Billion-fold acceleration of the methanolysis of paraoxon promoted by La(OTf)3 in methanol

Reactivity of [(PNP)Mn(CO)2] with Organophosphates

Organophosphorus nerve agents (OPAs) are a toxic class of synthetic compounds that cause adverse effects with many biological systems. Development of methods for environmental remediation and passivation has been ongoing for years. However, little progress has been made in therapeutic development for exposure victims. Given the postexposure behavior of OPA materials in enzymes such as acetylcholinesterase (AChE), development of electrophilic compounds as therapeutics may be more beneficial than the currently employed nucleophilic countermeasures. In this report, we present our studies with an electrophilic, 16-electron manganese complex (iPrPNP)Mn(CO)2 (1) and the nucleophilic hydroxide derivative (iPrPNHP)Mn(CO)2(OH) (2). The reactivity of 1 with phosphorus acids and the reactivity of 2 with the P-F bond of diisopropylfluorophosphate (DIPF) were studied. The role of water in both nucleophilic and electrophilic reactivity was investigated with the use of 17O-labeled water. Promising results arising from reactions of both 1 and 2 with organophosphorus substrates are reported.

Peroxide-Selective Reduction of O2 at Redox-Inactive Rare-Earth(III) Triflates Generates an Ambiphilic Peroxide

Metal peroxides are key species involved in a range of critical biological and synthetic processes. Rare-earth (group III and the lanthanides; Sc, Y, La-Lu) peroxides have been implicated as reactive intermediates in catalysis; however, reactivity studies of isolated, structurally characterized rare-earth peroxides have been limited. Herein, we report the peroxide-selective (93-99% O₂^2-) reduction of dioxygen (O₂) at redox-inactive rare-earth triflates in methanol using a mild metallocene reductant, decamethylferrocene (Fc*). The first molecular praseodymium peroxide ([Pr^III₂(O₂^2-)(18C6)₂(EG)₂][OTf]₄; 18C6 = 18-crown-6, EG = ethylene glycol, ^-OTf = ^-O₃SCF₃; 2-Pr) was isolated and characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, and NMR spectroscopy. 2-Pr displays high thermal stability (120 °C, 50 mTorr), is protonated by mild organic acids [pK_a1(MeOH) = 5.09 ± 0.23], and engages in electrophilic (e.g., oxygen atom transfer) and nucleophilic (e.g., phosphate-ester cleavage) reactivity. Our mechanistic studies reveal that the rate of oxygen reduction is dictated by metal-ion accessibility, rather than Lewis acidity, and suggest new opportunities for differentiated reactivity of redox-inactive metal ions by leveraging weak metal-ligand binding events preceding electron transfer.

A multi-component reaction for the synthesis of pyrido [1,2-b] isoquinoline derivatives via the [3 + 2] cycloaddition reaction between alkynes and in situ generated isoquinolinium ylides

An efficient and one-pot tandem procedure for the synthesis of fused ethanopyrido [1,2-b] isoquinoline derivatives from ninhydrin, proline and alkynes has been developed. This strategy exhibits an unprecedented [3 + 2] cycloaddition reaction between alkynes and isoquinolinium ylide (1,3 dipole) generated in situ from proline and ninhydrin. This newly developed methodology features simple operation and is metal free. In this methodology overall three new C-C bonds, two C-N bonds, and three new rings are formed in a single step process.

The combined action of methanolysis and heterogeneous photocatalysis in the decomposition of chemical warfare agents

The combination of methanolysis and photocatalysis can be used for the decomposition of CWA. Herein, we present such a catalytic system, which is able to perform efficient nerve agent decomposition in just 1 minute.

Silver ion binding to the organophosphorus pesticide diazinon and hydrolytic pathways revealed by mass spectrometric and NMR studies

This paper describes the first study of the interactions of Ag+ with the organophosphorus (OP) insecticide diazinon, 1. Electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) with corroborative collision-induced dissociation-mass spectrometry (CID-MS) demonstrates that 1 forms a bidentate chelate with Ag+. The hydrolysis products of 1, the pyrimidinol (PY) and O,O-diethylphosphorothioic acid (PA), are also found to bind to Ag+ via N (PY) and S (PA) Lewis base sites, respectively. 31P and 1H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectra in solution, followed over time with varying ratios of Ag+ to 1, confirm the MS evidence and show Ag+ catalysis of hydrolysis (e.g., complete hydrolysis of 1 in ∼5 min (first-order half-life = 3 × 10−4 d; kobs = 2 × 103 d−1)) with equimolar Ag+; this represents an approximate 150 000-fold enhancement in hydrolysis with Ag+ as compared to its absence. A mechanism for the enhanced hydrolysis is proposed in which bidentate binding of Ag+ to S of the P=S electrophilic site in tandem with binding to N of the leaving group stabilizes the SN2(P) transition state relative to the ground state; this effect is described by qualitative energy profiles.

