Effects of Temperature and Pressure on the Mössbauer Spectra of Models for the [4Fe-4S]2+ Clusters of Iron−Sulfur Proteins and the Structure of [PPh4]2[Fe4S4(SCH2CO2C2H5)4]

Selective Synthesis of Site-Differentiated Fe4S4 and Fe6S6 Clusters

Obtaining rational control over the structure and nuclearity of metalloclusters is an ongoing challenge in synthetic Fe-S cluster chemistry. We report a new family of tridentate imidazolin-2-imine ligands L(NIm^R)₃ that can bind [Fe₄S₄]²⁺ or [Fe₆S₆]³⁺ clusters, depending on the steric profile of the ligand and the reaction stoichiometry. A high-yielding synthetic route to L(NIm^R)₃ ligands (where R is the imidazolyl N substituents) from trianiline and 2-chloroimidazolium precursors is described. For L(NIm^Me)₃ (tris(1,3,5-(3-( N, N-dimethyl-4,5-diphenylimidazolin-2-imino)phenylmethyl))benzene), metalation with 1 equiv of [Ph₄P]₂[Fe₄S₄Cl₄] and 3 equiv of NaBPh₄ furnishes a mixture of products, but adjusting the stoichiometry to 1.5 equiv of [Ph₄P]₂[Fe₄S₄Cl₄] provides (L(NIm^Me)₃)Fe₆S₆Cl₆ in high yield. Formation of an [Fe₆S₆]³⁺ cluster using L(NIm^Tol)₃ (tris(1,3,5-(3-( N, N-bis(4-methylphenyl)-4,5-diphenylimidazolin-2-imino)phenylmethyl))benzene) is not observed; instead, the [Fe₄S₄]²⁺ cluster [(L(NIm^Tol)₃)(Fe₄S₄Cl)][BPh₄] is cleanly generated when 1 equiv of [Ph₄P]₂[Fe₄S₄Cl₄] is employed. The selectivity for cluster nuclearity is rationalized by the orientation of the imidazolyl rings whereby long N-imidazolyl substituents preclude formation of [Fe₆S₆]³⁺ clusters but not [Fe₄S₄]²⁺ clusters. Thus, the structure and nuclearity of L(NIm^R)₃-bound Fe-S clusters may be selectively controlled through rational modification the ligand's substituents.

Pressure Effect on Zero-Field Splitting Parameter of Hemin: Model Case of Hemoproteins under Pressure

We experimentally studied the pressure dependence of the zero-field splitting (ZFS) parameter of hemin (iron(III) protoporphyrin IX chloride), which is a model complex of hemoproteins, via high-frequency and high-field electron paramagnetic resonance (HFEPR) under pressure. Owing to the large ZFS, the pressure effect on the electronic structure of iron-porphyrin complexes has not yet been explored using EPR. Therefore, we systematically studied this effect using our newly developed sub-terahertz EPR spectroscopy system in the frequency range of 80-515 GHz, under magnetic fields up to 10 T and pressure up to 2 GPa. We observed a systematic shift of the resonance fields of hemin upon pressure application, from which the axial component of the ZFS parameter was found to increase from D = 6.9 to 7.9 cm^-1 at 2 GPa. In contrast to the previous methods used to study proteins under pressure, which mainly focused on conformational changes, our HFEPR technique can obtain more microscopic insights into the electronic structures of metal ions under pressure. In this sense, our technique provides novel opportunities to study the pressure effects on biofunctional active centers of versatile metalloproteins.

Use of Broken-Symmetry Density Functional Theory To Characterize the IspH Oxidized State: Implications for IspH Mechanism and Inhibition

