Reactions of Hydroxylamine with Metal Porphyrins

Outer coordination sphere influences on cofactor maturation and substrate oxidation by cytochrome P460

Product selectivity of ammonia oxidation by ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) is tightly controlled by metalloenzymes. Hydroxylamine oxidoreductase (HAO) is responsible for the oxidation of hydroxylamine (NH2OH) to nitric oxide (NO). The non-metabolic enzyme cytochrome (cyt) P460 also oxidizes NH2OH, but instead produces nitrous oxide (N2O). While both enzymes use a heme P460 cofactor, they selectively oxidize NH2OH to different products. Previously reported structures of Nitrosomonas sp. AL212 cyt P460 show that a capping phenylalanine residue rotates upon ligand binding, suggesting that this Phe may influence substrate and/or product binding. Here, we show via substitutions of the capping Phe in Nitrosomonas europaea cyt P460 that the bulky phenyl side-chain promotes the heme-lysine cross-link forming reaction operative in maturing the cofactor. Additionally, the Phe side-chain plays an important role in modulating product selectivity between N2O and NO during NH2OH oxidation under aerobic conditions. A picture emerges where the sterics and electrostatics of the side-chain in this capping position control the kinetics of N2O formation and NO binding affinity. This demonstrates how the outer coordination sphere of cyt P460 is tuned not only for selective NH2OH oxidation, but also for the autocatalytic cross-link forming reaction that imbues activity to an otherwise inactive protein.

Can a Nitrosyl of a Mn(II)-Porphyrin Complex Release Nitroxyl/HNO?

In general, the nitrosyl complexes of Mn(II)-porphyrinate having the {Mn(NO)}⁶ configuration are not considered as HNO or nitroxyl (NO^-) donors because of [Mn^I-NO⁺] nature. A nitrosyl complex of Mn(II)-porphyrin, [Mn(TMPP^2-)(NO)], 1 [TMPPH₂ = 5,10,15,20-tetrakis-4-methoxyphenylporphyrin], is shown to release HNO in the presence of HBF₄. It is evidenced from the characteristic reaction of HNO with triphenylphosphine and isolation of the [(TMPP^2-)Mn^III(H₂O)₂](BF₄), 2. This is attributed to the fact that H⁺ from HBF₄ polarizes the NO group whereas the BF₄^- interacts with metal ion to stabilize the Mn(III) form. These two effects cooperatively result in the release of HNO from complex 1. In addition, complex 1 behaves as a nitroxyl (NO^-) donor in the presence of [Fe(dtc)₃] (dtc = diethyldithiocarbamate anion) and [Fe(TPP)(Cl)] (TPP = 5,10,15,20-tetraphenylporphyrinate) to result in [Fe(dtc)₂(NO)] and [Fe(TPP)(NO)], respectively.

Reversible Proton-Coupled Reduction of an Iron Nitrosyl Porphyrin within [DBU-H]+-Based Protic Ionic Liquid Nanodomains

The reduction of [Fe(OEP)(NO)] has been studied in the presence of aprotic room-temperature ionic liquids (RTIL) and protic (PIL) ionic liquids dissolved within a molecular solvent (MS). The cyclic voltammetric results showed the formation of RTIL nanodomains at low concentrations of the RTIL/PIL solutions. The pK_a values of the two PILs studied (i.e., trialkylammonium and [DBU-H]⁺-based ionic liquids) differed by four units in THF. While voltammetry in solutions containing all three RTILs showed similar potential shifts of the first reduction of [Fe(OEP)(NO)] to [Fe(OEP)(NO)]^- at low concentrations, significant differences were observed at higher concentrations for the ammonium PIL. The trialkylammonium cation had previously been shown to protonate the {FeNO}⁸ species at room temperature. Visible and infrared spectroelectrochemistry revealed that the [DBU-H]⁺-based PIL formed hydrogen bonds with [Fe(OEP)(NO)]^- rather than formally protonating it. Despite these differences, both PILs were able to efficiently reduce the nitrosyl species to the hydroxylamine complex, which could be further reduced to ammonia. On the voltammetric time scale and when the switching potential was positive of the Fe(II)/Fe(I) potential, the hydroxylamine complex was re-oxidized back to the NO complex via direct oxidation of the coordinated hydroxylamine at low scan rates or initial oxidation of the ferrous porphyrin at high scan rates. The results of this work show that, while [DBU-H]⁺ does not protonate electrochemically generated [Fe(OEP)(NO)]^-, it still plays an important role in efficiently reducing the nitroxyl ligand via a series of proton-coupled electron transfer steps to generate hydroxylamine and eventually ammonia. The overall reaction rates were independent of the PIL concentration, consistent with the nanodomain formation being important to the reduction process.

