Dehydrogenation versus oxygenation in two-electron and four-electron reduction of dioxygen by 9-alkyl-10-methyl-9,10-dihydroacridines catalyzed by monomeric cobalt porphyrins and cofacial dicobalt porphyrins in the presence of perchloric acid

Kinetic and mechanistic investigations of dioxygen reduction by a molecular Cu(II) catalyst bearing a pentadentate amidate ligand

A pentadentate Cu(II) complex, [CuII(dpaq)](ClO4) (1), featuring a redox active ligand, H-dpaq (H-dpaq = 2-[bis(pyridine-2-ylmethyl)]amino-N-quinolin-8-yl-acetamidate), catalyses four-electron reduction of dioxygen by decamethylferrocene (Fc*) in the presence of trifluoroacetic acid (CF3COOH) in acetone at 298 K. No catalytic oxygen reduction was observed in the presence of stronger Brønsted acids than CF3COOH, such as perchloric acid (HClO4) or trifluoromethanesulphonic acid (HOTf). In contrast, facile catalytic reduction of O2 occurs by Fc* with 1 and HClO4 or HOTf in dimethylformamide (DMF). The use of CF3COOH as the proton source in DMF results in the suppression of O2 reduction under otherwise identical reaction conditions. While the O2 reduction reactions in DMF are linearly dependent on the pKa of Brønsted acids, the acid dependence on catalytic O2-reduction reactivity by 1 in acetone showed complete reversal. Cyclic voltammetry studies using p-chloranil as the probe substrates in the presence of acids in the solvents reveal that the strengths of the protonic acids increase significantly in acetone compared to that in DMF. The amidate-N in [CuII(dpaq)](ClO4) (1) undergoes protonation in the presence of HClO4 or HOTf in DMF to form [CuII(H-dpaq)]2+ (1-H+), but not in the presence of CF3COOH. Enhanced acid strength of CF3COOH in acetone, however, effectively protonates 1 and triggers O2 reduction. Protonation of 1 with HClO4 or HOTf in acetone results in the change of its coordination environment, and this protonated species does not trigger O2 reduction. Detailed kinetic studies indicate that 1-H+ undergoes reduction by two-electrons and the reduced species binds O2 to form a Cu(II)-superoxo intermediate. This is followed by a rate-determining proton-coupled electron-transfer (PCET) reduction to generate the Cu(II)-hydroperoxo intermediate. While catalytic O2 reduction in acetone occurs predominantly via a 4e-/4H+ pathway, product selectivity (H2O vs. H2O2) in DMF depends upon the concentration of the reductant (Fc*). While dioxygen reduction to H2O2 is favoured at low [Fc*], mechanistic studies suggest that O2 reduction with high [Fc*] proceeds via a [2e- + 2e-] mechanism, where the released H2O2 during catalysis is further reduced to water.

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.

Activation of Molecular Oxygen by a Cobalt(II) Tetra-NHC Complex*

The first dicobalt(III) μ2 -peroxo N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) complex is reported. It can be quantitatively generated from a cobalt(II) compound bearing a 16-membered macrocyclic tetra-NHC ligand via facile activation of dioxygen from air at ambient conditions. The reaction proceeds via an end-on superoxo intermediate as demonstrated by EPR studies and DFT. The peroxo moiety can be cleaved upon addition of acetic acid, yielding the corresponding CoIII acetate complex going along with H2 O2 formation. In contrast, both CoII and CoIII complexes are also studied as catalysts to utilize air for olefin and alkane oxidation reactions; however, not resulting in product formation. The observations are rationalized by DFT-calculations, suggesting a nucleophilic nature of the dicobalt(III) μ2 -peroxo complex. All isolated compounds are characterized by NMR, ESI-MS, elemental analysis, EPR and SC-XRD.

