Reaction of 2,2-bis(p-chlorophenyl)-1,1,1-trichloroethane (DDT) with iron(II) porphyrins. Isolation of the vinylidene carbene complex, tetraphenylporphyriniron(II) (C:C(p-Cl-C6H4)2)

Reductive dehalogenation of DDT with folate models: Formation of the DDT metabolite spectrum under biomimetic conditions

The insecticide DDT is an omnipresent environmental contaminant and an ongoing toxicological concern. The recent discovery that methylenetetrahydrofolate (MTHF) models are capable of reducing a range of halocarbons to hydrocarbons under biomimetic conditions has prompted us to investigate the possible role of MTHF in the metabolism of DDT. We now report that the reaction of MTHF models with DDT produces no less than five known in vivo metabolites of DDT, namely DDD, DDE, DDMU, DBP, and DDM. The capability of the MTHF models to produce the full spectrum of known DDT dehalogenation products is strong evidence that the mechanistically obscure metabolism of DDT may involve MTHF. The findings also suggest that DDT should be capable of disrupting folate-dependent pathways.

μ-Carbido Diporphyrinates and Diphthalocyaninates of Iron and Ruthenium

μ-Carbido diporphyrinates and diphthalocyaninates of general formula [{ Mp 2−}2(μ- C )] ( p 2− = tpp ( M = Fe ), oep ( Fe ), pc ( Fe , Ru ); H 2 tpp : 21H,23H-5,10,15,20-tetraphenylporphine; H 2 oep : 21H,23H-2,3,4,8,12,13,17,18-octaethylporphine; H 2 pc : 29H,31H-phthalocyanine) of formally Fe IV and Ru IV are prepared by a new and improved ‘one-pot’ synthesis. The corresponding chloro complexes of the tervalent metal ions react successively with potassium hydroxide in boiling 2-propanol and then with trichloromethane. Potassium hydroxide is proven to be a very versatile and powerful reductant in tetrapyrrolic chemistry. As evidenced from electron spin resonance and UV vis spectral measurements, the precursor is reduced primarily to an ate-complex of type [ M I p 2−]− of a formally monovalent metal ion. This active species is assumed to react with trichloromethane via a dichlorocarbene complex of type [ M II( CCl 2) p 2−] to yield the actual -carbido complex. [{ Feoep 2−}2(μ- C )] is crystallographically characterized. It is monoclinic, space group C12/c1 (15), with a = 18.279(3) Å, b = 15.005(2) Å, c = 23.392(7) Å, β = 107.12(2)°, Z = 4, R1 = 0.0773. The iron atom is displaced by 0.192(3) Å out of the centre ( Ct ) of the ( N p )4 plane toward the (μ- C ) atom. Average d ( Fe - N p ) is 1.986(5) Å; d ( Fe -(μ- C )) is 1.6638(9) Å. The Fe - C - Fe skeleton is linear (179.5(3)°). The two slightly waving porphyrinato cores are in a staggered conformation, the ( N p - Fe - Fe ″- N p ″) torsion angle being 21.0(3)°. Solutions of each μ-carbido complex in pyridine/dichloromethane show four distinct quasi-reversible redox processes in their differential-pulse voltammograms and these are assigned to the successive one-electron reduction and oxidation of the macrocyclic ligands. 13 C CP MAS NMR spectra indicate effective four-fold symmetry within the series of the μ-carbido complexes with isotropic shifts occurring at similar fields to those of the corresponding macrocyclic complex of a closed-shell metal ion. Resonances of the bridging carbon atom are not detected. A characteristic increase of line broadening within the series tpp 2− > oep 2− > pc 2− may be due to Fermi contact interactions with the strongly coupled low-spin M IV centres. The magnetic susceptibility studies show that the complexes all display non-zero μ values at 295 K increasing from pc 2− to tpp 2−. Mössbauer spectra confirm the low-spin Fe IV oxidation state for the iron centres. Isomer shift, δ, and quadrupole splitting, ΔE Q , for [{ Fepc 2−}2(μ- C )] and [{ Fetpp 2−}2(μ- C )] are identical to those previously reported. Data for [{ Feoep 2−}2(μ- C )] are essentially the same as for the pc and tpp complex. Thus the order of δ is tpp ≈ oep > pc whilst that of Δ E Q is pc >> oep > tpp . Small impurity lines are observed which help explain the magnetic data. UV vis/NIR spectra of the μ-carbido complexes show the characteristic π-π* transitions. These are shifted with respect to the corresponding mononuclear complexes to higher energy because of excitonic interactions. Vibrational spectra are discussed in detail ν as ( M - C - M ) (in cm−1) is at 937 ( M = Fe ; tpp ) < 976 ( Fe / oep ) < 997 ( Fe / pc ) < 1050 ( Ru / pc ), ν s ( M - C - M ) (in cm−1 at 433 ( Fe / tpp ) < 460 ( Fe / oep ) < 477 ( Fe / pc ). Hence, valence force constants increase significantly in the order tpp < oep < pc . ν s ( Fe - C - Fe ) of [{ Fepc 2−}2(μ- C )] is selectively resonance Raman enhanced. As evidenced from the excitation profile a C → Fe charge transfer, not detected in the vis spectrum, is assumed to be present at 22 000 > ν > 25 000 cm −1.