Porphyrin metalation catalyzed by DNAzymes and nanozymes

In this review, DNA and nanomaterial based catalysts for porphyrin metalation reactions are summarized, including the selection of DNAzymes, choice of nanomaterials, their catalytic mechanisms, and applications of the reactions.

Hydroxylamine Complexes of Cytochrome c': Influence of Heme Iron Redox State on Kinetic and Spectroscopic Properties

Hydroxylamine (NH₂OH or HA) is a redox-active nitrogen oxide that occurs as a toxic intermediate in the oxidation of ammonium by nitrifying and methanotrophic bacteria. Within ammonium containing environments, HA is generated by ammonia monooxygenase (nitrifiers) or methane monooxygenase (methanotrophs). Subsequent oxidation of HA is catalyzed by heme proteins, including cytochromes P460 and multiheme hydroxylamine oxidoreductases, the former contributing to emissions of N₂O, an ozone-depleting greenhouse gas. A heme-HA complex is also a proposed intermediate in the reduction of nitrite to ammonia by cytochrome c nitrite reductase. Despite the importance of heme-HA complexes within the biogeochemical nitrogen cycle, fundamental aspects of their coordination chemistry remain unknown, including the effect of the Fe redox state on heme-HA affinity, kinetics, and spectroscopy. Using stopped-flow UV-vis and resonance Raman spectroscopy, we investigated HA complexes of the L16G distal pocket variant of Alcaligenes xylosoxidans cytochrome c'-α (L16G AxCP-α), a pentacoordinate c-type cytochrome that we show binds HA in its Fe(III) (K_d ∼ 2.5 mM) and Fe(II) (K_d = 0.0345 mM) states. The ∼70-fold higher HA affinity of the Fe(II) state is due mostly to its lower k_off value (0.0994 s^-1 vs 11 s^-1), whereas k_on values for Fe(II) (2880 M^-1 s^-1) and Fe(III) (4300 M^-1 s^-1) redox states are relatively similar. A comparison of the HA and imidazole affinities of L16G AxCP-α was also used to predict the influence of Fe redox state on HA binding to other proteins. Although HA complexes of L16G AxCP-α decompose via redox reactions, the lifetime of the Fe(II)HA complex was prolonged in the presence of excess reductant. Spectroscopic parameters determined for the Fe(II)HA complex include the N-O stretching vibration of the NH₂OH ligand, ν(N-O) = 906 cm^-1. Overall, the kinetic trends and spectroscopic benchmarks from this study provide a foundation for future investigations of heme-HA reaction mechanisms.

Nitric Oxide Dioxygenase Activity of a Nitrosyl Complex of Mn(II)-Porphyrinate in the Presence of Superoxide: Formation of a Mn(IV)-oxo Species through a Putative Peroxynitrite Intermediate

A nitrosyl complex of Mn^II-porphyrinate, [(F₂₀TPP)Mn^II(NO)], 1 (F₂₀TPPH₂ = 5,10,15,20 tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)porphyrin), was synthesized and characterized. Spectroscopic and structural characterization revealed complex 1 as a penta-coordinated Mn^II-nitrosyl with a linear Mn-N-O (180.0°) moiety. Complex 1 does not react with O₂. However, it reacts with superoxide (O₂^-) in THF at -80 °C to result in the corresponding nitrate (NO₃^-) complex, 2, via the formation of a presumed Mn^III-peroxynitrite intermediate. ESI-mass spectrometry and UV-visible and X-band EPR spectroscopic studies suggest the generation of Mn^IV-oxo species in the reaction through homolytic cleavage of the O-O bond of the peroxynitrite ligand as proposed in NOD activity. The intermediate formation of the Mn^III-peroxynitrite was further supported by the well accepted phenol ring nitration which resembles the biologically well-established tyrosine nitration.