Bio-inspired approaches to accelerating metal ion-promoted reactions: enzyme-like rates for metal ion mediated phosphoryl and acyl transfer processes

Intense efforts by many research groups for more than 50 years have been directed at biomimetic approaches to understand how enzymes achieve their remarkable rate accelerations. Nevertheless, it was noted in 2003 that, despite numerous efforts to design models for catalyzing the cleavage of such species as phosphate diesters, “none of the several models so far described approaches the enormous catalytic efficiency of natural enzymes”. The same could be said for biomimetics of other enzymes promoting acyl or phosphoryl transfer reactions, particularly those mediated by metal ions such as Zn(II). Clearly other important factors were being overlooked or awaiting discovery. In this manuscript we describe two important effects that we have implemented to accelerate metal ion catayzed phosphoryl and acyl transfer reactions. The first of these relates to a medium effect where the polarity of the solution, as measured by dielectric constant, is reduced from that of water (ε = 78) to values of 31.5 and 24.3 when the solvent is changed to methanol or ethanol. Among organic solvents these light alcohols are closest to water in terms of structure and properties as well as retaining important H-bonding properties. The second important effect involves a known but difficult to demonstrate mode of catalysis where the leaving group (LG) in a solvolysis reaction is accelerated as it becomes progressively poorer. In the cases described herein, the LG’s propensity to depart from a substrate during the course of reaction is accelerated by coordination to a metal ion in a process known as leaving group assistance, or LGA. These two effects can each impart accelerations of 109–1017 for certain metal ion catalyzed reactions relative to the corresponding solvent, or base induced reactions.

A mechanistic study of the [La2(OCH3)2]4+- and [(1,5,9-triazacyclodo-decane):Zn:(OCH3)]+-catalyzed methanolysis of carbonates: possible application for the recycling of bisphenol A polycarbonates

The kinetics of the methanolysis of seven methyl aryl carbonates (3) and two methyl alkyl carbonates (4) promoted by [12[ane]N3:Zn:(OCH3)]+ and [La2(OCH3)2]4+ catalysts (1 and 2, respectively) have been studied at 25.0 °C. Brønsted plots of the [Formula: see text] values for methanolysis versus aryloxy and alkoxy leaving group (LG) [Formula: see text] or [Formula: see text] values (the pKa values of the parent ArOH or ROH in methanol) for substrates 3 and 4 show an apparent downward break at [Formula: see text] ∼16.6 and 15.2 with [12[ane]N3:Zn:(OCH3)]+ and [La2(OCH3)2]4+, respectively. The breakpoint is not due to a change in rate-limiting step in a two-step process involving metal ion delivery of a coordinated methoxide to a transiently associated substrate and the subsequent breakdown of a tetrahedral intermediate to form product. The more satisfactory explanation is that the break arises when one correlates the rate constants for two dissimilar sets of substrates, namely aryloxy- and alkoxy-substituted 3 and 4. DFT calculations for the 1-promoted reactions of methyl 4-nitrophenyl carbonate (3b), which has a good aryloxy leaving group, and methyl isopropyl carbonate (4b), which has a relatively poor alkyl one, indicate that the catalyzed processes involve two steps. Accordingly, the methanolysis of all 3 having [Formula: see text] values for the parent phenols ≤15.3 involves rate-limiting nucleophilic attack and fast breakdown. For the isopropyl alkyl derivative (4b) having a [Formula: see text] > 18.13, the rate-liming step is the metal ion promoted breakdown of a tetrahedral intermediate. The catalytic system employing 2 has utility for the catalytic decomposition of poly(bisphenol A carbonate). In a semi-optimized system where 1000 mg of poly(bisphenol A carbonate), treated at 100 °C for 30 min in 2 mL of 60:40 chloroform−methanol containing La(OTf)3:NaOMe (5:7.5 mmol L−1), the reaction gave an 84% yield of bisphenol A, corresponding to >300 turnovers per catalyst.

Methanolysis of organophosphorus esters promoted by an M2+ catalyst supported on polystyrene-based copolymers

The methanolysis of three neutral organophosphorus esters (a phosphonate, a phosphonothioate, and a phosphorothionate) promoted by several polymer-supported Zn(II) or Cu(II) containing catalysts was studied. The catalysts consist of a Zn(II) or Cu(II) complex with 1,5,9-triazacyclododecane or phenanthroline attached to a porous polystyrene resin. In each case, the polymer supported catalyst showed activity at near neutral sspH in methanol (8.38) and ambient temperature and provided accelerations of up to a factor of 2.9 × 106 relative to the background reaction at sspH 9.05. The solid materials could be reused several times and could be reactivated when the activity diminished. Various polymers of different porosity and extent of cross-linking were studied, with the net result being that larger porosities offer the best reactivity for catalyzed methanolysis of these OP species in methanol. This is explained by different parameters including the accessibility to reactive sites, the increase of concentration of catalytic sites on the surface of the polymer, and some cooperative effects between neighboring catalytic groups.Key words: functionalized polymer, metal containing, methanolysis, organophosphorus pesticides and CW agents, catalyst.