Catalytic Four-Electron Reduction of Dioxygen by Ferrocene Derivatives with a Nonheme Iron(III) TAML Complex

A mononuclear nonheme iron(III) complex with a tetraamido macrocyclic ligand (TAML), [(TAML)Fe^III]^- (1), is a selective precatalyst for four-electron reduction of dioxygen by ferrocene derivatives in the presence of acetic acid (CH₃COOH) in acetone. This is the first work to show that a nonheme iron(III) complex catalyzes the four-electron reduction of O₂ by one-electron reductants. An iron(V)-oxo complex, [(TAML)Fe^V(O)]^- (2), was produced by oxygenation of 1 with O₂ via the formation of triacetone triperoxide (TATP), acting as an autocatalyst that shortened the induction time for the generation of 2. Decamethylferrocene (Me₁₀Fc) and octamethylferrocene (Me₈Fc) reduced 2 to 1 by two electrons in the presence of CH₃COOH to produce decamethylferrocenium cation (Me₁₀Fc⁺) and octamethylferrocenium cation (Me₈Fc⁺), respectively. Then, 1 was oxygenated by O₂ to regenerate 2 via the formation of TATP. In the cases of ferrocene (Fc), bromoferrocene (BrFc) and 1,1'-dibromoferrocene (Br₂Fc), initial electron transfer from ferrocene derivatives to 2 occurred; however, neither a second proton-coupled electron transfer from ferrocene derivatives to 2 nor a catalytic four-electron reduction of O₂ occurred.

Significantly improved electrocatalytic oxygen reduction by an asymmetrical Pacman dinuclear cobalt(ii) porphyrin-porphyrin dyad

Asymmetrical Pacman dinuclear Co bisporphyrin shows significantly improved activity and selectivity for catalytic reduction of O₂ to water in comparison with corresponding mononuclear Co porphyrins and symmetrical dinuclear Co bisporphyrins.

Pacman dinuclear Co^II triphenylporphyrin-tri(pentafluorophenyl)porphyrin 1 and dinuclear Co^II bis-tri(pentafluorophenyl)porphyrin 2, anchored at the two meso-positions of a benzene linker, are synthesized and examined as electrocatalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). Both dinuclear Co bisporphyrins are more efficient and selective than corresponding mononuclear Co^II tetra(pentafluorophenyl)porphyrin 3 and Co^II tetraphenylporphyrin 4 for the four-electron electrocatalytic reduction of O₂ to water. Significantly, although the ORR selectivities of the two dinuclear Co bisporphyrins are similar to each other, 1 outperforms 2, in terms of larger catalytic ORR currents and lower overpotentials. Electrochemical studies showed different redox behaviors of the two Co sites of 1: the Co^III/Co^II reduction of the Co-TPP (TPP = triphenylporphyrin) site is well-behind that of the Co-TPFP (TPFP = tri(pentafluorophenyl)porphyrin) site by 440 mV. This difference indicated their different roles in the ORR: Co^II-TPFP is likely the O₂ binding and reduction site, while Co^III-TPP, which is generated by the oxidation of Co^II-TPP on electrodes, may function as a Lewis acid to assist the O₂ binding and activation. The positively charged Co^III-TPP will have through-space charge interactions with the negatively charged O₂-adduct unit, which will reduce the activation energy barrier for the ORR. This effect of Co-TPP closely resembles that of the Cu_B site of metalloenzyme cytochrome c oxidase (CcO), which catalyzes the biological reduction of O₂. This work represents a rare example of asymmetrical dinuclear metal catalysts, which can catalyze the 4e reduction of O₂ with high selectivity and significantly improved activity.

Structure and reactivity of the first-row d-block metal-superoxo complexes

This review discusses the structure and reactivity of metal-superoxo complexes covering all ten first-row d-block metals from Sc to Zn.

