Photolysis Secondary Products of Cobaloximes and Imino/Oxime Compounds Controlled by Steric Hindrance Imposed by the Lewis Base

Hydrogen production by a fully de novo enzyme

Molecular catalysts based on abundant elements that function in neutral water represent an essential component of sustainable hydrogen production. Artificial hydrogenases based on protein-inorganic hybrids have emerged as an intriguing class of catalysts for this purpose. We have prepared a novel artificial hydrogenase based on cobaloxime bound to a de novo three alpha-helical protein, α3C, via a pyridyl-based unnatural amino acid. The functionalized de novo protein was characterised by UV-visible, CD, and EPR spectroscopy, as well as MALDI spectrometry, which confirmed the presence and ligation of cobaloxime to the protein. The new de novo enzyme produced hydrogen under electrochemical, photochemical and reductive chemical conditions in neutral water solution. A change in hydrogen evolution capability of the de novo enzyme compared with native cobaloxime was observed, with turnover numbers around 80% of that of cobaloxime, and hydrogen evolution rates of 40% of that of cobaloxime. We discuss these findings in the context of existing literature, how our study contributes important information about the functionality of cobaloximes as hydrogen evolving catalysts in protein environments, and the feasibility of using de novo proteins for development into artificial metalloenzymes. Small de novo proteins as enzyme scaffolds have the potential to function as upscalable bioinspired catalysts thanks to their efficient atom economy, and the findings presented here show that these types of novel enzymes are a possible product.

Evaluation of the coordination preferences and catalytic pathways of heteroaxial cobalt oximes towards hydrogen generation

Three new heteroaxial cobalt oxime catalysts, namely [CoIII(prdioxH)(4tBupy)(Cl)]PF6 (1), [CoIII(prdioxH)(4Pyrpy)(Cl)]PF6 (2), and [CoIII(prdioxH)(4Bzpy)(Cl)]PF6 (3) have been studied. These species contain chloro and substituted tert-butyl/pyrrolidine/benzoyl-pyridino ligands axially coordinated to a trivalent cobalt ion bound to the N4-oxime macrocycle (2E,2'E,3E,3'E)-3,3'-(propane-1,3-diylbis(azanylylidene))bis(butan-2-one)dioxime, abbreviated (prdioxH)- in its monoprotonated form. Emphasis was given to the spectroscopic investigation of the coordination preferences and spin configurations among the different 3d6 CoIII, 3d7 CoII, and 3d8 CoI oxidation states of the metal, and to the catalytic proton reduction with an evaluation of the pathways for the generation of H2via CoIII-H- or CoII-H- intermediates by mono and bimetallic routes. The strong field imposed by the (prdioxH)- ligand precludes the existence of high-spin configurations, and 6-coordinate geometry is favored by the LSCoIII species. Species 1 and 3 show a split CoIII/CoII electrochemical wave associated with partial chemical conversion to a [CoIII(prdioxH)Cl2] species, whereas 2 shows a single event. The reduction of these CoIII complexes yields LSCoII and LSCoI species in which the pyridine acts as the dominant axial ligand. In the presence of protons, the catalytically active CoI species generates a CoIII-H- hydride species that reacts heterolytically with another proton to generate dihydrogen. The intermediacy of a trifluoroacetate-bound CoIII/CoII couple in the catalytic mechanism is proposed. These results allow for a generalization of the behavior of heteroaxial cobalt macrocycles and serve as guidelines for the development of new catalysts based on macrocyclic frameworks.

A novel ruthenium(II)-cobaloxime supramolecular complex for photocatalytic H2 evolution: synthesis, characterisation and mechanistic studies

We report the synthesis and characterization of novel mixed-metal binuclear ruthenium(II)-cobalt(II) photocatalysts for hydrogen evolution in acidic acetonitrile. First, 2-(2'-pyridyl)benzothiazole (pbt), 1, was reacted with RuCl(3)·xH(2)O to produce [Ru(pbt)(2)Cl(2)]·0.25CH(3)COCH(3), 2, which was then reacted with 1,10-phenanthroline-5,6-dione (phendione), 3, in order to produce [Ru(pbt)(2)(phendione)](PF(6))(2)·4H(2)O, 4. Compound 4 was then reacted with 4-pyridinecarboxaldehyde in order to produce [Ru(pbt)(2)(L-pyr)](PF(6))(2)·9.5H(2)O, 5 (where L-pyr = (4-pyridine)oxazolo[4,5-f]phenanthroline). Compound 5 was then reacted with [Co(dmgBF(2))(2)(H(2)O)(2)] (where dmgBF(2) = difluoroboryldimethylglyoximato) in order to produce the mixed-metal binuclear complex, [Ru(pbt)(2)(L-pyr)Co(dmgBF(2))(2)(H(2)O)](PF(6))(2)·11H(2)O·1.5CH(3)COCH(3), 6. [Ru(Me(2)bpy)(2)(L-pyr)Co(dmgBF(2))(2)(OH(2))](PF(6))(2), 7 (where Me(2)bpy = 1,10-phenanthroline, 4,4'-dimethyl-2,2'-bipyridine) and [Ru(phen)(2)(L-pyr)Co(dmgBF(2))(2)(OH(2))](PF(6))(2), 8 were also synthesised. All complexes were characterized by elemental analysis, ESI MS, HRMS, UV-visible absorption, (11)B, (19)F, and (59)Co NMR, ESR spectroscopy, and cyclic voltammetry, where appropriate. Photocatalytic studies carried out in acidified acetonitrile demonstrated constant hydrogen generation longer than a 42 hour period as detected by gas chromatography. Time resolved spectroscopic measurements were performed on compound 6, which proved an intramolecular electron transfer from an excited Ru(II) metal centre to the Co(II) metal centre via the bridging L-pyr ligand. This resulted in the formation of a cobalt(I)-containing species that is essential for the production of H(2) gas in the presence of H(+) ions. A proposed mechanism for the generation of hydrogen is presented.

