Distorted Square Planar Ni(II)−Chalcogenolate Carbonyl Complexes [Ni(CO)(SPh)n(SePh)3-n]- (n = 0, 1, 2): Relevance to the Nickel Site in CO Dehydrogenases and [NiFeSe] Hydrogenase

A Redox Transmetalation Step in Nickel-Catalyzed C-C Coupling Reactions

Ni-catalyzed C-H functionalization reactions are becoming efficient routes to access a variety of functionalized arenes, yet the mechanisms of these catalytic C-C coupling reactions are not well understood. Here, we report the catalytic and stoichiometric arylation reactions of a nickel(II) metallacycle. Treatment of this species with silver(I)-aryl complexes results in facile arylation, consistent with a redox transmetalation step. Additionally, treatment with electrophilic coupling partners generates C-C and C-S bonds. We anticipate that this redox transmetalation step may be relevant to other coupling reactions that employ silver salts as additives.

Selective Transformation of Nickel-Bound Formate to CO or C-C Coupling Products Triggered by Deprotonation and Steered by Alkali-Metal Ions

The complexes [LtBu Ni(OCO-κ2 O,C)]M3 [N(SiMe3 )2 ]2 (M=Li, Na, K), synthesized by deprotonation of a nickel formate complex [LtBu NiOOCH] with the corresponding amides M[N(SiMe3 )2 ], feature a NiII -CO2 2- core surrounded by Lewis-acidic cations (M+ ) and the influence of the latter on the behavior and reactivity was studied. The results point to a decrease of CO2 activation within the series Li, Na, and K, which is also reflected in the reactivity with Me3 SiOTf leading to the liberation of CO and formation of a Ni-OSiMe3 complex. Furthermore, in case of K+ , the {[K3 [N(SiMe3 )2 ]2 }+ shell around the Ni-CO2 2- entity was shown to have a large impact on its stabilization and behavior. If the number of K[N(SiMe3 )2 ] equivalents used in the reaction with [LtBu NiOOCH] is decreased from 3 to 0.5, the deprotonated part of the precursor enters a complex reaction sequence with formation of [LtBu NiI (μ-OOCH)NiI LtBu ]K and [LtBu Ni(C2 O4 )NiLtBu ]. The same reaction at higher concentrations additionally led to the formation of a unique hexanuclear NiII complex containing both oxalate and mesoxalate ([O2 C-CO2 -CO2 ]4- ) ligands.

Mono-, Di- and Tetra-iron Complexes with Selenium or Sulphur Functionalized Vinyliminium Ligands: Synthesis, Structural Characterization and Antiproliferative Activity

A series of diiron/tetrairon compounds containing a S- or a Se-function (2a-d, 4a-d, 5a-b, 6), and the monoiron [FeCp(CO){SeC1(NMe2)C2HC3(Me)}] (3) were prepared from the diiron μ-vinyliminium precursors [Fe2Cp2(CO)( μ-CO){ μ-η1: η3-C3(R')C2HC1N(Me)(R)}]CF3SO3 (R = R' = Me, 1a; R = 2,6-C6H3Me2 = Xyl, R' = Ph, 1b; R = Xyl, R' = CH2OH, 1c), via treatment with S8 or gray selenium. The new compounds were characterized by elemental analysis, IR and multinuclear NMR spectroscopy, and structural aspects were further elucidated by DFT calculations. The unprecedented metallacyclic structure of 3 was ascertained by single crystal X-ray diffraction. The air-stable compounds (3, 4a-d, 5a-b, 6) display fair to good stability in aqueous media, and thus were assessed for their cytotoxic activity towards A2780, A2780cisR, and HEK-293 cell lines. Cyclic voltammetry, ROS production and NADH oxidation studies were carried out on selected compounds to give insights into their mode of action.

Insights from the computational studies on the oxidized as-isolated state of [NiFeSe] hydrogenase from D. vulgaris Hildenborough

A density functional theory study of the active site structure and features of the oxygen tolerant [NiFeSe] Hase in the oxidized as-isolated state of the enzyme D. vulgaris Hildenborough (DvH) is reported here. The three conformers reported to be present in the X-ray structure (PDB ID: ) have been studied. The novel bidentate interchalcogen ligand (S-Se) in Conf-I of the [NiFeSe] Hase reported for the first time in hydrogenases (Hase) is found to be of donor-acceptor type with an uneven η(2) L → M σ-bond. The symmetry mismatch at the sp orbital of Se and at the dz(2) orbital of Ni has been identified to be the reason for the inability of Conf-II to convert to Conf-I. NBO analysis shows that the sulfinate ligand peculiar to the state stabilizes the active site through n →π* interactions. The results reveal that the isolated oxidized state of the [NiFeSe] Hase is significantly different from the well-known [NiFe] Hase.

