo to generate nitric oxide, particularly in physiologic hypoxia and ischemia. The cytochrome c oxidase binuclear heme a 3/CuB active site is one entity known to be responsible for conversion of cellular nitrite to nitric oxide. We recently reported that a partially reduced heme/copper assembly reduces nitrite ion, producing nitric oxide; the heme serves as the reductant and the cupric ion provides a Lewis acid interaction with nitrite, facilitating nitrite (N-O) bond cleavage (Hematian et al., J. Am. Chem. Soc. 134:18912-18915, 2012). To further investigate this nitrite reductase chemistry, copper(II)-nitrito complexes with tridentate and tetradentate ligands were used in this study, where either O,O'-bidentate or O-unidentate modes of nitrite binding to the cupric center are present. To study the role of the reducing ability of the ferrous heme center, two different tetraarylporphyrinate-iron(II) complexes, one with electron-donating para-methoxy peripheral substituents and the other with electron-withdrawing 2,6-difluorophenyl substituents, were used. The results show that differing modes of nitrite coordination to the copper(II) ion lead to differing kinetic behavior. Here, also, the ferrous heme is in all cases the source of the reducing equivalent required to convert nitrite to nitric oxide, but the reduction ability of the heme center does not play a key role in the observed overall reaction rate. On the basis of our observations, reaction mechanisms are proposed and discussed in terms of heme/copper heterobinuclear structures.

Sc3+-triggered oxoiron(IV) formation from O2 and its non-heme iron(II) precursor via a Sc3+-peroxo-Fe3+ intermediate

We report that redox-inactive Sc(3+) can trigger O2 activation by the Fe(II)(TMC) center (TMC = tetramethylcyclam) to generate the corresponding oxoiron(IV) complex in the presence of BPh4(-) as an electron donor. To model a possible intermediate in the above reaction, we generated an unprecedented Sc(3+) adduct of [Fe(III)(η(2)-O2)(TMC)](+) by an alternative route, which was found to have an Fe(3+)-(μ-η(2):η(2)-peroxo)-Sc(3+) core and to convert to the oxoiron(IV) complex. These results have important implications for the role a Lewis acid can play in facilitating O-O bond cleavage during the course of O2 activation at non-heme iron centers.

New heme-dioxygen and carbon monoxide adducts using pyridyl or imidazolyl tailed porphyrins

Inspired by the chemistry relevant to dioxygen storage, transport and activation by metalloproteins, in particular for heme/copper oxidases, and carbon monoxide binding to metal-containing active sites as a probe or surrogate for dioxygen binding, a series of heme derived dioxygen and CO complexes have been designed, synthesized, and characterized with respect to their physical properties and reactivity. The focus of this study is in the description and comparison of three types heme-superoxo and heme-CO adducts. The starting point is in the characterization of the reduced heme complexes, [(F₈)Fe^II], [(P^Py)Fe^II] and [(P^Im)Fe^II], where F₈, P^Py and P^Im are iron(II)-porphyrinates and where P^Py and P^Im possess a covalently tethered axial base pyridyl or imidazolyl group, respectively. The spin-state properties of these complexes vary with solvent. The low temperature reaction between O₂ and these reduced porphyrin Fe^II complex yield distinctive low spin heme-superoxo adducts. The dioxygen binding properties for all three complexes are shown to be reversible, via alternate argon or O₂ bubbling. Carbon monoxide binds to the reduced heme-Fe^II precursors to form low spin heme-CO adducts. The implications for future investigations of these heme O₂ and CO adducts are discussed.

Cu(I)/O2 chemistry using a β-diketiminate supporting ligand derived from N,N-dimethylhydrazine: a [Cu3O2]3+ complex with novel reactivity

A Cu(I) complex, LCu(CH(3)CN), was prepared and characterized, where L(-) is a sterically unencumbered β-diketiminate ligand, the deprotonated version of 4-(2,2-dimethylhydrazino)dimethylhydrazone-3-penten-2-one (LH). Analysis of FTIR spectra of the products of the reaction of LCu(CH(3)CN) with CO indicate that L(-) is strongly electron donating, and support an equilibrium in solution between monomeric and dimeric forms with terminal and bridging CO ligands, respectively. Low temperature oxygenation of LCu(CH(3)CN) generated a bis(μ-oxo)tricopper complex with a S = 1 [Cu(3)O(2)](3+) core that was identified on the basis of UV-vis (λ(max) (ε, M(-1) cm(-1) per Cu) = 328 (10700), 420 (1500), 590 (835) nm) and X-band electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy (Δm(s) = 2 transition at 1500 G), electrospray ionization (ESI) mass spectrometry, and spectrophotometric titration (0.35(2) equiv of O(2) per copper atom), magnetic susceptibility (μ(eff) = 2.8(1) BM), and H(2)O(2) detection experiments (no H(2)O(2) evolved upon acidification). Unlike other reported variants supported by neutral N-donor ligands, L(3)Cu(3)O(2) is not reduced by ferrocene, does not abstract H-atoms from phenols or 1,2-dihydroanthracene, oxidizes PPh(3) to Ph(3)P═O, and generates carbonate species upon exposure to CO(2). This unique reactivity for a [Cu(3)O(2)](3+) complex may be traced to the anionic charge and strong electron donating characteristics of L(-).

Electronic structure of a low-spin heme/Cu peroxide complex: spin-state and spin-topology contributions to reactivity

This study details the electronic structure of the heme–peroxo–copper adduct {[(F8)Fe(DCHIm)]-O2-[Cu(AN)]}+ (LS(AN)) in which O2(2–) bridges the metals in a μ-1,2 or “end-on” configuration. LS(AN) is generated by addition of coordinating base to the parent complex {[(F8)Fe]-O2-[Cu(AN)]}+ (HS(AN)) in which the O2(2–) bridges the metals in an μ-η2:η2 or “side-on” mode. In addition to the structural change of the O2(2–) bridging geometry, coordination of the base changes the spin state of the heme fragment (from S = 5/2 in HS(AN) to S = 1/2 in LS(AN)) that results in an antiferromagnetically coupled diamagnetic ground state in LS(AN). The strong ligand field of the porphyrin modulates the high-spin to low-spin effect on Fe–peroxo bonding relative to nonheme complexes, which is important in the O–O bond cleavage process. On the basis of DFT calculations, the ground state of LS(AN) is dependent on the Fe–O–O–Cu dihedral angle, wherein acute angles (<~150°) yield an antiferromagnetically coupled electronic structure while more obtuse angles yield a ferromagnetic ground state. LS(AN) is diamagnetic and thus has an antiferromagnetically coupled ground state with a calculated Fe–O–O–Cu dihedral angle of 137°. The nature of the bonding in LS(AN) and the frontier molecular orbitals which lead to this magneto-structural correlation provide insight into possible spin topology contributions to O–O bond cleavage by cytochrome c oxidase.