Where and How Does an Organic Molecule Having a C-X Bond Release X- Anion Like an Inorganic Compound? A Theoretical Study

In this research, at first, a comparative DFT study on hydride or fluoride release from a number of known orthoamides, their fluorine derivative having a central C-F bond and some simple organic compounds, is reported. The obtained data show that orthoamides release hydride or fluoride anions much easier than do other known organic compounds studied here. Interestingly, three simulated orthoamides having a central C-F bond, spontaneously and like an inorganic compound, release fluoride anion upon dissolving in polar solvents. The calculations confirmed that hyperconjugation interactions in the initial orthoamides facilitate the anion release from these compounds. However, the data clearly show that the proper overlap of an empty p orbital of the central carbon atom with adjacent lone-pair orbitals of nitrogen atoms ( lpN → lp*C or, in other words, the pπ-pπ interaction) in the resulting carbocations is a more important factor that must be taken into consideration when designing the hydride, fluoride, or other anion releasing agents. In addition, for the first time, a mechanism of hydride and fluoride removal from the orthoamides either through their reaction with BH₃ and BF₃ molecules, respectively, or upon their protonation is provided. To continue and for generalization of results to other groups attached to the central carbon atom of orthoamides, the reactions of H⁺ with orthoamides having the CH₃, OH, CN, NH₂, or C₅H₅ substituents were studied. The results showed that in all cases and in both gas and solution phases the above substituents easily leave the carbon atom as an anion and bond to H⁺. Thus, we have to conclude that upon the reaction of orthoamides with usual Lewis acids, many types of substituents on their central carbon atom can leave these compounds as anions.

Oxygen Reduction by Homogeneous Molecular Catalysts and Electrocatalysts

The oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) is a key component of biological processes and energy technologies. This Review provides a comprehensive report of soluble molecular catalysts and electrocatalysts for the ORR. The precise synthetic control and relative ease of mechanistic study for homogeneous molecular catalysts, as compared to heterogeneous materials or surface-adsorbed species, enables a detailed understanding of the individual steps of ORR catalysis. Thus, the Review places particular emphasis on ORR mechanism and thermodynamics. First, the thermochemistry of oxygen reduction and the factors influencing ORR efficiency are described to contextualize the discussion of catalytic studies that follows. Reports of ORR catalysis are presented in terms of their mechanism, with separate sections for catalysis proceeding via initial outer- and inner-sphere electron transfer to O₂. The rates and selectivities (for production of H₂O₂ vs H₂O) of these catalysts are provided, along with suggested methods for accurately comparing catalysts of different metals and ligand scaffolds that were examined under different experimental conditions.

Aromatization of 9,10-Dihydroacridine Derivatives: Discovering a Highly Selective and Rapid-Responding Fluorescent Probe for Peroxynitrite

As part of an effort to develop generally applicable strategies for creating probes suitable for detecting important molecular and ionic species, the oxidative aromatization of nonfluorescent 9,10-dihydroacridine derivatives triggered by peroxynitrite (ONOO^-) led to the identification of compound 2H, 9-phenyl-9,10-dihydroacridine-4-carboxylic acid, as a rapid-responding fluorescent probe capable of detecting ONOO^- with an extraordinary selectivity. Adding a little more than 1 equiv of ONOO^- to a solution of 2H resulted in over 100-fold fluorescence enhancement. In sharp contrast, treating 2H with excessive amounts of other oxidants that often interfere with the detection of ONOO^- failed to lead to noticeable fluorescence increase. The reaction of ONOO^- with 2H shows a similar efficiency in the pH range of 2-8. Low cytotoxicity was observed for 2H and its aromatized product. Bioimaging experiments revealed the promising potential of 2H as a new fluorescent probe for the selective detection of intracellular ONOO^-.

Energy-Related Small Molecule Activation Reactions: Oxygen Reduction and Hydrogen and Oxygen Evolution Reactions Catalyzed by Porphyrin- and Corrole-Based Systems

Globally increasing energy demands and environmental concerns related to the use of fossil fuels have stimulated extensive research to identify new energy systems and economies that are sustainable, clean, low cost, and environmentally benign. Hydrogen generation from solar-driven water splitting is a promising strategy to store solar energy in chemical bonds. The subsequent combustion of hydrogen in fuel cells produces electric energy, and the only exhaust is water. These two reactions compose an ideal process to provide clean and sustainable energy. In such a process, a hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), an oxygen evolution reaction (OER) during water splitting, and an oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) as a fuel cell cathodic reaction are key steps that affect the efficiency of the overall energy conversion. Catalysts play key roles in this process by improving the kinetics of these reactions. Porphyrin-based and corrole-based systems are versatile and can efficiently catalyze the ORR, OER, and HER. Because of the significance of energy-related small molecule activation, this review covers recent progress in hydrogen evolution, oxygen evolution, and oxygen reduction reactions catalyzed by porphyrins and corroles.