A model for the CO-inhibited form of [NiFe] hydrogenase: synthesis of CO3Fe(micro-StBu)3Ni{SC6H3-2,6-(mesityl)2} and reversible CO addition at the Ni site

A [NiFe] hydrogenase model compound having a distorted trigonal-pyramidal nickel center, (CO)(3)Fe(micro-S(t)Bu)(3)Ni(SDmp), 1 (Dmp = C(6)H(3)-2,6-(mesityl)(2)), was synthesized from the reaction of the tetranuclear Fe-Ni-Ni-Fe complex [(CO)(3)Fe(micro-S(t)Bu)(3)Ni](2)(micro-Br)(2), 2 with NaSDmp at -40 degrees C. The nickel site of complex 1 was found to add CO or CN(t)Bu at -40 degrees C to give (CO)(3)Fe(S(t)Bu)(micro-S(t)Bu)(2)Ni(CO)(SDmp), 3, or (CO)(3)Fe(S(t)Bu)(micro-S(t)Bu)(2)Ni(CN(t)Bu)(SDmp), 4, respectively. One of the CO bands of 3, appearing at 2055 cm(-1) in the infrared spectrum, was assigned as the Ni-CO band, and this frequency is comparable to those observed for the CO-inhibited forms of [NiFe] hydrogenase. Like the CO-inhibited forms of [NiFe] hydrogenase, the coordination of CO at the nickel site of 1 is reversible, while the CN(t)Bu adduct 4 is more robust.

The role of the second coordination sphere of [Ni(PCy2NBz2)2](BF4)2 in reversible carbon monoxide binding

The complex [Ni(PCy2NBz2)2](BF4)2, 1, reacts rapidly and reversibly with carbon monoxide (1 atm) at 25 degrees C to form [Ni(CO)(PCy2NBz2)2](BF4)2, 2, which has been characterized by spectroscopic data and by an X-ray diffraction study. In contrast, analogous Ni(II) carbonyl adducts were not observed in studies of several other related nickel(II) diphosphine complexes. The unusual reactivity of 1 is attributed to a complex interplay of electronic and structural factors, with an important contribution being the ability of two positioned amines in the second coordination sphere to act in concert to stabilize the CO adduct. The proposed interaction is supported by X-ray diffraction data for 2 which shows that all of the chelate rings of the cyclic ligands are in boat conformations, placing two pendant amines close (3.30 and 3.38 A) to the carbonyl carbon. Similar close C-N interactions are observed in the crystal structure of the more sterically demanding isocyanide adduct, [Ni(CNCy)(PCy2NBz2)2]2(BF4)2, 4. The data suggest a weak electrostatic interaction between the lone pairs of the nitrogen atoms and the positively charged carbon atom of the carbonyl or isocyanide ligand, and illustrate a novel (non-hydrogen bonding) second coordination sphere effect in controlling reactivity.

Direct interaction of coenzyme M with the active-site Fe-S cluster of heterodisulfide reductase

Heterodisulfide reductase (HDR) catalyzes the formation of coenzyme M (CoM-SH) and coenzyme B (CoB-SH) by the reversible reduction of the heterodisulfide, CoM-S-S-CoB. This reaction recycles the two thiol coenzymes involved in the final step of microbial methanogenesis. Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) and variable-temperature magnetic circular dichroism spectroscopic experiments on oxidized HDR incubated with CoM-SH revealed a S=1/2 [4Fe-4S]3) cluster, the EPR spectrum of which is broadened in the presence of CoM-33SH [Duin, E.C., Madadi-Kahkesh, S., Hedderich, R., Clay, M.D. and Johnson, M.K. (2002) Heterodisulfide reductase from Methanothermobacter marburgensis contains an active-site [4Fe-4S] cluster that is directly involved in mediating heterodisulfide reduction. FEBS Lett. 512, 263-268; Duin, E.C., Bauer, C., Jaun, B. and Hedderich, R. (2003) Coenzyme M binds to a [4Fe-4S] cluster in the active site of heterodisulfide reductase as deduced from EPR studies with the [33S]coenzyme M-treated enzyme. FEBS Lett. 538, 81-84]. These results provide indirect evidence that the disulfide binds to the iron-sulfur cluster during reduction. We report here direct structural evidence for this interaction from Se X-ray absorption spectroscopic investigation of HDR treated with the selenium analog of coenzyme M (CoM-SeH). Se K edge extended X-ray absorption fine structure confirms a direct interaction of the Se in CoM-SeH-treated HDR with an Fe atom of the Fe-S cluster at an Fe-Se distance of 2.4A.