Further Studies on the Oxidation State of Iron in μ-Oxo Dimeric Phthalocyanine Complexes

The reaction with sodium cyanide of the μ-oxo-bridged complex of tetra-4-tert-butyl-substituted iron phthalocyanine (form ‘690’) and that of the product of its treatment with organic bases such as Py, Im, etc. (form ‘627’) result in the formation of the same ferrous bis-cyanide complex Na 2[ Pc t Fe II ( CN )2] which can be readily oxidized to the analogous ferric complex Na [ Pc t Fe III ( CN )2]. Form ‘690’ has been oxidized to the corresponding ferric μ-oxo complex (form ‘630’). Data for all μ-oxo-bridged complexes (chemical behavior; electronic, NMR, Mössbauer, X-ray photoelectron and ESR spectra; magnetic susceptibility) are discussed, and based on them, the following structures are proposed: ( HPc t Fe II )2 O (form ‘690’), H 2[( LPc t Fe II )2 O ] (form ‘627’) and ( Pc t Fe III )2 O (form ‘630’).

μ-Carbido Diporphyrinates and Diphthalocyaninates of Iron and Ruthenium

μ-Carbido diporphyrinates and diphthalocyaninates of general formula [{ Mp 2−}2(μ- C )] ( p 2− = tpp ( M = Fe ), oep ( Fe ), pc ( Fe , Ru ); H 2 tpp : 21H,23H-5,10,15,20-tetraphenylporphine; H 2 oep : 21H,23H-2,3,4,8,12,13,17,18-octaethylporphine; H 2 pc : 29H,31H-phthalocyanine) of formally Fe IV and Ru IV are prepared by a new and improved ‘one-pot’ synthesis. The corresponding chloro complexes of the tervalent metal ions react successively with potassium hydroxide in boiling 2-propanol and then with trichloromethane. Potassium hydroxide is proven to be a very versatile and powerful reductant in tetrapyrrolic chemistry. As evidenced from electron spin resonance and UV vis spectral measurements, the precursor is reduced primarily to an ate-complex of type [ M I p 2−]− of a formally monovalent metal ion. This active species is assumed to react with trichloromethane via a dichlorocarbene complex of type [ M II( CCl 2) p 2−] to yield the actual -carbido complex. [{ Feoep 2−}2(μ- C )] is crystallographically characterized. It is monoclinic, space group C12/c1 (15), with a = 18.279(3) Å, b = 15.005(2) Å, c = 23.392(7) Å, β = 107.12(2)°, Z = 4, R1 = 0.0773. The iron atom is displaced by 0.192(3) Å out of the centre ( Ct ) of the ( N p )4 plane toward the (μ- C ) atom. Average d ( Fe - N p ) is 1.986(5) Å; d ( Fe -(μ- C )) is 1.6638(9) Å. The Fe - C - Fe skeleton is linear (179.5(3)°). The two slightly waving porphyrinato cores are in a staggered conformation, the ( N p - Fe - Fe ″- N p ″) torsion angle being 21.0(3)°. Solutions of each μ-carbido complex in pyridine/dichloromethane show four distinct quasi-reversible redox processes in their differential-pulse voltammograms and these are assigned to the successive one-electron reduction and oxidation of the macrocyclic ligands. 13 C CP MAS NMR spectra indicate effective four-fold symmetry within the series of the μ-carbido complexes with isotropic shifts occurring at similar fields to those of the corresponding macrocyclic complex of a closed-shell metal ion. Resonances of the bridging carbon atom are not detected. A characteristic increase of line broadening within the series tpp 2− > oep 2− > pc 2− may be due to Fermi contact interactions with the strongly coupled low-spin M IV centres. The magnetic susceptibility studies show that the complexes all display non-zero μ values at 295 K increasing from pc 2− to tpp 2−. Mössbauer spectra confirm the low-spin Fe IV oxidation state for the iron centres. Isomer shift, δ, and quadrupole splitting, ΔE Q , for [{ Fepc 2−}2(μ- C )] and [{ Fetpp 2−}2(μ- C )] are identical to those previously reported. Data for [{ Feoep 2−}2(μ- C )] are essentially the same as for the pc and tpp complex. Thus the order of δ is tpp ≈ oep > pc whilst that of Δ E Q is pc >> oep > tpp . Small impurity lines are observed which help explain the magnetic data. UV vis/NIR spectra of the μ-carbido complexes show the characteristic π-π* transitions. These are shifted with respect to the corresponding mononuclear complexes to higher energy because of excitonic interactions. Vibrational spectra are discussed in detail ν as ( M - C - M ) (in cm−1) is at 937 ( M = Fe ; tpp ) < 976 ( Fe / oep ) < 997 ( Fe / pc ) < 1050 ( Ru / pc ), ν s ( M - C - M ) (in cm−1 at 433 ( Fe / tpp ) < 460 ( Fe / oep ) < 477 ( Fe / pc ). Hence, valence force constants increase significantly in the order tpp < oep < pc . ν s ( Fe - C - Fe ) of [{ Fepc 2−}2(μ- C )] is selectively resonance Raman enhanced. As evidenced from the excitation profile a C → Fe charge transfer, not detected in the vis spectrum, is assumed to be present at 22 000 > ν > 25 000 cm −1.