Multi-electron reactivity of a cofacial di-tin(ii) cryptand: partial reduction of sulfur and selenium and reversible generation of S3˙. Chem Sci 2016;7:6928-6933. [PMID: 28567264 PMCID: PMC5450590 DOI: 10.1039/c6sc01754a]

A cofacial di-tin(ii) hexacarboxamide cryptand that binds sulfur to form a complex containing μ-S and bridging μ-S₅ ligands and acts reversibly as a source of S₃˙^– in DMF solution is described.

Cofacial bimetallic tin(ii) ([Sn₂(mBDCA-5t)]^2–, 1) and lead(ii) ([Pb₂(mBDCA-5t)]^2–, 2) complexes have been prepared by hexadeprotonation of hexacarboxamide cryptand mBDCA-5t-H₆ together with double Sn(ii) or Pb(ii) insertion. Reaction of 1 with elemental sulfur or selenium generates di-tin polychalcogenide complexes containing μ-E and bridging μ-E₅ ligands where E = S or Se, and the Sn(ii) centers have both been oxidized to Sn(iv). Solution and solid-state UV-Vis spectra of [(μ-S₅)Sn₂(μ-S)(mBDCA-5t)]^2– (4) indicate that the complex acts reversibly as a source of S₃˙^– in DMF solution with a K_eq = 0.012 ± 0.002. Reductive removal of all six chalcogen atoms is achieved through treatment of [(μ-E₅)Sn₂(μ-E)(mBDCA-5t)]^2– with PR₃ (R = ^tBu, Ph, OⁱPr) to produce six equiv. of the corresponding EPR₃ compound with regeneration of di-tin(ii) cryptand complex 1.

Singly versus Doubly Reduced Nickel Porphyrins for Proton Reduction: Experimental and Theoretical Evidence for a Homolytic Hydrogen-Evolution Reaction

A nickel(II) porphyrin Ni‐P (P=porphyrin) bearing four meso‐C₆F₅ groups to improve solubility and activity was used to explore different hydrogen‐evolution‐reaction (HER) mechanisms. Doubly reduced Ni‐P ([Ni‐P]²⁻) was involved in H₂ production from acetic acid, whereas a singly reduced species ([Ni‐P]⁻) initiated HER with stronger trifluoroacetic acid (TFA). High activity and stability of Ni‐P were observed in catalysis, with a remarkable i_c/i_p value of 77 with TFA at a scan rate of 100 mV s⁻¹ and 20 °C. Electrochemical, stopped‐flow, and theoretical studies indicated that a hydride species [H‐Ni‐P] is formed by oxidative protonation of [Ni‐P]⁻. Subsequent rapid bimetallic homolysis to give H₂ and Ni‐P is probably involved in the catalytic cycle. HER cycling through this one‐electron‐reduction and homolysis mechanism has been proposed previously but rarely validated. The present results could thus have broad implications for the design of new exquisite cycles for H₂ generation.

Photoinduced 1,2,3,4-tetrahydropyridine ring conversions

Stable heterocyclic hydroperoxide can be easily prepared as a product of fast oxidation of a 1,2,3,4-tetrahydropyridine by (3)O2 if the solution is exposed to sunlight. The driving force for the photoinduced electron transfer is calculated from electrochemical and spectroscopic data. The outcome of the reaction depends on the light intensity and the concentration of O2. In the solid state the heterocyclic hydroperoxide is stable; in solution it is involved in further reactions.

