NO and N2O Release from the Trityl Diazeniumdiolate Complexes [M(O2N2CPh3)3]- (M = Fe, Co)

Reaction of MBr₂ with 3 equiv of [K(18-crown-6)][O₂N₂CPh₃] generates the trityl diazeniumdiolate complexes [K(18-crown-6)][M(O₂N₂CPh₃)₃] (M = Co, 2; Fe, 3) in good yields. Irradiation of 2 and 3 using 371 nm light led to NO formation in 10 and 1% yields (calculated assuming a maximum of 6 equiv of NO produced per complex), respectively. N₂O was also formed during the photolysis of 2, in 63% yield, whereas photolysis of 3 led to the formation of N₂O, as well as Ph₃CN(H)OCPh₃, in 37 and 5% yields, respectively. These products are indicative of diazeniumdiolate fragmentation via both C-N and N-N bond cleavage pathways. In contrast, oxidation of complexes 2 and 3 with 1.2 equiv of [Ag(MeCN)₄][PF₆] led to N₂O formation but no NO formation, suggesting that diazeniumdiolate fragmentation occurs exclusively via C-N bond cleavage under these conditions. While the photolytic yields of NO are modest, they represent a 10- to 100-fold increase compared to the previously reported Zn congener, suggesting that the presence of a redox-active metal center favors NO formation upon trityl diazeniumdiolate fragmentation.

Distortion of the [FeNO]2 Core in Flavodiiron Nitric Oxide Reductase Models Inhibits N-N Bond Formation and Promotes Formation of Unusual Dinitrosyl Iron Complexes: Implications for Catalysis and Reactivity

Flavodiiron nitric oxide reductases (FNORs) carry out the reduction of nitric oxide (NO) to nitrous oxide (N₂O), allowing infectious pathogens to mitigate toxic levels of NO generated in the human immune response. We previously reported the model complex [Fe₂(BPMP)(OPr)(NO)₂](OTf)₂ (1, OPr^- = propionate) that contains two coplanar NO ligands and that is capable of quantitative NO reduction to N₂O [White et al. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2018, 140, 2562-2574]. Here we investigate, for the first time, how a distortion of the active site affects the ability of the diiron core to mediate N₂O formation. For this purpose, we prepared several analogues of 1 that contain two monodentate ligands in place of the bridging carboxylate, [Fe₂(BPMP)(X)₂(NO)₂]^3+/1+ (2-X; X = triflate, 1-methylimidazole, or methanol). Structural data of 2-X show that without the bridging carboxylate, the diiron core expands, leading to elongated (O)N-N(O) distances (from 2.80 Å in 1 to 3.00-3.96 Å in 2-X) and distorted (O)N-Fe-Fe-N(O) dihedral angles (from coplanarity (5.9°) in 1 to 52.9-85.1° in 2-X). Whereas 1 produces quantitative amounts of N₂O upon one-electron reduction, N₂O production is substantially impeded in 2-X, to an initial 5-10% N₂O yield. The main products after reduction are unprecedented hs-Fe^II/{Fe(NO)₂}^9/10 dinitrosyl iron complexes (DNICs). Even though mononuclear DNICs are stable and do not show N-N coupling (since it is a spin-forbidden process), the hs-Fe^II/{Fe(NO)₂}^9/10 DNICs obtained from 2-X show unexpected reactivity and produce up to quantitative N₂O yields after 2 h. The implications of these results for the active site structure of FNORs are discussed.

The Biologically Relevant Coordination Chemistry of Iron and Nitric Oxide: Electronic Structure and Reactivity

Nitric oxide (NO) is an important signaling molecule that is involved in a wide range of physiological and pathological events in biology. Metal coordination chemistry, especially with iron, is at the heart of many biological transformations involving NO. A series of heme proteins, nitric oxide synthases (NOS), soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC), and nitrophorins, are responsible for the biosynthesis, sensing, and transport of NO. Alternatively, NO can be generated from nitrite by heme- and copper-containing nitrite reductases (NIRs). The NO-bearing small molecules such as nitrosothiols and dinitrosyl iron complexes (DNICs) can serve as an alternative vehicle for NO storage and transport. Once NO is formed, the rich reaction chemistry of NO leads to a wide variety of biological activities including reduction of NO by heme or non-heme iron-containing NO reductases and protein post-translational modifications by DNICs. Much of our understanding of the reactivity of metal sites in biology with NO and the mechanisms of these transformations has come from the elucidation of the geometric and electronic structures and chemical reactivity of synthetic model systems, in synergy with biochemical and biophysical studies on the relevant proteins themselves. This review focuses on recent advancements from studies on proteins and model complexes that not only have improved our understanding of the biological roles of NO but also have provided foundations for biomedical research and for bio-inspired catalyst design in energy science.

