FT-EPR Study of Methyl Radicals Photogenerated from [Ru(Me)(SnPh3)(CO)2(iPr-DAB)] and [Pt(Me)4(iPr-DAB)]: An Example of a Strong Excitation Wavelength Dependent CIDEP Effect

Investigating radical pair reaction dynamics of B12 coenzymes 2: Time-resolved electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy

The chemistry of B₁₂ coenzymes is highly sensitive to the nature of their upper axial ligand and can be further tuned by their environment. Methylcobalamin, for example, generates RPs photochemically but undergoes non-radical biochemistry when bound to its dependent enzymes. Owing to the transient nature of the reaction intermediates, it remains a challenge to investigate how their environment controls reactivity. Here, we describe how to use time-resolved electron paramagnetic spectroscopy to directly monitor the generation and evolution of transient radicals that result from the photolysis of a B₁₂ coenzyme. This method produces evolving, spin-polarized spectra that are rich in mechanistic detail.

Photochemical Spin Dynamics of the Vitamin B12 Derivative, Methylcobalamin

Derivatives of vitamin B₁₂ are six-coordinate cobalt corrinoids found in humans, other animals, and microorganisms. By acting as enzymatic cofactors and photoreceptor chromophores, they serve vital metabolic and photoprotective functions. Depending on the context, the chemical mechanisms of the biologically active derivatives of B₁₂-methylcobalamin (MeCbl) and 5'-deoxyadenosylcobalamin (AdoCbl)-can be very different from one another. The extent to which this chemistry is tuned by the upper axial ligand, however, is not yet clear. Here, we have used a combination of time-resolved Fourier transform-electron paramagnetic resonance (FT-EPR), magnetic field effect experiments, and spin dynamic simulations to reveal that the upper axial ligand alone only results in relatively minor changes to the photochemical spin dynamics of B₁₂. By studying the photolysis of MeCbl, we find that, similar to AdoCbl, the initial (or "geminate") radical pairs (RPs) are born predominantly in the singlet spin state and thus originate from singlet excited-state precursors. This is in contrast to the triplet RPs and precursors proposed previously. Unlike AdoCbl, the extent of geminate recombination is limited following MeCbl photolysis, resulting in significant distortions to the FT-EPR signal caused by polarization from spin-correlated methyl-methyl radical "f-pairs" formed following rapid diffusion. Despite the photophysical mechanism that precedes photolysis of MeCbl showing wavelength dependence, the subsequent spin dynamics appear to be largely independent of excitation wavelength, again similar to AdoCbl. Our data finally provide clarity to what in the literature to date has been a confused and contradictory picture. We conclude that, although the upper axial position of MeCbl and AdoCbl does impact their reactivity to some extent, the remarkable biochemical diversity of these fascinating molecules is most likely a result of tuning by their protein environment.

Exploring photoreactions between polyazaaromatic Ru(II) complexes and biomolecules by chemically induced dynamic nuclear polarization measurements

Steady-state (1)H photo-chemically induced dynamic nuclear polarization (CIDNP) experiments were conducted at 14.1 T on deoxygenated (buffered pH 7) aqueous solutions of [Ru(phen)(3)](2+), [Ru(tap)(2)(phen)](2+), and [Ru(tap)(3)](2+) (tap = 1,4,5,8-tetraazaphenanthrene; phen = 1,10-phenanthroline) in the presence of guanosine-5'-monophosphate or N-acetyltyrosine. For the first time, CIDNP arising from photo-oxidation by polyazaaromatic Ru(II) complexes is reported. In agreement with the occurrence of a photo-electron-transfer process, photo-CIDNP effects are observed with [Ru(tap)(3)](2+) and [Ru(tap)(2)(phen)](2+) but not with [Ru(phen)(3)](2+). With [Ru(tap)(2)(phen)](2+), no significant photo-CIDNP is observed for the (1)H nuclei of the phen ligand, consistent with the fact that the metal-to-ligand charge-transfer triplet excited states responsible for the photo-oxidation involve a tap ligand. Successive experiments with [Ru(tap)(3)](2+) highlight the accumulation of long-lived radical species in solution that cause (1)H NMR signal broadening and photo-CIDNP extinction. The (1)H photo-CIDNP observed for the biomolecules is rather weak, less than about 30% of the equilibrium magnetization. However, up to 60% polarization enhancement is observed for H-2 and H-7 of the tap ligands, which indicates high unpaired electron density in the vicinity of these atoms in the transient radical pair. This is consistent with the structure of known photoadducts formed, for instance, between the metallic compounds and the guanine base of mono- and polynucleotides. Indeed, in these adducts the covalent bond involves carbon C-2 or C-7 of a tap ligand. The occurrence of photo-CIDNP with polyazaaromatic Ru(II) complexes opens new perspectives for the study of this type of compound.