With current therapies becoming less efficacious due to increased drug resistance, new inhibitors of both bacterial and malarial targets are desperately needed. The recently discovered methylerythritol phosphate (MEP) pathway for isoprenoid synthesis provides novel targets for the development of such drugs. Particular attention has focused on the IspH protein, the final enzyme in the MEP pathway, which uses its [4Fe-4S] cluster to catalyze the formation of the isoprenoid precursors IPP and DMAPP from HMBPP. IspH catalysis is achieved via a 2e-/2H+ reductive dehydroxylation of HMBPP; the mechanism by which catalysis is achieved, however, is highly controversial. The work presented herein provides the first step in assessing different routes to catalysis by using computational methods. By performing broken-symmetry density functional theory (BS-DFT) calculations that employ both the conductor-like screening solvation model (DFT/COSMO) and a finite-difference Poisson-Boltzmann self-consistent reaction field methodology (DFT/SCRF), we evaluate geometries, energies, and Mössbauer signatures of the different protonation states that may exist in the oxidized state of the IspH catalytic cycle. From DFT/SCRF computations performed on the oxidized state, we find a state where the substrate, HMBPP, coordinates the apical iron in the [4Fe-4S] cluster as an alcohol group (ROH) to be one of two, isoenergetic, lowest-energy states. In this state, the HMBPP pyrophosphate moiety and an adjacent glutamate residue (E126) are both fully deprotonated, making the active site highly anionic. Our findings that this low-energy state also matches the experimental geometry of the active site and that its computed isomer shifts agree with experiment validate the use of the DFT/SCRF method to assess relative energies along the IspH reaction pathway. Additional studies of IspH catalytic intermediates are currently being pursued.

Calibration of DFT Functionals for the Prediction of Fe Mössbauer Spectral Parameters in Iron-Nitrosyl and Iron-Sulfur Complexes: Accurate Geometries Prove Essential

Six popular density functionals in conjunction with the conductor-like screening (COSMO) solvation model have been used to obtain linear Mössbauer isomer shift (IS) and quadrupole splitting (QS) parameters for a test set of 20 complexes (with 24 sites) comprised of nonheme nitrosyls (Fe-NO) and non-nitrosyl (Fe-S) complexes. For the first time in an IS analysis, the Fe electron density was calculated both directly at the nucleus, ρ(0)(N), which is the typical procedure, and on a small sphere surrounding the nucleus, ρ(0)(S), which is the new standard algorithm implemented in the ADF software package. We find that both methods yield (near) identical slopes from each linear regression analysis but are shifted with respect to ρ(0) along the x-axis. Therefore, the calculation of the Fe electron density with either method gives calibration fits with equal predictive value. Calibration parameters obtained from the complete test set for OLYP, OPBE, PW91, and BP86 yield correlation coefficients (r(2)) of approximately 0.90, indicating that the calibration fit is of good quality. However, fits obtained from B3LYP and B3LYP* with both Slater-type and Gaussian-type orbitals are generally found to be of poorer quality. For several of the complexes examined in this study, we find that B3LYP and B3LYP* give geometries that possess significantly larger deviations from the experimental structures than OLYP, OPBE, PW91 or BP86. This phenomenon is particularly true for the di- and tetranuclear Fe complexes examined in this study. Previous Mössbauer calibration fit studies using these functionals have usually included mononuclear Fe complexes alone, where these discrepancies are less pronounced. An examination of spin expectation values reveals B3LYP and B3LYP* approach the weak-coupling limit more closely than the GGA exchange-correlation functionals. The high degree of variability in our calculated S(2) values for the Fe-NO complexes highlights their challenging electronic structure. Significant improvements to the isomer shift calibrations are obtained for B3LYP and B3LYP* when geometries obtained with the OLYP functional are used. In addition, greatly improved performance of these functionals is found if the complete test set is grouped separately into Fe-NO and Fe-S complexes. Calibration fits including only Fe-NO complexes are found to be excellent, while those containing the non-nitrosyl Fe-S complexes alone are found to demonstrate less accurate correlations. Similar trends are also found with OLYP, OPBE, PW91, and BP86. Correlations between experimental and calculated QSs were also investigated. Generally, universal and separate Fe-NO and Fe-S fit parameters obtained to determine QSs are found to be of good to excellent quality for every density functional examined, especially if [Fe(4)(NO)(4)(μ(3)-S)(4)](-) is removed from the test set.