Structures and Properties of Dinitrosyl Iron and Cobalt Complexes Ligated by Bis(3,5-diisopropyl-1-pyrazolyl)methane

Two dinitrosyl iron and cobalt complexes [Fe(NO)2(L1”)](BF4) and [Co(NO)2(L1”)](BF4) are synthesized and characterized, supported by a less hindered bidentate nitrogen ligand bis(3,5-diisopropyl-1-pyrazolyl)methane (denoted as L1”), are surprisingly stable under argon atmosphere. X-ray structural analysis shows a distorted tetrahedral geometry. Spectroscopic and structural parameters of the dinitrosyl iron and cobalt complexes are consistent with the previous reported {Fe(NO)2}9 and {Co(NO)2}10. Two N–O and M–N(O) stretching frequencies and their magnetic properties are also consistent with the above electronic structural assignments. We explored the dioxygen reactivities of the obtained dinitrosyl complexes. Moreover, the related [FeCl2(L1”)], [Co(NO3)2(L1”)], and [Co(NO2)2(L1”)] complexes are also characterized in detail.

Hammett correlations as test of mechanism of CO-induced disulfide elimination from dinitrosyl iron complexes

The use of Hammett correlations provide experimental evidence for an unusual role of the frontier molecular orbitals of an iron dinitrosyl unit in CO induced reductive elimination of disulfide.

The Preparation, Structural Characteristics, and Physical Chemical Properties of Metal-Nitrosyl Complexes

The preparation and characterization of a representative group of novel non-heme metal nitrosyl complexes that have been synthesized over the last decade are discussed here. Their structures are examined and classified based on metal type, the number of metal centers present, and the type of ligand that is coordinated with the metal. The ligands can be phosphorus, nitrogen, or sulfur based (with a few exceptions) and can vary depending on the presence of chelation, intermolecular forces, or the presence of other ligands. Structural and bonding characteristics are summarized and examples of reactivity regarding nitrosyl ligands are given. Some of the relevant physical chemical properties of these complexes, including IR, EPR, NMR, UV-vis, cyclic voltammetry, and X-ray crystallography are examined.

Generation of a high-valent iron imido corrolazine complex and NR group transfer reactivity

The generation of a new high-valent iron terminal imido complex prepared with a corrolazine macrocycle is reported. The reaction of [Fe(III)(TBP8Cz)] (TBP8Cz = octakis(4-tert-butylphenyl)corrolazinato) with the commercially available chloramine-T (Na(+)TsNCl(-)) leads to oxidative N-tosyl transfer to afford [Fe(IV)(TBP8Cz(+•))(NTs)] in dichloromethane/acetonitrile at room temperature. This complex was characterized by UV-vis, Mössbauer (δ = -0.05 mm s(-1), ΔE(Q) = 2.94 mm s(-1)), and EPR (X-band (15 K), g = 2.10, 2.00) spectroscopies, and together with reactivity patterns and DFT calculations has been established as an iron(IV) species antiferromagnetically coupled with a Cz-π-cation-radical (S(total) = 1/2 ground state). Reactivity studies with triphenylphosphine as substrate show that [Fe(IV)(TBP8Cz(+•))(NTs)] is an efficient NTs transfer agent, affording the phospharane product Ph3P═NTs under both stoichiometric and catalytic conditions. Kinetic analysis of this reaction supports a bimolecular NTs transfer mechanism with rate constant of 70(15) M(-1) s(-1). These data indicate that [Fe(IV)(TBP8Cz(+•))(NTs)] reacts about 100 times faster than analogous Mn terminal arylimido corrole analogues. It was found that two products crystallize from the same reaction mixture of Fe(III)(TBP8Cz) + chloramine-T + PPh3, [Fe(IV)(TBP8Cz)(NPPh3)] and [Fe(III)(TBP8Cz)(OPPh3)], which were definitively characterized by X-ray crystallography. The sequential production of Ph3P═NTs, Ph3P═NH, and Ph3P═O was observed by (31)P NMR spectroscopy and led to a proposed mechanism that accounts for all of the observed products. The latter Fe(III) complex was then rationally synthesized and structurally characterized from Fe(III)(TBP8Cz) and OPPh3, providing an important benchmark compound for spectroscopic studies. A combination of Mössbauer and EPR spectroscopies led to the characterization of both intermediate spin (S = 3/2 and low spin (S = 1/2) Fe(III) corrolazines, as well as a formally Fe(IV) corrolazine which may also be described by its valence tautomer Fe(III)(Cz(+•)).