Proton Transfer versus Hydrogen Bonding in a Reduced Iron Porphyrin Nitrosyl Complex

The ¹H NMR spectra of Fe(OEP)(HNO), which was formed from Fe(OEP)(NO)^- in the presence of 3,5-dichlorophenol, were studied as a function of temperature. The chemical shift of the HNO proton showed a unique behavior which could be explained based on the equilibrium between the protonated complex, Fe(OEP)(HNO), and the hydrogen-bonded complex, Fe(OEP)(NO)^-···HOPh. This equilibrium was consistent with UV/visible spectroscopy and the voltammetric data. UV/visible stopped-flow experiments showed that the hydrogen-bonded complex, which was formed when weak acids such as phenol were added, and the Fe(OEP)(HNO) complex were quite similar. In addition to the HNO proton resonance, the meso-resonances were consistent with the proposed equilibrium. Density functional theory calculations of various Fe(OEP)(NO)^-/Fe(OEP)(HNO) species were calculated, and the results were consistent with experimental data.

Investigation of solvation and solvent coordination effects in iron porphyrin nitrosyls by infrared spectroelectrochemistry and DFT calculations

Visible and infrared spectroelectrochemistry of Fe(OEPone)(NO) (H2OEPone = octaethylporphinone) were examined in methylene chloride and THF. The visible spectra of Fe(OEPone)(NO) were similar in both solvents. Unlike other ferrous porphyrin nitrosyls, a six-coordinate complex was formed with THF as a ligand. This led to two nitrosyl bands in the infrared spectrum. The absorbance of these bands depended on the concentration of THF in the solution. Solvation and coordination effects on the carbonyl and nitrosyl bands were observed for both the nitrosyl and reduced-nitrosyl complexes. DFT calculations were carried out to interpret the spectral changes.

Marquette University, Raynor Memorial Libraries, Chemistry Research Data: https://epublications.marquette.edu/chem_data/1/

Controlling a burn: outer-sphere gating of hydroxylamine oxidation by a distal base in cytochrome P460

One amino acid makes the difference between a metalloenzyme and a metalloprotein in two otherwise effectively identical cytochrome P460s.

Ammonia oxidizing bacteria (AOB) use the cytotoxic, energetic molecule hydroxylamine (NH₂OH) as a source of reducing equivalents for cellular respiration. Despite disproportionation or violent decomposition being typical outcomes of reactions of NH₂OH with iron, AOB and anammox heme P460 proteins including cytochrome (cyt) P460 and hydroxylamine oxidoreductase (HAO) effect controlled, stepwise oxidation of NH₂OH to nitric oxide (NO). Curiously, a recently characterized cyt P460 variant from the AOB Nitrosomonas sp. AL212 is able to form all intermediates of cyt P460 catalysis, but is nevertheless incompetent for NH₂OH oxidation. We now show via site-directed mutagenesis, activity assays, spectroscopy, and structural biology that this lack of activity is attributable to the absence of a critical basic glutamate residue in the distal pocket above the heme P460 cofactor. This substitution is the only distinguishing characteristic of a protein that is otherwise effectively structurally and spectroscopically identical to an active variant. This highlights and reinforces a fundamental principal of metalloenzymology: metallocofactor inner-sphere geometric and electronic structures are in many cases insufficient for imbuing reactivity; a precisely defined outer coordination sphere contributed by the polypeptide matrix can be the key differentiator between a metalloenzyme and an unreactive metalloprotein.

Radical Reactivity of the Fe(III)/(II) Tetramesitylporphyrin Couple: Hydrogen Atom Transfer, Oxyl Radical Dissociation, and Catalytic Disproportionation of a Hydroxylamine