Catalytic two-electron reduction of dioxygen catalysed by metal-free [14]triphyrin(2.1.1)

The catalytic two-electron reduction of dioxygen (O₂) by octamethylferrocene (Me₈Fc) occurs with a metal-free triphyrin (HTrip) in the presence of perchloric acid (HClO₄) in benzonitrile (PhCN) at 298 K to yield Me₈Fc⁺ and H₂O₂. Detailed kinetic analysis has revealed that the catalytic two-electron reduction of O₂ by Me₈Fc with HTrip proceeds via proton-coupled electron transfer from Me₈Fc to HTrip to produce H₃Trip˙⁺, followed by a second electron transfer from Me₈Fc to H₃Trip˙⁺ to produce H₃Trip, which is oxidized by O₂via formation of the H₃Trip/O₂ complex to yield H₂O₂. The rate-determining step in the catalytic cycle is hydrogen atom transfer from H₃Trip to O₂ in the H₃Trip/O₂ complex to produce the radical pair (H₃Trip˙⁺ HO₂˙) as an intermediate, which was detected as a triplet EPR signal with fine-structure by the EPR measurements at low temperature. The distance between the two unpaired electrons in the radical pair was determined to be 4.9 Å from the zero-field splitting constant (D).

Lewis acid-induced change from four- to two-electron reduction of dioxygen catalyzed by copper complexes using scandium triflate

Mononuclear copper complexes, [(tmpa)Cu(II)(CH3CN)](ClO4)2 (1, tmpa = tris(2-pyridylmethyl)amine) and [(BzQ)Cu(II)(H2O)2](ClO4)2 (2, BzQ = bis(2-quinolinylmethyl)benzylamine)], act as efficient catalysts for the selective two-electron reduction of O2 by ferrocene derivatives in the presence of scandium triflate (Sc(OTf)3) in acetone, whereas 1 catalyzes the four-electron reduction of O2 by the same reductant in the presence of Brønsted acids such as triflic acid. Following formation of the peroxo-bridged dicopper(II) complex [(tmpa)Cu(II)(O2)Cu(II)(tmpa)](2+), the two-electron reduced product of O2 with Sc(3+) is observed to be scandium peroxide ([Sc(III)(O2(2-))](+)). In the presence of 3 equiv of hexamethylphosphoric triamide (HMPA), [Sc(III)(O2(2-))](+) was oxidized by [Fe(bpy)3](3+) (bpy = 2,2-bipyridine) to the known superoxide species [(HMPA)3Sc(III)(O2(•-))](2+) as detected by EPR spectroscopy. A kinetic study revealed that the rate-determining step of the catalytic cycle for the two-electron reduction of O2 with 1 is electron transfer from Fc* to 1 to give a cuprous complex which is highly reactive toward O2, whereas the rate-determining step with 2 is changed to the reaction of the cuprous complex with O2 following electron transfer from ferrocene derivatives to 2. The explanation for the change in catalytic O2-reaction stoichiometry from four-electron with Brønsted acids to two-electron reduction in the presence of Sc(3+) and also for the change in the rate-determining step is clarified based on a kinetics interrogation of the overall catalytic cycle as well as each step of the catalytic cycle with study of the observed effects of Sc(3+) on copper-oxygen intermediates.

High-valent chromium-oxo complex acting as an efficient catalyst precursor for selective two-electron reduction of dioxygen by a ferrocene derivative