Dinitro-sylbis[tris-(4-methyl-phen-yl)phosphane]iron

The title compound, [Fe(NO)₂(C₂₁H₂₁P)₂], belongs to the family of metal dinitrosyl compounds with the general formula Fe(NO)₂(L)_x, referred to collectively as ‘dinitrosyl iron compounds’ (DNICs). Herein we report the structure of a dinitrosyl iron diphosphane complex, [Fe(NO)₂L₂], with L = P(C₆H₄-p-CH₃)₃. There are two crystallographically independent but chemically equal mol­ecules per asymmetric unit. The iron atom in each mol­ecule is tetra­hedrally coordinated by two phosphane ligands and two NO groups, with Fe—N—O angles in the range 173.84 (15)–179.31 (16)°.

Dinitro-sylbis[tris-(4-fluoro-phen-yl)phosphane]iron chloro-form monosolvate

The title compound, [Fe(NO)(2)(C(18)H(12)F(3)P)(2)]·CHCl(3), belongs to the family of metal dinitrosyl compounds with the general formula Fe(NO)(2)(L)(x), referred to collectively as 'dinitrosyl iron compounds' (DNICs). Herein we report the structure of a dinitrosyl iron diphosphane complex, (Fe(NO)(2)L(2), with L = P(C(6)H(4)-p-F)(3). The structure includes one metal complex mol-ecule and one chloro-form solvent mol-ecule. The iron atom is tetra-hedrally coordinated with two phosphane ligands and with two NO groups with Fe-N-O angles of 178.1 (2) and 177.0 (2)°.

Chemistry of nitrosyliron complexes supported by a β-diketiminate ligand

Several nitrosyl complexes of Fe and Co have been prepared using the sterically hindered Ar-nacnac ligand (Ar-nacnac = anion of [(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)NC(Me)](2)CH). The dinitrosyliron complexes [Fe(NO)(2)(Ar-nacnac)] (1) and (Bu(4)N)[Fe(NO)(2)(Ar-nacnac)] (2) react with [Fe(III)(TPP)Cl] (TPP = tetraphenylporphine dianion) to generate [Fe(II)(NO)(TPP)] and the corresponding mononitrosyliron complexes. The factors governing NO transfer with dinitrosyliron complexes (DNICs) 1 and 2 are evaluated, together with the chemistry of the related mononitrosyliron complex, [Fe(NO)Br(Ar-nacnac)] (4). The synthesis and properties of the related cobalt dinitrosyl [Co(NO)(2)(Ar-nacnac)] (3) is also discussed for comparison to DNICs 1 and 2. The solid-state structures of several of these compounds as determined by X-ray crystallography are reported.

A structure-based analysis of the vibrational spectra of nitrosyl ligands in transition-metal coordination complexes and clusters

