Mechanistic Insights into C–H Oxidations by Ruthenium(III)-Pterin Complexes: Impact of Basicity of the Pterin Ligand and Electron Acceptability of the Metal Center on the Transition States

Insights into Molecular Structure of Pterins Suitable for Biomedical Applications

Pterins are an inseparable part of living organisms. Pterins participate in metabolic reactions mostly as tetrahydropterins. Dihydropterins are usually intermediates of these reactions, whereas oxidized pterins can be biomarkers of diseases. In this review, we analyze the available data on the quantum chemistry of unconjugated pterins as well as their photonics. This gives a comprehensive overview about the electronic structure of pterins and offers some benefits for biomedicine applications: (1) one can affect the enzymatic reactions of aromatic amino acid hydroxylases, NO synthases, and alkylglycerol monooxygenase through UV irradiation of H₄pterins since UV provokes electron donor reactions of H₄pterins; (2) the emission properties of H₂pterins and oxidized pterins can be used in fluorescence diagnostics; (3) two-photon absorption (TPA) should be used in such pterin-related infrared therapy because single-photon absorption in the UV range is inefficient and scatters in vivo; (4) one can affect pathogen organisms through TPA excitation of H₄pterin cofactors, such as the molybdenum cofactor, leading to its detachment from proteins and subsequent oxidation; (5) metal nanostructures can be used for the UV-vis, fluorescence, and Raman spectroscopy detection of pterin biomarkers. Therefore, we investigated both the biochemistry and physical chemistry of pterins and suggested some potential prospects for pterin-related biomedicine.

Free Energies of Proton-Coupled Electron Transfer Reagents and Their Applications

We present an update and revision to our 2010 review on the topic of proton-coupled electron transfer (PCET) reagent thermochemistry. Over the past decade, the data and thermochemical formalisms presented in that review have been of value to multiple fields. Concurrently, there have been advances in the thermochemical cycles and experimental methods used to measure these values. This Review (i) summarizes those advancements, (ii) corrects systematic errors in our prior review that shifted many of the absolute values in the tabulated data, (iii) provides updated tables of thermochemical values, and (iv) discusses new conclusions and opportunities from the assembled data and associated techniques. We advocate for updated thermochemical cycles that provide greater clarity and reduce experimental barriers to the calculation and measurement of Gibbs free energies for the conversion of X to XH_n in PCET reactions. In particular, we demonstrate the utility and generality of reporting potentials of hydrogenation, E°(V vs H₂), in almost any solvent and how these values are connected to more widely reported bond dissociation free energies (BDFEs). The tabulated data demonstrate that E°(V vs H₂) and BDFEs are generally insensitive to the nature of the solvent and, in some cases, even to the phase (gas versus solution). This Review also presents introductions to several emerging fields in PCET thermochemistry to give readers windows into the diversity of research being performed. Some of the next frontiers in this rapidly growing field are coordination-induced bond weakening, PCET in novel solvent environments, and reactions at material interfaces.

Concerted Proton-Electron Transfer Reactivity at a Multimetallic Co4O4 Cubane Cluster

High-valent oxocobalt(IV) species have been invoked as key intermediates in oxidative catalysis, but investigations into the chemistry of proton-coupled redox reactions of such species have been limited. Herein, the reactivity of an established water oxidation catalyst, [Co₄O₄(OAc)₄(py)₄][PF₆], toward H-atom abstraction reactions is described. Mechanistic analyses and density functional theory (DFT) calculations support a concerted proton-electron transfer (CPET) pathway in which the high energy intermediates formed in stepwise pathways are bypassed. Natural bond orbital (NBO) calculations point to cooperative donor-acceptor σ interactions at the transition state, whereby the H-atom of the substrate is transferred to an orbital delocalized over a Co₃(μ₃-O) fragment. The mechanistic insights provide design principles for the development of catalytic C-H activation processes mediated by a multimetallic oxo metal cluster.

Mechanistic Insight into Concerted Proton-Electron Transfer of a Ru(IV)-Oxo Complex: A Possible Oxidative Asynchronicity