Efficient catalytic two-electron reduction of dioxygen (O2) by octamethylferrocene (Me8Fc) produced hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) using a high-valent chromium(V)-oxo corrole complex, [(tpfc)Cr(V)(O)] (tpfc = tris(pentafluorophenyl)corrole) as a catalyst precursor in the presence of trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) in acetonitrile (MeCN). The facile two-electron reduction of [(tpfc)Cr(V)(O)] by 2 equiv of Me8Fc in the presence of excess TFA produced the corresponding chromium(III) corrole [(tpfc)Cr(III)(OH2)] via fast electron transfer from Me8Fc to [(tpfc)Cr(V)(O)] followed by double protonation of [(tpfc)Cr(IV)(O)](-) and facile second-electron transfer from Me8Fc. The rate-determining step in the catalytic two-electron reduction of O2 by Me8Fc in the presence of excess TFA is inner-sphere electron transfer from [(tpfc)Cr(III)(OH2)] to O2 to produce the chromium(IV) superoxo species [(tpfc)Cr(IV)(O2(•-))], followed by fast proton-coupled electron transfer reduction of [(tpfc)Cr(IV)(O2(•-))] by Me8Fc to yield H2O2, accompanied by regeneration of [(tpfc)Cr(III)(OH2)]. Thus, although the catalytic two-electron reduction of O2 by Me8Fc was started by [(tpfc)Cr(V)(O)], no regeneration of [(tpfc)Cr(V)(O)] was observed in the presence of excess TFA, regardless of the tetragonal chromium complex being to the left of the oxo wall. In the presence of a stoichiometric amount of TFA, however, disproportionation of [(tfpc)Cr(IV)(O)](-) occurred via the protonated species [(tpfc)Cr(IV)(OH)] to produce [(tpfc)Cr(III)(OH2)] and [(tpfc)Cr(V)(O)].

Efficient C-H Bond Activations via O2 Cleavage by a Dianionic Cobalt(II) Complex

A dianionic, square planar cobalt(II) complex reacts with O₂ in the presence of acetonitrile to give a cyanomethylcobalt(III) complex formed by C-H bond cleavage. Interestingly, PhIO and p-tolylazide react similarly to give the same cyanomethylcobalt(III) complex. Competition studies with various hydrocarbon substrates indicate that the rate of C-H bond cleavage greatly depends on the p Ka of the C-H bond, rather than on the C-H bond dissociation energy. Kinetic isotope experiments reveal a moderate KIE value of ca. 3.5 using either O₂ or PhIO. The possible involvement of a cobalt(IV) oxo species in this chemistry is discussed.

The coordination chemistry of organo-hydride donors: new prospects for efficient multi-electron reduction

In biological reduction processes the dihydronicotinamides NAD(P)H often transfer hydride to an unsaturated substrate bound within an enzyme active site. In many cases, metal ions in the active site bind, polarize and thereby activate the substrate to direct attack by hydride from NAD(P)H cofactor. This review looks more widely at the metal coordination chemistry of organic donors of hydride ion--organo-hydrides--such as dihydronicotinamides, other dihydropyridines including Hantzsch's ester and dihydroacridine derivatives, those derived from five-membered heterocycles including the benzimidazolines and benzoxazolines, and all-aliphatic hydride donors such as hexadiene and hexadienyl anion derivatives. The hydride donor properties--hydricities--of organo-hydrides and how these are affected by metal ions are discussed. The coordination chemistry of organo-hydrides is critically surveyed and the use of metal-organo-hydride systems in electrochemically-, photochemically- and chemically-driven reductions of unsaturated organic and inorganic (e.g. carbon dioxide) substrates is highlighted. The sustainable electrocatalytic, photochemical or chemical regeneration of organo-hydrides such as NAD(P)H, including for driving enzyme-catalysed reactions, is summarised and opportunities for development are indicated. Finally, new prospects are identified for metal-organo-hydride systems as catalysts for organic transformations involving 'hydride-borrowing' and for sustainable multi-electron reductions of unsaturated organic and inorganic substrates directly driven by electricity or light or by renewable reductants such as formate/formic acid.

Enhanced catalytic four-electron dioxygen (O2) and two-electron hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) reduction with a copper(II) complex possessing a pendant ligand pivalamido group