Synthetic chemistry and chemical precedents for understanding the structure and function of acetyl coenzyme A synthase

Acetyl coenzyme A synthase (ACS), found in acetogenic and methanogenic organisms, is responsible for the synthesis and breakdown of acetate. The mechanism by which methylcob(III)alamin, CO and coenzyme A are assembled/disassembled at the active-site A-cluster involves a number of biologically unprecedented intermediates. In the past two years, two protein crystal structures have significantly enhanced the understanding of the structure of the active-site A-cluster, responsible for catalysis. The structure reports spawned a number of important questions regarding the metal ion constitution of the active enzyme, the structure(s) of the spectroscopically identified states and the details of the catalytic mechanism. This Commentary addresses these issues in the framework of existing synthetic and chemical precedent studies aimed at developing rational structure-function correlations and presents structural and reactivity targets for future studies.

Nickel complexes of o-amidochalcogenophenolate(2-)/o-iminochalcogenobenzosemiquinonate(1-) pi-radical: synthesis, structures, electron spin resonance, and x-ray absorption spectroscopic evidence

The preparation of complexes trans-[Ni(-SeC(6)H(4)-o-NH-)(2)](-) (1), cis-[Ni(-TeC(6)H(4)-o-NH-)(2)](-) (2), trans-[Ni(-SC(6)H(4)-o-NH-)(2)](-) (3), and [Ni(-SC(6)H(4)-o-S-)(2)](-) (4) by oxidative addition of 2-aminophenyl dichalcogenides to anionic [Ni(CO)(SePh)(3)](-) proves to be a successful approach in this direction. The cis arrangement of the two tellurium atoms in complex 2 is attributed to the intramolecular Te.Te contact interaction (Te.Te contact distance of 3.455 A). The UV-vis electronic spectra of complexes 1 and 2 exhibit an intense absorption at 936 and 942 nm, respectively, with extinction coefficient epsilon > 10000 L mol(-)(1) cm(-)(1). The observed small g anisotropy, the principal g values at g(1) = 2.036, g(2) = 2.062, and g(3) = 2.120 for 1 and g(1) = 2.021, g(2) = 2.119, and g(3) = 2.250 for 2, respectively, indicates the ligand radical character accompanied by the contribution of the singly occupied d orbital of Ni(III). The X-ray absorption spectra of all four complexes show L(III) peaks at approximately 854.5 and approximately 853.5 eV. This may indicate a variation of contribution of the Ni(II)-Ni(III) valence state. According to the DFT calculation, the unpaired electron of complex 1 and 2 is mainly distributed on the 3d(xz)() orbital of the nickel ion and on the 4p(z)() orbital of selenium (tellurium, 5p(z)()) as well as the 2p(z)() orbital of nitrogen of the ligand. On the basis of X-ray structural data, UV-vis absorption, electron spin resonance, magnetic properties, DFT computation, and X-ray absorption (K- and L-edge) spectroscopy, the monoanionic trans-[Ni(-SeC(6)H(4)-o-NH-)(2)](-) and cis-[Ni(-TeC(6)H(4)-o-NH-)(2)](-) complexes are appositely described as a resonance hybrid form of Ni(III)-bis(o-amidochalcogenophenolato(2-)) and Ni(II)-(o-amidochalcogenophenolato(2-))-(o-iminochalcogenobenzosemiquinonato(1-) pi-radical; i.e., complexes 1 and 2 contain delocalized oxidation levels of the nickel ion and ligands.

Spectroscopic and computational studies of a Ni(+)-CO model complex: implications for the acetyl-CoA synthase catalytic mechanism

The four-coordinate Ni(+) complex [PhTt(t)(Bu)]Ni(I)CO, where PhTt(t)()(Bu) = phenyltris((tert-buthylthio)methyl)borate (a tridentate thioether donor ligand), serves as a possible model for key Ni-CO reaction intermediates in the acetyl-CoA synthase (ACS) catalytic cycle. Resonance Raman, electronic absorption, magnetic circular dichroism (MCD), variable-temperature variable-field MCD, and electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopies were utilized in conjunction with density functional theory and semiemperical INDO/S-CI calculations to investigate the ground and excited states of [PhTt(t)()(Bu)]Ni(I)CO. These studies reveal extensive Ni(+) --> CO pi-back-bonding interactions, as evidenced by a low C-O stretching frequency (1995 cm(-)(1)), a calculated C-O stretching force constant of 15.5 mdyn/A (as compared to k(CO)(free CO) = 18.7 mdyn/A), and strong Ni(+) --> CO charge-transfer absorption intensities. Calculations reveal that this high degree of pi-back-bonding is due to the fact that the Ni(+) 3d orbitals are in close energetic proximity to the CO pi acceptor orbitals. In the ACS "paramagnetic catalytic cycle", the high degree of pi-back-bonding in the putative Ni(+)-CO intermediate (the NiFeC species) is not expected to preclude methyl transfer from CH(3)-CoFeSP.