We have thoroughly investigated the oxidation of benzyl alcohol (BA) derivatives by a Ru^IV(O) complex (Ru^IV(O)) in the absence or presence of Brønsted acids in order to elucidate the proton-coupled electron-transfer (PCET) mechanisms in C-H oxidation on the basis of a kinetic analysis. Oxidation of BA derivatives by Ru^IV(O) without acids proceeded through concerted proton-electron transfer (CPET) with a large kinetic isotope effect (KIE). In contrast, the oxidation of 3,4,5-trimethoxy-BA ((MeO)₃-BA) by Ru^IV(O) was accelerated by the addition of acids, in which the KIE value reached 1.1 with TFA (550 mM), indicating an alteration of the PCET mechanism from CPET to stepwise electron transfer (ET) followed by proton transfer (PT). Although the oxidized products of BA derivatives were confirmed to be the corresponding benzaldehydes in the range of acid concentrations (0-550 mM), a one-electron-reduction potential of Ru^IV(O) was positively shifted with increases in the concentrations of acids. The elevated reduction potential of Ru^IV(O) strongly influenced the PCET mechanisms in the oxidation of (MeO)₃-BA, changing the mechanism from CPET to ET/PT, as evidenced by the driving-force dependence of logarithms of reaction rate constants in light of the Marcus theory of ET. In addition, dependence of activation parameters on acid concentrations suggested that an oxidative asynchronous CPET, which is not an admixture of the CPET and ET/PT mechanisms, is probably operative in the boundary region (0 mM < [TFA] < 50 mM) involving a one-proton-interacted Ru^IV(O)···H⁺ as a dominant reactive species.

A Remote 'Imidazole'-Based Ruthenium(II) Para-Cymene Pre-catalyst for the Selective Oxidation Reaction of Alkyl Arenes and Alcohols

Herein we disclosed the use of a remote 'imidazole'-based precatalyst [(para-cymene)Ru^II (L)Cl]⁺ , C-1 where L=2-(4-substituted-phenyl)-1H-imidazo[4,5-f]^[1,10] phenanthroline) for the selective oxidation of a variety of alkyl arenes/heteroarenes and alcohols to their corresponding aldehydes or ketones in presence of tert-butyl hydroperoxide (TBHP). The remote 'imidazole' moiety present in the complex facilitates the activation of oxidant and subsequent generation of active species via the release of para-cymene from C-1, which in-turn was less effective without the 'imidazole' moiety. The mechanistic features of C-1 promoted oxidation of alkyl arenes were also assessed from spectroscopic, kinetic, and few control experiments. The substrate scope for C-1 promoted oxidation reaction was assessed based on the selective oxidation of 27-different alkyl arenes/heteroarenes and 25 different alcohols to their corresponding aldehydes/ketones in moderate to good yields.

Development of functionality of metal complexes based on proton-coupled electron transfer

Proton-coupled electron transfer (PCET) is ubiquitous and fundamental in many kinds of redox reactions. In this paper, are described PCET reactions in metal complexes to highlight their useful and unique properties and functionalities.

Efficient and selective oxidation of alcohols to carbonyl compounds at room temperature by a ruthenium complex catalyst and hydrogen peroxide

An efficient system comprising a ruthenium complex and hydrogen peroxide was developed for the oxidation of various primary and secondary alcohols at room temperature.

Fundamental electron-transfer and proton-coupled electron-transfer properties of Ru(iv)-oxo complexes

Reorganization energies (λ) of electron transfer (ET) and proton-coupled ET (PCET) from electron donors to isolated Ru^IV(O) complexes were determined to be in the range of 1.70–1.88 eV (ET) and 1.20–1.26 eV (PCET).

Thermally Induced Oxidation of [FeII(tacn)2](OTf)2 (tacn = 1,4,7-triazacyclononane)

We previously reported the spin-crossover (SC) properties of [FeII(tacn)2](OTf)2 (1) (tacn = 1,4,7-triazacyclononane) [Eur. J. Inorg. Chem. 2013, 2115]. Upon heating under dynamic vacuum, 1 undergoes oxidation to generate a low spin iron(III) complex. The oxidation of the iron center was found to be facilitated by initial oxidation of the ligand via loss of an H atom. The resulting complex was hypothesized to have the formulation [FeIII(tacn)(tacn-H)](OTf)2 (2) where tacn-H is N-deprotonated tacn. The formulation was confirmed by ESI-MS. The powder EPR spectrum of the oxidized product at 77 K reveals the formation of a low-spin iron(III) species with rhombic spectrum (g = 1.98, 2.10, 2.19). We have indirectly detected H2 formation during the heating of 1 by reacting the headspace with HgO. Formation of water (1HNMR in anhydrous d6-DMSO) and elemental mercury were observed. To further support this claim, we independently synthesized [FeIII(tacn)2](OTf)3 (3) and treated it with one equiv base yielding 2. The structures of 3 was characterized by X-ray crystallography. Compound 2 also exhibits a low spin iron(III) rhombic signal (g = 1.97, 2.11, 2.23) in DMF at 77 K. Variable temperature magnetic susceptibility measurements indicate that 3 undergoes gradual spin increase from 2 to 400 K. DFT studies indicate that the deprotonated nitrogen in 2 forms a bond to iron(III) exhibiting double bond character (Fe-N, 1.807 Å).

Characteristics and reactivity of ruthenium–oxo complexes

In this perspective, we have surveyed the synthetic procedure, characteristics, and reactivity of high-valent ruthenium–oxo complexes.