The hydrogen catalyst cobaloxime: a multifrequency EPR and DFT study of cobaloxime's electronic structure

Solar fuels research aims to mimic photosynthesis and devise integrated systems that can capture, convert, and store solar energy in the form of high-energy molecular bonds. Molecular hydrogen is generally considered an ideal solar fuel because its combustion is essentially pollution-free. Cobaloximes rank among the most promising earth-abundant catalysts for the reduction of protons to molecular hydrogen. We have used multifrequency EPR spectroscopy at X-band, Q-band, and D-band combined with DFT calculations to reveal electronic structure and establish correlations among the structure, surroundings, and catalytic activity of these complexes. To assess the strength and nature of ligand cobalt interactions, the BF(2)-capped cobaloxime, Co(dmgBF(2))(2), was studied in a variety of different solvents with a range of polarities and stoichiometric amounts of potential ligands to the cobalt ion. This allows the differentiation of labile and strongly coordinating axial ligands for the Co(II) complex. Labile, or weakly coordinating, ligands such as methanol result in larger g-tensor anisotropy than strongly coordinating ligands such as pyridine. In addition, a coordination number effect is seen for the strongly coordinating ligands with both singly ligated LCo(dmgBF(2))(2) and doubly ligated L(2)Co(dmgBF(2))(2) . The presence of two strongly coordinating axial ligands leads to the smallest g-tensor anisotropy. The relevance of the strength of the axial ligand(s) to the catalytic efficiency of Co(dmgBF(2))(2) is discussed. Finally, the influence of molecular oxygen and formation of Co(III) superoxide radicals LCo(dmgBF(2))(2)O(2)(•) is studied. The experimental results are compared with a comprehensive set of DFT calculations on Co(dmgBF(2))(2) model systems with various axial ligands. Comparison with experimental values for the "key" magnetic parameters such as g-tensor and (59)Co hyperfine coupling tensor allows the determination of the conformation of the axially ligated Co(dmgBF(2))(2) complexes. The data presented here are vital for understanding the influence of solvent and ligand coordination on the catalytic efficiency of cobaloximes.

Syntheses and characterization of organo-group 14 cobaloxime compounds

Reactions of cobaloxime Na[(t-BuPy)Co(DH)2] with Ph3ECl (E = Si, Ge, Sn, and Pb) were investigated. Metal-metal bonded complexes (t-BuPy)Co(DH)2EPh3 were isolated for E = Sn and Pb. (t-BuPy)Co(DH)2SnPh3.(C2H5)2O, C39H52CoN5O5Sn, crystallized in the monoclinic space group P21/c (Z = 4) with unit cell dimensions a = 11.6443(6) A, b = 15.6085(8) A, c = 22.6354(12) A, beta = 96.634(1) degrees , and V = 4086.4(4) A3 at 295(2) K. The structure resembled those of six-coordinate alkyl cobaloxime complexes and had Co-NPy and Co-Sn distances of 2.056(2) and 2.5568(3) A, respectively. (t-BuPy)Co(DH)2PbPh3, C35H42CoN5O4Pb, crystallized in the monoclinic space group P21/n (Z = 4) with unit cell dimensions a = 15.0104(7) A, b = 15.7693(8) A, c = 16.6230(8) A, beta = 114.348(1) degrees , and V = 3584.8(3) A3 at 295(2) K. The complex was nearly isostructural with the Sn analogue and had Co-NPy and Co-Pb distances of 2.049(2) and 2.6191(4) A, respectively. Coupling of the ortho phenyl protons to the spin 1/2 isotopes of Sn and of Pb was a characteristic feature of the 1H NMR spectrum. Additional, longer range couplings were observed for the Pb complex and for both complexes in the 13C NMR. Metal-metal bonded complexes were not obtained for E = Si or Ge. The products isolated in the latter case were the hydride Ph3GeH and the cobalt(II) complex (t-BuPy)Co(DH)2,C17H27CoN5O4, which crystallized in the orthorhombic space group Pbcn (Z = 8). Unit cell dimensions were a = 17.9821(11) A, b = 9.7449(6) A, c = 22.7374(15) A, and V = 3984.4(4) A3 at 295(2) K. The five-coordinate complex had Co-NPy = 2.096(2) A and was dimeric in the lattice.