Multielectron transfer at heme-functionalized nanocrystalline TiO2: reductive dechlorination of DDT and CCl4 forms stable carbene compounds

Hemin (chloro(protoporhyrinato)iron(III)) was found to bind to mesoporous nanocrystalline (anatase) TiO2 thin films from dimethyl sulfoxide solution, Keq=10(5) M-1 at 298 K. Band gap illumination in methanol reduced hemin to heme and led to the appearance of TiO2 electrons, heme/TiO2(e-). Reactions of heme/TiO2(e-) with CCl4 or 1,1-bis(p-chlorophenyl)-2,2,2-trichloroethane (DDT) led to the formation of stable carbene products in greater than 60% yield. The spectroscopic data are fully consistent with a dissociative two-electron organohalide reduction mechanism of CCl4 and DDT to yield (protoporhyrinato)FeIICCl2 and (protoporhyrinato)FeIIC=C(p-Cl-phenyl)2 respectively.

The metabolism of 14C-DDT, 14C-DDD, 14C-DDE and 14C-DDMU in rats and Japanese quail

The metabolism and excretion of 14C-DDT, 14C-DDD, 14C-DDE and 14C-DDMU were compared in male rats and male Japanese quail after i.p. injection. The rate of excretion of radioactivity was greater in the rat than in the quail for all compounds except DDMU. Skin and fat were major sites of residual radioactivity in both species, the compound administered and DDE accounting for most of the radioactivity except in the case of DDMU. The four radiolabelled compounds were all present in significant quantities in excreta of both species in unchanged forms. The metabolic patterns for DDT and DDD were similar in rat and quail, except that the rat formed 2,2-di(4-chlorophenyl)ethanol (DDOH) from DDT while the quail did not. Rat and quail metabolized DDE and DDMU differently. Ring-hydroxylated derivatives of DDE were formed only in the rat and analogous metabolites of DDMU were produced only by quail. Both species produced di(4-chlorophenyl)acetic acid as a metabolite of all four compounds administered, although the formation was generally less and slower in quail than rat. Comparative metabolism of DDMU with the other compounds indicated that this compound is not a metabolic intermediate in the metabolism of DDT in either rat or quail.

Biodehalogenation: reactions of cytochrome P-450 with polyhalomethanes

The products, stoichiometry, and kinetics of the oxidation of the enzyme cytochrome P-450 cam by five polyhalomethanes and chloronitromethane are described. The reactivity of the enzyme is compared with that of deuteroheme and with the enzyme in its native cell, Pseudomonas putida (PpG-786). In all cases, the reaction entails hydrogenolysis of the carbon-halogen bond: 2FeIIP + RCXn----2FeIIIP + RCHXn-1 (P = porphyrin or P-450 cam in vitro and in vivo). Trichloronitromethane was the fastest reacting substrate, and chloroform was the slowest. The results establish that P. putida is a valid whole cell model for the reductase activity of the P-450 complement in these reactions. The reactions of cytochrome P-450 with polyhaloalkanes proceed in a manner quite analogous to other iron(II) proteins in the G conformation. The chemistry observed for the enzyme parallels that of its iron(II) porphyrin active site. Iron-bonded carbenes are not intermediates, and hydrolytically stable iron alkyls are not products of these reactions.