The chemistry of low-valent iron porphyrin complexes with oxyl radical reagents has been explored. (Meso-tetramesityl porphyrinato) iron(III) hydroxide, (TMP)FeIII(OH) reacts with the hydroxylamine TEMPO-H (1-hydroxy-2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperdine) to yield the ferrous porphyrin, (TMP)FeII, together with H2O and TEMPO. This reaction has a second order rate constant k1 = 76 ± 5 M-1 1 s-1 and likely occurs by concerted e-/H+ transfer. Hydrazines PhNHNHPh and PhNHNH2 similarly yield (TMP)FeII. A subsequent reaction between TEMPO (2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperdinyl radical) and (TMP)FeII is observed to reversibly form the TEMPO-ligated ferric porphyrin, (TMP)FeIII(TEMPO). A combination of 1H NMR and optical spectroscopies were used to determine the thermodynamic parameters for TEMPO binding: K4 (25°C) = 535 ± 20 M-1, ΔH°4 = -7.0 ± 1.5 kcal mol-1, ΔS°4= -11 ± 5 cal mol-1 K-1, ΔG‡4(235K) = 21.3 ± 0.5 kcal mol-1, ΔG‡-4(235K) = 16.9 ± 0.5 kcal mol-1. The Fe-O bond is remarkably weak. The stable phenoxyl radical 2,4,6- t Bu3C6H2O• (ArO•) forms a stronger bond to (TMP)FeII to irreversibly make a similar FeIII(OR) complex. Both (TMP)FeII and (TMP)FeIII(OH) are catalysts for the disproportionation of excess TEMPO-H to TEMPO and TEMP-H (2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperdine). The lack of reactivity between (TMP)FeII and the alkylated TEMPO-H analogue, TEMPO-CH3, suggests that the disproportionation involves a hydrogen atom transfer step. These results highlight the importance and versatility of the heme FeIII/II couple that is often overshadowed by its higher-valent counterparts.

Disproportionation of O-methylhydroxylamine catalyzed by aquapentacyanoferrate(II)

The aquapentacyanoferrate(II) ion, [Fe(II)(CN)(5)H(2)O](3-), catalyzes the disproportionation reaction of O-methylhydroxylamine, NH(2)OCH(3), with stoichiometry 3NH(2)OCH(3) → NH(3) + N(2) + 3CH(3)OH. Kinetic and spectroscopic evidence support an initial N coordination of NH(2)OCH(3) to [Fe(II)(CN)(5)H(2)O](3-) followed by a homolytic scission leading to radicals [Fe(II)(CN)(5)(•)NH(2)](3-) (a precursor of Fe(III) centers and bound NH(3)) and free methoxyl, CH(3)O(•), thus establishing a radical path leading to N-methoxyamino ((•)NHOCH(3)) and 1,2-dimethoxyhydrazine, (NHOCH(3))(2). The latter species is moderately stable and proposed to be the precursor of N(2) and most of the generated CH(3)OH. Intermediate [Fe(III)(CN)(5)L](2-) complexes (L = NH(3), H(2)O) form dinuclear cyano-bridged mixed-valent species, affording a catalytic substitution of the L ligands promoted by [Fe(II)(CN)(5)L](3-). Free or bound NH(2)OCH(3) may act as reductants of [Fe(III)(CN)(5)L](2-), thus regenerating active sites. At increasing concentrations of NH(2)OCH(3) a coordinated diazene species emerges, [Fe(II)(CN)(5)N(2)H(2)](3-), which is consumed by the oxidizing CH(3)O(•), giving N(2) and CH(3)OH. Another side reaction forms [Fe(II)(CN)(5)N(O)CH(3)](3-), an intermediate containing the nitrosomethane ligand, which is further oxidized to the nitroprusside ion, [Fe(II)(CN)(5)NO](2-). The latter is a final oxidation product with a significant conversion of the initial [Fe(II)(CN)(5)H(2)O](3-) complex. The side reaction partially blocks the Fe(II)-aqua active site, though complete inhibition is not achieved because the radical path evolves faster than the formation rates of the Fe(II)-NO(+) bonds.

Transition metal coordination chemistry ofN,N-bis(2-{pyrid-2-ylethyl})hydroxylamine

Although directly relevant to metal mediated biological nitrification as well as the coordination chemistry of peroxide, the metal complexes of hydroxylamines and their functionalized variants remain largely unexplored. The chelating hydroxylamine ligand N,N-bis(2-{pyrid-2-ylethyl})hydroxylamine can be readily generated via a solvent free reaction in high purity; however, the ligand is prone to decomposition which can hamper metal reaction. N,N-bis(2-{pyrid-2-ylethyl})hydroxylamine forms stable complexes with chromium(III), manganese(II), nickel(II), and cadmium(II) ions, coordinating in a side-on mode in the case of chromium and via the nitrogen in the case of the latter three metal ions. The hydroxylamine ligand can also be reduced to form N,N-bis(2-{pyrid-2-ylethyl})amine upon exposure to a stoichiometric amount of the metal salts cobalt(II) nitrate, vanadium(III) chloride, and iron(II) chloride. In the reaction with cobalt nitrate, the reduced ligand then chelates to the metal to form [N,N-bis(2-{pyrid-2-ylethyl})amine]dinitrocobalt(II). Upon reaction with vanadium(III) chloride and iron(III) chloride, the reduced ligand is isolated as the protonated free base, resulting from a metal-mediated decomposition reaction.