Density functional theory calculations on Mössbauer parameters of nonheme iron nitrosyls

Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations on transition metal nitrosyls often reveal unusual spin density profiles, involving substantial spatial separation of majority and minority spin densities. Against this context, there is a significant lack of studies where DFT calculations have been quantitatively calibrated against experimental spectroscopic properties. Reported herein are DFT calculations of Mössbauer isomer shifts and quadrupole splittings for 21 nonheme iron complexes (26 distinct iron sites) including 9 iron nitrosyls. Low- (S = 1/2) and high-spin (S = 3/2) {FeNO}(7) complexes, S = 1/2 {Fe(NO)(2)}(9) species, and polynuclear iron nitrosyls are all represented within the set of compounds examined. The general conclusion with respect to isomer shifts is that DFT (OLYP/STO-TZP) performs comparably well for iron nitrosyls and for iron complexes in general. However, quadrupole splittings are less accurately reproduced for nitrosyl complexes.

Initial synthesis and structure of an all-ferrous analogue of the fully reduced [Fe4S4]0 cluster of the nitrogenase iron protein

The synthetic cubane-type iron-sulfur clusters [Fe(4)S(4)(SR)(4)](z) form a four-member electron transfer series (z = 3-, 2-, 1-, and 0), all members of which except that with z = 0 have been isolated and characterized. They serve as accurate analogues of protein-bound [Fe(4)S(4)(SCys)(4)](z) redox centers, which, in terms of core oxidation states, exhibit the redox couples [Fe(4)S(4)](3+/2+) and [Fe(4)S(4)](2+/1+). Clusters with the all-ferrous core [Fe(4)S(4)](0) have never been isolated because of their oxidative sensitivity. Recent work on the Fe protein of Azotobacter vinelandii nitrogenase has demonstrated the formation of the all-ferrous state upon reaction with a strong reductant. Treatment of the cyanide cluster [Fe(4)S(4)(CN)(4)](3-) with K[Ph(2)CO] in acetonitrile/tetrahydrofuran affords the all-ferrous cluster [Fe(4)S(4)(CN)(4)](4-), isolated as the Bu(4)N(+) salt. The x-ray structure demonstrates retention of a cubane-type structure with idealized D(2)(d) symmetry. The Mössbauer spectrum unambiguously demonstrates the [Fe(4)S(4)](0) oxidation state. Bond distances, core volumes, (57)Fe isomer shifts, and visible absorption spectra make evident the high degree of structural and electronic similarity with the fully reduced Fe protein. The attribute of cyanide ligation causes positive [Fe(4)S(4)](2+/1+) and [Fe(4)S(4)](1+/0) redox potential shifts, facilitating the initial isolation of an analogue of the [Fe(4)S(4)](0) protein site.

Investigation of the Reduced High-Potential Iron−Sulfur Protein from Chromatium vinosum and Relevant Model Compounds: A Unified Picture of the Electronic Structure of [Fe4S4]2+ Systems through Magnetic and Optical Studies