A copper complex, [(PV-tmpa)Cu(II)](ClO4)2 (1) [PV-tmpa = bis(pyrid-2-ylmethyl){[6-(pivalamido)pyrid-2-yl]methyl}amine], acts as a more efficient catalyst for the four-electron reduction of O2 by decamethylferrocene (Fc*) in the presence of trifluoroacetic acid (CF3COOH) in acetone as compared with the corresponding copper complex without a pivalamido group, [(tmpa)Cu(II)](ClO4)2 (2) (tmpa = tris(2-pyridylmethyl)amine). The rate constant (k(obs)) of formation of decamethylferrocenium ion (Fc*(+)) in the catalytic four-electron reduction of O2 by Fc* in the presence of a large excess CF3COOH and O2 obeyed first-order kinetics. The k(obs) value was proportional to the concentration of catalyst 1 or 2, whereas the k(obs) value remained constant irrespective of the concentration of CF3COOH or O2. This indicates that electron transfer from Fc* to 1 or 2 is the rate-determining step in the catalytic cycle of the four-electron reduction of O2 by Fc* in the presence of CF3COOH. The second-order catalytic rate constant (k(cat)) for 1 is 4 times larger than the corresponding value determined for 2. With the pivalamido group in 1 compared to 2, the Cu(II)/Cu(I) potentials are -0.23 and -0.05 V vs SCE, respectively. However, during catalytic turnover, the CF3COO(-) anion present readily binds to 2 shifting the resulting complex's redox potential to -0.35 V. The pivalamido group in 1 is found to inhibit anion binding. The overall effect is to make 1 easier to reduce (relative to 2) during catalysis, accounting for the relative k(cat) values observed. 1 is also an excellent catalyst for the two-electron two-proton reduction of H2O2 to water and is also more efficient than is 2. For both complexes, reaction rates are greater than for the overall four-electron O2-reduction to water, an important asset in the design of catalysts for the latter.

Acid-induced mechanism change and overpotential decrease in dioxygen reduction catalysis with a dinuclear copper complex

Catalytic four-electron reduction of O2 by ferrocene (Fc) and 1,1'-dimethylferrocene (Me2Fc) occurs efficiently with a dinuclear copper(II) complex [Cu(II)2(XYLO)(OH)](2+) (1), where XYLO is a m-xylene-linked bis[(2-(2-pyridyl)ethyl)amine] dinucleating ligand with copper-bridging phenolate moiety], in the presence of perchloric acid (HClO4) in acetone at 298 K. The hydroxide and phenoxo group in [Cu(II)2(XYLO)(OH)](2+) (1) undergo protonation with HClO4 to produce [Cu(II)2(XYLOH)](4+) (2) where the two copper centers become independent and the reduction potential shifts from -0.68 V vs SCE in the absence of HClO4 to 0.47 V; this makes possible the use of relatively weak one-electron reductants such as Fc and Me2Fc, significantly reducing the effective overpotential in the catalytic O2-reduction reaction. The mechanism of the reaction has been clarified on the basis of kinetic studies on the overall catalytic reaction as well as each step in the catalytic cycle and also by low-temperature detection of intermediates. The O2-binding to the fully reduced complex [Cu(I)2(XYLOH)](2+) (3) results in the reversible formation of the hydroperoxo complex ([Cu(II)2(XYLO)(OOH)](2+)) (4), followed by proton-coupled electron-transfer (PCET) reduction to complete the overall O2-to-2H2O catalytic conversion.

Factors that control catalytic two- versus four-electron reduction of dioxygen by copper complexes