A Reductionist Biomimetic Model System That Demonstrates Highly Effective Zn(II)-Catalyzed Cleavage of an RNA Model

The cyclization of the RNA model 2-hydroxypropyl p-nitrophenyl phosphate (HPNPP, 1) promoted by Zn2+ alone and the 1,5,9-triazacyclododecane complex of Zn2+ (Zn2+:[12]aneN3) is studied in ethanol in the presence of 0.5 equiv of -OEt/Zn2+ to investigate the effect of a low polarity/dielectric medium on a metal-catalyzed reaction of biological relevance. Ethanol exerts a medium effect that promotes strong binding of HPNPP to Zn2+, followed by a dimerization to form a catalytically active complex (HPNPP:Zn2+)2 in which the phosphate undergoes cyclization with a rate constant of kcat = 2.9 s(-1) at s(s)pH 7.1. In the presence of the triaza ligand:Zn2+ complex, the change from water to methanol and then to ethanol brings about a mechanism where two molecules of the complex, suggested as EtOH:Zn2+:[12]aneN3 and its basic form, EtO-:Zn2+:[12]aneN3, bind to HPNPP and catalyze its decomposition with a rate constant of kcat of 0.13 s(-1) at s(s)pH 7.1. Overall, the acceleration exhibited in these two situations is 4 x 10(14)-fold and 1.7 x 10(12)-fold relative to the background ethoxide-promoted reactions at the respective s(s)pH values. The implications of these findings are discussed within the context of the idea that enzymatic catalysis is enhanced by a reduced effective dielectric constant within the active site.

Combination of a Dinuclear Zn2+ Complex and a Medium Effect Exerts a 1012-Fold Rate Enhancement of Cleavage of an RNA and DNA Model System

The catalytic ability of a dinuclear Zn2+ complex of 1,3-bis-N1-(1,5,9-triazacyclododecyl)propane (3) in promoting the cleavage of an RNA model, 2-hydroxypropyl-p-nitrophenyl phosphate (HPNPP, 1), and a DNA model, methyl p-nitrophenyl phosphate (MNPP, 4), was studied in methanol solution in the presence of added CH3O- at 25 degrees C. The di-Zn2+ complex (Zn2 :3), in the presence of 1 equiv of added methoxide, exhibits a second-order rate constant of (2.75 +/- 0.10) x 10(5) M(-1) s(-1) for the reaction with 1 at s(s)pH 9.5, this being 10(8)-fold larger than the k2 value for the CH3O- promoted reaction (kOCH3 = (2.56 +/- 0.16) x 10(-3) M(-1) s(-1)). The complex is also active toward the DNA model 4, exhibiting Michaelis-Menten kinetics with a KM and kmax of 0.37 +/- 0.07 mM and (4.1 +/- 0.3) x 10(-2) s(-1), respectively. Relative to the background reactions at s(s)pH 9.5, Zn2 :3 accelerates cleavage of each phosphate diester by a remarkable factor of 1012-fold. A kinetic scheme common to both substrates is discussed. The study shows that a simple model system comprising a dinuclear Zn2+ complex and a medium effect of the alcohol solvent achieves a catalytic reactivity that approaches enzymatic rates and is well beyond anything seen to date in water for the cleavage of these phosphate diesters.

Phosphate Ester Hydrolysis by Hydroxo Complexes of Trivalent Lanthanides Stabilized by 4-Imidazolecarboxylate

The anion of 4-imidazolecarboxylic acid (HL) stabilizes hydroxo complexes of trivalent lanthanides of the type ML(OH)+ (M = La, Pr) and M2L(n)(OH)(6-n) (M = La, n = 2; M = Pr, n = 2, 3; M = Nd, Eu, Dy, n = 1-3). Compositions and stability constants of the complexes have been determined by potentiometric titrations. Spectrophotometric and (1)H NMR titrations with Nd(III) support the reaction model for the formation of hydroxo complexes proposed on the basis of potentiometric results. Kinetics of the hydrolysis of two phosphate diesters, bis(4-nitrophenyl) phosphate (BNPP) and 2-hydroxypropyl 4-nitrophenyl phosphate (HPNPP), and a triester, 4-nitrophenyl diphenyl phosphate (NPDPP), in the presence of hydroxo complexes of five lanthanides were studied as a function of pH and metal and ligand concentrations. With all lanthanides and all substrates, complexes with the smallest n, that is M2L2(OH)4 for La and Pr and M2L(OH)5 for Nd, Eu, and Dy, exhibited the highest catalytic activity. Strong inhibitory effects by simple anions (Cl-, NO3-, (EtO)2PO2-, AcO-) were observed indicating high affinity of neutral hydroxo complexes toward anionic species. The catalytic activity decreased in the order La > Pr > Nd > Eu > Dy for both diester substrates and was practically independent of the nature of cation for a triester substrate. The efficiency of catalysis, expressed as the ratio of the second-order rate constant for the ester cleavage by the hydroxo complex to the second-order rate constant for the alkaline hydrolysis of the respective substrate, varied from ca. 1 for NPDPP to 10(2) for HPNPP and to 10(5) for BNPP. The proposed mechanism of catalytic hydrolysis involves reversible bridging complexation of a phosphodiester to the binuclear active species followed by attack on the phosphoryl group by bridging hydroxide (BNPP) or by the alkoxide group of the deprotonated substrate (HPNPP).