Kinetic and product distribution analysis of NO* reductase activity in Nitrosomonas europaea hydroxylamine oxidoreductase

Hydroxylamine oxidoreductase (HAO) from the ammonia-oxidizing bacterium Nitrosomonas europaea normally catalyzes the four-electron oxidation of hydroxylamine to nitrite, which is the second step in ammonia-dependent respiration. Here we show that, in the presence of methyl viologen monocation radical (MV(red)), HAO can catalyze the reduction of nitric oxide to ammonia. The process is analogous to that catalyzed by cytochrome c nitrite reductase, an enzyme found in some bacteria that use nitrite as a terminal electron acceptor during anaerobic respiration. The availability of a reduction pathway to ammonia is an important factor to consider when designing in vitro studies of HAO, and may also have some physiological relevance. The reduction of nitric oxide to ammonia proceeds in two kinetically distinct steps: nitric oxide is first reduced to hydroxylamine, and then hydroxylamine is reduced to ammonia at a tenfold slower rate. The second step was investigated independently in solutions initially containing hydroxylamine, MV(red), and HAO. Both steps show first-order dependence on nitric oxide and HAO concentrations, and zero-order dependence on MV(red) concentration. The rate constants governing each reduction step were found to have values of (4.7 +/- 0.3) x 10(5) and (2.06 +/- 0.04) x 10(4) M(-1) s(-1), respectively. A second reduction pathway, with second-order dependence on nitric oxide, may become available as the concentration of nitric oxide is increased. Such a pathway might lead to production of nitrous oxide. We estimate a maximum value of (1.5 +/- 0.05) x 10(10) M(-2) s(-1) for the rate constant of the alternative pathway, which is small and suggests that the pathway is not physiologically important.

Interaction between dioxoruthenium(VI) porphyrins and hydroxylamines: coordination of N-substituted hydroxylamine to ruthenium and X-ray crystal structures of ruthenium complexes with a unidentate nitrosoarene ligand

The interactions between dioxoruthenium(VI) porphyrins 1 with N-phenylhydroxylamine or unsubstituted hydroxylamine are described. Reaction of complexes 1 with excess PhNHOH leads to isolation of bis(nitrosobenzene)ruthenium(II) porphyrins 3 and mono(nitrosobenzene)ruthenium(II) porphyrins 4. Both the types of ruthenium complexes are characterized by 1H NMR, IR, and UV/Vis spectroscopy, and mass spectrometry. The X-ray structure determinations on [Ru(II)(TPP)(PhNO)2] (3a), [Ru(II)(2,6-Cl-TPP)(PhNO)2] (3e), and [Ru(II)(4-MeO-TPP)(PhNO)(PhNH2)] (4d) (TPP tetraarylporphyrin) disclose a unidentate nitrosoarene coordination in all these complexes, with Ru-N(PhNO) bond lengths of 2.003(3) (3a, average), 1.991(3) (3e, average), and 2.042(2) A (4d). In the case of 4d, the Ru-N(PhNH2) bond length is found to be 2.075(3) A. Mechanistic investigations reveal the formation of intermediates [Ru(II)(Por)(PhNO)(PhNHOH)] (5; Por=porphyrin), a ruthenium complex with N-substituted hydroxylamine ligand, in the "1 + PhNHOH" system. The Ru-NH(OH)Ph moiety in 5 undergoes no rapid exchange with free PhNHOH in solution at room temperature, as revealed by 1H NMR spectroscopy. Unlike the interaction between complexes 1 and PhNHOH, reaction of such complexes with NH2OH affords nitrosylruthenium(II) porphyrins [Ru(II)(Por)(NO)(OH)] (6).