The selective two-electron reduction of O(2) by one-electron reductants such as decamethylferrocene (Fc*) and octamethylferrocene (Me(8)Fc) is efficiently catalyzed by a binuclear Cu(II) complex [Cu(II)(2)(LO)(OH)](2+) (D1) {LO is a binucleating ligand with copper-bridging phenolate moiety} in the presence of trifluoroacetic acid (HOTF) in acetone. The protonation of the hydroxide group of [Cu(II)(2)(LO)(OH)](2+) with HOTF to produce [Cu(II)(2)(LO)(OTF)](2+) (D1-OTF) makes it possible for this to be reduced by 2 equiv of Fc* via a two-step electron-transfer sequence. Reactions of the fully reduced complex [Cu(I)(2)(LO)](+) (D3) with O(2) in the presence of HOTF led to the low-temperature detection of the absorption spectra due to the peroxo complex [Cu(II)(2)(LO)(OO)] (D) and the protonated hydroperoxo complex [Cu(II)(2)(LO)(OOH)](2+) (D4). No further Fc* reduction of D4 occurs, and it is instead further protonated by HOTF to yield H(2)O(2) accompanied by regeneration of [Cu(II)(2)(LO)(OTF)](2+) (D1-OTF), thus completing the catalytic cycle for the two-electron reduction of O(2) by Fc*. Kinetic studies on the formation of Fc*(+) under catalytic conditions as well as for separate examination of the electron transfer from Fc* to D1-OTF reveal there are two important reaction pathways operating. One is a rate-determining second reduction of D1-OTF, thus electron transfer from Fc* to a mixed-valent intermediate [Cu(II)Cu(I)(LO)](2+) (D2), which leads to [Cu(I)(2)(LO)](+) that is coupled with O(2) binding to produce [Cu(II)(2)(LO)(OO)](+) (D). The other involves direct reaction of O(2) with the mixed-valent compound D2 followed by rapid Fc* reduction of a putative superoxo-dicopper(II) species thus formed, producing D.

Electrochemistry, spectroelectrochemistry and catalytic activity of biscobalt bisporphyrin dyads towards dioxygen reduction

Three face-to-face biscobalt bisporphyrin dyads, including one incorporating a copper(II) ion inside the linker, were synthesized and characterized both spectroscopically and electrochemically in three non-aqueous solvents, dichloromethane, benzonitrile and pyridine. The electrocatalytic reduction of dioxygen with these derivatives on an electrode surface in 1.0 M HClO4 was also investigated and the results are compared to that obtained with "regular" Pacman biscobalt bisporphyrins under the same experimental conditions. Surprisingly, the tris-metal species ( Cu-bisCo ) catalyzes the reduction of O2 mainly via a 2e- transfer process, leading to H2O2 , while the bis-metal (bisCo) catalyst produces H2O via a four electron, four proton process.

Electron-transfer reduction of dinuclear copper peroxo and bis-μ-oxo complexes leading to the catalytic four-electron reduction of dioxygen to water

The four-electron reduction of dioxygen by decamethylferrocene (Fc*) to water is efficiently catalyzed by a binuclear copper(II) complex (1) and a mononuclear copper(II) complex (2) in the presence of trifluoroacetic acid in acetone at 298 K. Fast electron transfer from Fc* to 1 and 2 affords the corresponding Cu(I) complexes, which react at low temperature (193 K) with dioxygen to afford the η(2):η(2)-peroxo dicopper(II) (3) and bis-μ-oxo dicopper(III) (4) intermediates, respectively. The rate constants for electron transfer from Fc* and octamethylferrocene (Me(8)Fc) to 1 as well as electron transfer from Fc* and Me(8)Fc to 3 were determined at various temperatures, leading to activation enthalpies and entropies. The activation entropies of electron transfer from Fc* and Me(8)Fc to 1 were determined to be close to zero, as expected for outer-sphere electron-transfer reactions without formation of any intermediates. For electron transfer from Fc* and Me(8)Fc to 3, the activation entropies were also found to be close to zero. Such agreement indicates that the η(2):η(2)-peroxo complex (3) is directly reduced by Fc* rather than via the conversion to the corresponding bis-μ-oxo complex, followed by the electron-transfer reduction by Fc* leading to the four-electron reduction of dioxygen to water. The bis-μ-oxo species (4) is reduced by Fc* with a much faster rate than the η(2):η(2)-peroxo complex (3), but this also leads to the four-electron reduction of dioxygen to water.

Cascade nucleophilic addition-cyclic Michael addition of arynes and phenols/anilines bearing ortho alpha,beta-unsaturated groups: facile synthesis of 9-functionalized xanthenes/acridines

A facile synthesis of xanthenes and acridines based on a cascade nucleophilic addition-cyclic Michael addition process of arynes and phenols/anilines substituted with alpha,beta-unsaturated groups at the ortho positions is described. The reaction has also been successfully extended to the synthesis of 9-spiro-xanthene and acridine derivatives with potential biochemical interest.