Magnetization measurements and variable temperature optical spectroscopy have been used to investigate, within the 4-300 K temperature range, the electronic structure of the reduced high-potential iron protein (HiPIP) from Chromatium vinosum and the model compounds (Cat)(2)[Fe(4)S(4)(SR)(4)], where RS(-) = 2,4,6-triisopropylphenylthiolate (1), 2,6-diphenylphenylthiolate (2), diphenylmethylthiolate (3), 2,4,6-triisopropylbenzylthiolate (4, 4'), 2,4,6-triphenylbenzylthiolate (5, 5'), 2,4,6-tri-tert-butylbenzylthiolate (6), and Cat(+) = (+)NEt(4) (1, 2, 3, 4', 5', 6), (+)PPh(4) (4, 5). The newly synthesized 2(2)(-), 3(2)(-), 5(2)(-), and 6(2)(-) complexes are, as 1(2)(-) and 4(2)(-), excellent models of the reduced HiPIPs: they exhibit the [Fe(4)S(4)](3+/2+) redox couple, because of the presence of bulky ligands which stabilize the [Fe(4)S(4)](3+) oxidized core. Moreover, the presence of SCH(2) groups in 4(2)(-), 5(2)(-), and 6(2)(-), as in the [Fe(4)S(4)] protein cores, makes them good biomimetic models of the HiPIPs. The X-ray structure of 2 is reported: it crystallizes in the orthorhombic space group Pcca with no imposed symmetry and a D(2)(d)()-distorted geometry of the [Fe(4)S(4)](2+) core. Fit of the magnetization data of the reduced HiPIP and of the 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 compounds within the exchange and double exchange theoretical framework leads to exchange coupling parameters J = 261-397 cm(-)(1). A firm determination of the double exchange parameters B or, equivalently, the transfer integrals beta = 5B could not be achieved that way. The obtained |B| values remain however high, attesting thus to the strength of the spin-dependent electronic delocalization which is responsible for lowest lying electronic states being characterized by delocalized mixed-valence pairs of maximum spin (9)/(2). Electronic properties of these systems are then accounted for by the population of a diamagnetic ground level and excited paramagnetic triplet and quintet levels, which are respectively J and 3J above the ground level. Optical studies of 1, 2, 4', 5', and 6 but also of (NEt(4))(2)[Fe(4)S(4)(SCH(2)C(6)H(5))(4)] and the isomorph (NEt(4))(2)[Fe(4)S(4)(S-t-Bu)(4)] and (NEt(4))(2)[Fe(4)Se(4)(S-t-Bu)(4)] compounds reveal two absorption bands in the near infrared region, at 705-760 nm and 1270-1430 nm, which appear to be characteristic of valence-delocalized and ferromagnetically coupled [Fe(2)X(2)](+) (X = S, Se) units. The |B| and |beta| values can be directly determined from the location at 10|B| of the low-energy band, and are respectively of 699-787 and 3497-3937 cm(-)(1). Both absorption bands are also present in the 77 K spectrum of the reduced HiPIP, at 700 and 1040 nm (Cerdonio, M.; Wang, R.-H.; Rawlings, J.; Gray, H. B. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1974, 96, 6534-6535). The blue shift of the low-energy band is attributed to the inequivalent environments of the Fe sites in the protein, rather than to an increase of |beta| when going from the models to the HiPIP. The small differences observed in known geometries of [Fe(4)S(4)](2+) clusters, especially in the Fe-Fe distances, cannot probably lead to drastic changes in the direct Fe-Fe interactions (parameter beta) responsible for the delocalization phenomenon. These differences are however magnetostructurally significant as shown by the 261-397 cm(-)(1) range spanned by J. The cluster's geometry, hence the efficiency of the Femicro(3)-S-Fe superexchange pathways, is proposed to be controlled by the more or less tight fit of the cluster within the cavity provided by its environment.

High-nuclearity sulfide-rich molybdenum[bond]iron[bond]sulfur clusters: reevaluation and extension

High-nuclearity Mo[bond]Fe[bond]S clusters are of interest as potential synthetic precursors to the MoFe(7)S(9) cofactor cluster of nitrogenase. In this context, the synthesis and properties of previously reported but sparsely described trinuclear [(edt)(2)M(2)FeS(6)](3-) (M = Mo (2), W (3)) and hexanuclear [(edt)(2)Mo(2)Fe(4)S(9)](4-) (4, edt = ethane-1,2-dithiolate; Zhang, Z.; et al. Kexue Tongbao 1987, 32, 1405) have been reexamined and extended. More accurate structures of 2-4 that confirm earlier findings have been determined. Detailed preparations (not previously available) are given for 2 and 3, whose structures exhibit the C(2) arrangement [[(edt)M(S)(mu(2)-S)(2)](2)Fe(III)](3-) with square pyramidal Mo(V) and tetrahedral Fe(III). Oxidation states follow from (57)Fe Mössbauer parameters and an S = (3)/(2) ground state from the EPR spectrum. The assembly system 2/3FeCl(3)/3Li(2)S/nNaSEt in methanol/acetonitrile (n = 4) affords (R(4)N)(4)[4] (R = Et, Bu; 70-80%). The structure of 4 contains the [Mo(2)Fe(4)(mu(2)-S)(6)(mu(3)-S)(2)(mu(4)-S)](0) core, with the same bridging pattern as the [Fe(6)S(9)](2-) core of [Fe(6)S(9)(SR)(2)](4-) (1), in overall C(2v) symmetry. Cluster 4 supports a reversible three-member electron transfer series 4-/3-/2- with E(1/2) = -0.76 and -0.30 V in Me(2)SO. Oxidation of (Et(4)N)(4)[4] in DMF with 1 equiv of tropylium ion gives [(edt)(2)Mo(2)Fe(4)S(9)](3-) (5) isolated as (Et(4)N)(3)[5].2DMF (75%). Alternatively, the assembly system (n = 3) gives the oxidized cluster directly as (Bu(4)N)(3)[5] (53%). Treatment of 5 with 1 equiv of [Cp(2)Fe](1+) in DMF did not result in one-electron oxidation but instead produced heptanuclear [(edt)(2)Mo(2)Fe(5)S(11)](3-) (6), isolated as the Bu(4)N(+)salt (38%). Cluster 6 features the previously unknown core Mo(2)Fe(5)(mu(2)-S)(7)(mu(3)-S)(4) in molecular C(2) symmetry. In 4-6, the (edt)MoS(3) sites are distorted trigonal bipramidal and the FeS(4) sites are distorted tetrahedral with all sulfide ligands bridging. Mössbauer spectroscopic data for 2 and 4-6 are reported; (mean) iron oxidation states increase in the order 4 < 5 approximately 1 < 6 approximately 2. Redox and spectroscopic data attributed earlier to clusters 2 and 4 are largely in disagreement with those determined in this work. The only iron and molybdenum[bond]iron clusters with the same sulfide content as the iron[bond]molybdenum cofactor of nitrogenase are [Fe(6)S(9)(SR)(2)](4-) and [(edt)(2)Mo(2)Fe(4)S(9)](3-)(,4-).