Sum-over-States Calculation of the Specific Rotations of Some Substituted Oxiranes, Chloropropionitrile, Ethane, and Norbornenone

A sum-over-states approach has been applied to the calculation of the specific rotations of several substituted oxiranes, 2-chloropropionitrile, and 30 degrees-rotated ethane. In each case, the first few excited states proved to have only a relatively small effect on the calculated specific rotation. It was necessary to use a very large number of excited states in order to achieve convergence with the results of the more direct linear response method. However, the latter does not give information on which excited states are important in determining the specific rotation. Norbornenone is unique in that its greatly enhanced specific rotation as compared to norbornanone is associated with the low-energy n-pi* transition. The C=C bond orbitals interact with the C=O in the LUMO, and a density difference plot for going from the ground state to the first excited state clearly shows the perturbation of the C=C.

Chiroptical Properties of 2-Chloropropionitrile

(S)-(-)-2-chloropropionitrile has been prepared from (S)-(+)-alanine, and the ORD curves have been obtained in several solvents and in the gas phase. A reaction field extrapolation of the solution data to the gas phase led to an estimated value of [alpha]D = -21 degrees, whereas the interpolated gas phase value is -8 degrees. The specific rotation was found to be temperature dependent in ethylcyclohexane solution over the range 0-100 degrees C. Although rotation of the methyl group leads to large calculated effects on the specific rotation, it does not lead to the temperature dependence. Rather, a low frequency mode at 224 cm(-1) was found to be responsible. This is a mixed mode involving methyl torsion and C-C[triple bond]N bending. The specific rotations calculated at the B3LYP/aug-cc-pVDZ level including electric field dependent functions are in very good agreement with the measured gas phase values.

UV-visible absorption spectra of [Ru(E)(E')(CO)(2)(iPr-DAB)] (E = E' = SnPh(3) or Cl; E = SnPh(3) or Cl, E' = CH(3); iPr-DAB = N,N'-Di-isopropyl-1,4-diaza-1,3-butadiene): combination of CASSCF/CASPT2 and TD-DFT calculations