Six-coordinate and five-coordinate Fe(II)(CN)(2)(CO)(x) thiolate complexes (x = 1, 2): synthetic advances for iron sites of [NiFe] hydrogenases

The dicyanodicarbonyliron(II) thiolate complexes trans,cis-[(CN)(2)(CO)(2)Fe(S,S-C-R)](-) (R = OEt (2), N(Et)(2) (3)) were prepared by the reaction of [Na][S-C(S)-R] and [Fe(CN)(2)(CO)(3)(Br)](-) (1). Complex 1 was obtained from oxidative addition of cyanogen bromide to [Fe(CN)(CO)(4)](-). In a similar fashion, reaction of complex 1 with [Na][S,O-C(5)H(4)N], and [Na][S,N-C(5)H(4)] produced the six-coordinate trans,cis-[(CN)(2)(CO)(2)Fe(S,O-C(5)H(4)N)](-) (6) and trans,cis-[(CN)(2)(CO)(2)Fe(S,N-C(5)H(4))](-) (7) individually. Photolysis of tetrahydrofuran (THF) solution of complexes 2, 3, and 7 under CO led to formation of the coordinatively unsaturated iron(II) dicyanocarbonyl thiolate compounds [(CN)(2)(CO)Fe(S,S-C-R)](-) (R = OEt (4), N(Et)(2) (5)) and [(CN)(2)(CO)Fe(S,N-C(5)H(4))](-) (8), respectively. The IR v(CN) stretching frequencies and patterns of complexes 4, 5, and 8 have unambiguously identified two CN(-) ligands occupying cis positions. In addition, density functional theory calculations suggest that the architecture of five-coordinate complexes 4, 5, and 8 with a vacant site trans to the CO ligand and two CN(-) ligands occupying cis positions serves as a conformational preference. Complexes 2, 3, and 7 were reobtained when the THF solution of complexes 4, 5, and 8 were exposed to CO atmosphere at 25 degrees C individually. Obviously, CO ligand can be reversibly bound to the Fe(II) site in these model compounds. Isotopic shift experiments demonstrated the lability of carbonyl ligands of complexes 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, and 8. Complexes [(CN)(2)(CO)Fe(S,S-C-R)](-) and NiA/NiC states [NiFe] hydrogenases from D. gigas exhibit a similar one-band pattern in the v(CO) region and two-band pattern in the v(CN) region individually, but in different positions, which may be accounted for by the distinct electronic effects between [S,S-C-R](-) and cysteine ligands. Also, the facile formations of five-coordinate complexes 4, 5, and 8 imply that the strong sigma-donor, weak pi-acceptor CN(-) ligands play a key role in creating/stabilizing five-coordinate iron(II) [(CN)(2)(CO)Fe(S,S-C-R)](-) complexes with a vacant coordination site trans to the CO ligand.

Nickel containing CO dehydrogenases and hydrogenases

The two redox catalysts described here can generate very low potential electrons in one direction and perform chemically difficult reductions in the other. The chemical transformations occur at unusual metal clusters. Spectroscopic, crystallographic, and kinetic analyses are converging on answers to how the metals in these clusters are arranged and how they are involved in the chemical and redox steps. The first structure of CO dehydrogenase, which will appear in the next year, will help define a firm chemical basis for future mechanistic studies. In the immediate future, we hope to learn whether the hydride intermediate in hydrogenase or the carbonyl intermediate in CO dehydrogenase bind to the Ni or Fe subsites in these heterometallic clusters. Or perhaps could they be bridged to two metals? Inter- and intramolecular wires have been proposed that connect the catalytic redox machine to proximal redox centers leading eventually to the ultimate redox partners. Elucidating the pathways of electron flow is a priority for the future. There is evidence for molecular channels delivering substrates to the active sites of these enzymes. In the next few years, these channels will be better defined. The products of CO2 and proton reduction are passed to the active sites of other enzymes and, in the case of H2, even passed from one organism to another. In the future, the mechanism of gas transfer will be uncovered. General principles of how these redox reactions are catalyzed are becoming lucid as the reactions are modeled theoretically and experimentally. Proton and CO2 reduction and the generation of C-C bonds from simple precursors are important reactions in industry. H2 could be the clean fuel of the future. Hopefully, the knowledge gained from studies of hydrogenase, CO dehydrogenase, and acetyl-CoA synthase can be used to improve life on earth.