Single- and double-cubane clusters in the multiple oxidation states [VFe(3)S(4)](3+,2+,1+)

A new series of cubane-type [VFe(3)S(4)](z)() clusters (z = 1+, 2+, 3+) has been prepared as possible precursor species for clusters related to those present in vanadium-containing nitrogenase. Treatment of [(HBpz(3))VFe(3)S(4)Cl(3)](2)(-) (2, z = 2+), protected from further reaction at the vanadium site by the tris(pyrazolyl)hydroborate ligand, with ferrocenium ion affords the oxidized cluster [(HBpz(3))VFe(3)S(4)Cl(3)](1)(-) (3, z = 3+). Reaction of 2 with Et(3)P results in chloride substitution to give [(HBpz(3))VFe(3)S(4)(PEt(3))(3)](1+) (4, z = 2+). Reaction of 4 with cobaltocene reduced the cluster with formation of the edge-bridged double-cubane [(HBpz(3))(2)V(2)Fe(6)S(8)(PEt(3))(4)] (5, z = 1+, 1+), which with excess chloride underwent ligand substitution to afford [(HBpz(3))(2)V(2)Fe(6)S(8)Cl(4)](4)(-) (6, z = 1+, 1+). X-ray structures of (Me(4)N)[3], [4](PF(6)), 5, and (Et(4)N)(4)[6] x 2MeCN are described. Cluster 5 is isostructural with previously reported [(Cl(4)cat)(2)(Et(3)P)(2)Mo(2)Fe(6)S(8)(PEt(3))(4)] and contains two VFe(3)S(4) cubanes connected across edges by a Fe(2)S(2) rhomb in which the bridging Fe-S distances are shorter than intracubane Fe-S distances. Mössbauer (2-5), magnetic (2-5), and EPR (2, 4) data are reported and demonstrate an S = 3/2 ground state for 2 and 4 and a diamagnetic ground state for 3. Analysis of (57)Fe isomer shifts based on an empirical correlation between shift and oxidation state and appropriate reference shifts results in two conclusions. (i) The oxidation 2 --> 3 + e(-) results in a change in electron density localized largely or completely on the Fe(3) subcluster and associated sulfur atoms. (ii) The most appropriate charge distributions are [V(3+)Fe(3+)Fe(2+)(2)S(4)](2+) (Fe(2.33+)) for 1, 2, and 4 and [V(3+)Fe(3+)(2)Fe(2+)S(4)](3+) (Fe(2.67+)) for 3 and [V(2)Fe(6)S(8)(SEt)(9)](3+). Conclusion i applies to every MFe(3)S(4) cubane-type cluster thus far examined in different redox states at parity of cluster ligation. The formalistic charge distributions are regarded as the best current approximations to electron distributions in these delocalized species. The isomer shifts require that iron atoms are mixed-valence in each cluster.