The UV-visible absorption spectra of [Ru(E)(E')(CO)(2)(iPr-DAB)] (E = E' = SnPh(3) or Cl; E = SnPh(3) or Cl, E' = CH(3); iPr-DAB = N,N'-di-isopropyl-1,4-diaza-1,3-butadiene) are investigated using CASSCF/CASPT2 and TD-DFT calculations on model complexes [Ru(E)(E')(CO)(2)(Me-DAB)] (E = E' = SnH(3) or Cl; E = SnH(3) or Cl, E' = CH(3); Me-DAB = N,N'-dimethyl-1,4-diaza-1,3-butadiene). The calculated transition energies and oscillator strengths allow an unambiguous assignment of the spectra of the nonhalide complexes [Ru(SnPh(3))(2)(CO)(2)(iPr-DAB)] and [Ru(SnPh(3))(Me)(CO)(2)(iPr-DAB)]. The agreement between the CASSCF/CASPT2 and TD-DFT approaches is remarkably good in the case of these nonhalide complexes. The lowest-energy part of the spectrum (visible absorption) originates in electronic transitions that correspond to excitations from the axial E-Ru-E' sigma(2) orbital into the low-lying pi(DAB) orbital (sigma-bond-to-ligand charge transfer, SBLCT, transitions), while the absorption between 25 000 and 35 000 cm(-1) is due to metal-to-ligand charge transfer (MLCT) excitations from the 4d(Ru) orbitals to pi(DAB) (MLCT). Above 35 000 cm(-1), the transitions mostly correspond to MLCT and SBLCT excitations into pi(CO) orbitals. Analysis of the occupied sigma orbitals involved in electronic transitions of the nonhalide complexes shows that the Kohn-Sham orbitals are generally more delocalized than their CASSCF/CASPT2 counterparts. The CASSCF/CASPT2 and TD-DFT approaches lead to different descriptions of electronic transitions of the halide complexes [Ru(Cl)(2)(CO)(2)(Me-DAB)] and [Ru(Cl)(Me)(CO)(2)(Me-DAB)]. CASSCF/CASPT2 reproduces well the observed blue-shift of the lowest absorption band on going from the nonhalide to halide complexes. TD-DFT systematically underestimates the transition energies of these complexes, although it reproduces the general spectral features. The CASSCF/CASPT2 and TD-DFT techniques differ significantly in their assessment of the chloride contribution. Thus, CASSCF/CASPT2 assigns the lowest-energy absorption to predominantly Ru --> DAB MLCT transitions, while TD-DFT predicts a mixed XLCT/MLCT character, with the XLCT component being predominant. (XLCT stands for halide (X)-to-ligand-charge transfer.) Analysis of Kohn-Sham orbitals shows a very important 3p(Cl) admixture into the high-lying occupied orbitals, in contrast to the CASSCF/CASSPT2 molecular orbitals which are nearly pure 4d(Ru) with the usual contribution of the back-donation to pi(CO) orbitals. Further dramatic differences were found between characters of the occupied sigma orbitals, as calculated by CASSCF/CASPT2 and DFT. They differ even in their bonding character with respect to the axial E-Ru and Cl-Ru bonds. These differences are attributed to a drawback of the DFT technique with respect to the dynamical correlation effects which become very important in complexes with a polar Ru-Cl bond. Similar differences in the CASSCF/CASPT2 and TD-DFT descriptions of the lowest allowed transition of [Ru(Cl)(2)(CO)(2)(Me-DAB)] and [Ru(Cl)(Me)(CO)(2)(Me-DAB)] were found by comparing the changes of Mulliken population upon excitation. This comparison also reveals that CASSCF/CASPT2 generally predicts smaller electron density redistribution upon excitation than TD-DFT, despite the more localized character of CASSCF/CASPT2 molecular orbitals.

Air-Tight Three-Electrode Design of Coaxial Electrochemical-EPR Cell for Redox Studies at Low Temperatures

The weak point of the original Allendoerfer electrochemical-EPR cell has been the reference electrode, placed outside the space-limited electrolysis cavity or not used at all in experiments at low temperatures. We present here an elegant solution to this problem, based on a modified air-tight design of an Allendoerfer cell equipped with a silver-wire pseudoreference electrode. The cell performance is demonstrated on one-electron electrochemical oxidation of heterocyclic 3,6-diphenyl-1,2-dithiine and one-electron reduction of 6-methyl-6-phenylfulvene and the pseudo-octahedral complex fac-[Re(benzyl)(CO)3(dmb)] (dmb = 4,4'-dimethyl-2,2'-bipyridine). In the latter case, the EPR spectrum of the radical anion [Re(benzyl)(CO)3(dmb)]•- points to predominant localization of the unpaired electron on the dmb ligand, in agreement with UV-VIS and IR spectroelectrochemical data.