The vibrational spectra of nitrogen monoxide or nitric oxide (NO) bonded to one or to several transition-metal (M) atom(s) in coordination and cluster compounds are analyzed in relation to the various types of such structures identified by diffraction methods. These structures are classified in: (a) terminal (linear and bent) nitrosyls, [M(σ-NO)] or [M(NO)]; (b) twofold nitrosyl bridges, [M2(μ2-NO)]; (c) threefold nitrosyl bridges, [M3(μ3-NO)]; (d) σ/π-dihaptonitrosyls or "side-on" nitrosyls; and (e) isonitrosyls (oxygen-bonded nitrosyls). Typical ranges for the values of internuclear N-O and M-N bond-distances and M-N-O bond-angles for linear nitrosyls are: 1.14-1.20 Å/1.60-1.90 Å/180-160° and for bent nitrosyls are 1.16-1.22 Å/1.80-2.00 Å/140-110°. The [M2(μ2-NO)] bridges have been divided into those that contain one or several metal-metal bonds and those without a formal metal/metal bond (M⋯M). Typical ranges for the M-M, N-O, M-N bond distances and M-N-M bond angles for the normal twofold NO bridges are: 2.30-3.00 Å/1.18-1.22 Å/1.80-2.00 Å/90-70°, whereas for the analogous ranges of the long twofold NO bridges these are 3.10-3.40 Å/1.20-1.24 Å/1.90-2.10 Å/130-110°. In both situations the N-O vector is approximately at right angle to the M-M (or M⋯M) vector within the experimental error; i.e. the NO group is symmetrical bonded to the two metal atoms. In contrast the threefold NO bridges can be symmetrically or unsymmetrically bonded to an M3-plane of a cluster compound. Characteristic values for the N-O and M-N bond-distances of these NO bridges are: 1.24-1.28 Å/1.80-1.90 Å, respectively. As few dihaptonitrosyl and isonitrosyl complexes are known, the structural features of these are discussed on an individual basis. The very extensive vibrational spectroscopy literature considered gives emphasis to the data from linearly bonded NO ligands in stable closed-shell metal complexes; i.e. those which are consistent with the "effective atomic number (EAN)" or "18-electron" rule. In the paucity of enough vibrational spectroscopic data from complexes with only nitrosyl ligands, it turned out to be very advantageous to use wavenumbers from the spectra of uncharged and saturated nitrosyl/carbonyl metal complexes as references, because the presence of a carbonyl ligand was found to be neutral in its effect on the ν(NO)-values. The wide wavenumber range found for the ν(NO) values of linear MNO complexes are then presented in terms of the estimated effects of net ionic charges, or of electron-withdrawing or electron-donating ligands bonded to the same metal atom. Using this approach we have found that: (a) the effect for a unit positive charge is [plus 100 cm(-1)] whereas for a unit negative charge it is [minus 145 cm(-1)]. (b) For electron-withdrawing co-ligands the estimated effects are: terminal CN [plus 50 cm(-1)]; terminal halogens [plus 30 cm(-1)]; bridging or quasi-bridging halogens [plus 15 cm(-1)]. (c) For electro donating co-ligands they are: PF3 [plus 10 cm(-1)]; P(OPh)3 [-30 cm(-1)]; P(OR)3 (R=alkyl group) [-40 cm(-1)]; PPh3 [-55 cm(-1)]; PR3 (R=alkyl group) [-70 cm(-1)]; and η5-C5H5 [-60 cm(-1)]; η5-C5H4Me [-70 cm(-1)]; η5-C5Me5 [-80 cm(-1)]. These values were mostly derived from the spectra of nitrosyl complexes that have been corrected for the presence of only a single electronically-active co-ligand. After making allowance for ionic charges or strongly-perturbing ligands on the same metal atom, the adjusted 'neutral-co-ligand' ν(NO)*-values (in cm(-1)) are for linear nitrosyl complexes with transition metals of Period 4 of the Periodic Table, i.e. those with atomic orbitals (…4s3d4p): [ca. 1750, Cr(NO)]; [1775,Mn(NO)]; [1796,Fe(NO)]; [1817,Co(NO)]; [ca. 1840, Ni(NO)]. Period 5 (…5s4d5p): [1730 Mo(NO)]; [-, Tc(NO)]; [1745,Ru(NO)]; [1790,Rh(NO)]; [ca. 1845, Pd(NO)]. Period 6 (…6s4f5d6p), [1720,W(NO)]; [1730,Re(NO)]; [1738,Os(NO)]; [1760,Ir(NO)]; [-, Pt] respectively. Environmental differences to these values, e.g. data taken in polar solutions or in the crystalline state, can cause ν(NO)* variations (mostly reductions) of up to ca. 30 cm(-1). Three spectroscopic criteria are used to distinguish between linear and bent NO groups. These are: (i) the values of ν(14NO) themselves, and (ii) the isotopic band shift--(IBS)--parameter which is defined as [ν(14NO)-ν(15NO)], and, (iii) the isotopic band ratio--(IBR)--given by [ν(15NO/ν14NO)]. The former is illustrated with the ν(14NO)-data from trigonal bipyramidal (TBP) and tetragonal pyramidal (TP) structures of [M(NO(L)4] complexes (where M=Fe, Co, Ru, Rh, Os, Ir and L=ligand). These values indicate that linear (180-170°) and strongly bent (130-120°) NO groups in these compounds absorb over the 1862-1690 cm(-1) and 1720-1525 cm(-1)-regions, respectively. As was explicitly demonstrated for the linear nitrosyls, these extensive regions reflect the presence in different complexes of a very wide range of co-ligands or ionic charges associated with the metal atom of the nitrosyl group. A plot of the IBS parameter against M-N-O bond-angle for compounds with general formulae [M(NO)(L)y] (y=4, 5, 6) reveals that the IBS-values are clustered between 45 and 30 cm(-1) or between 37 and 25 cm(-1) for linear or bent NO groups, respectively. A plot of IBR shows a less well defined pattern. Overall it is suggested that bent nitrosyls absorb ca. 60-100 cm(-1) below, and have smaller co-ligand band-shifts, than their linear counterparts. Spectroscopic ν(NO) data of the bridging or other types of NO ligands are comparatively few and therefore it has not been possible to give other than general ranges for 'neutral co-ligand' values. Moreover the bridging species data often depend on corrections for the effects of electronically-active co-ligands such as cyclopentadienyl-like groups. The derived neutral co-ligand estimates, ν(NO)*, are: (a) twofold bridged nitrosyls with a metal-metal bond order of one, or greater than one, absorb at ca. 1610-1490 cm(-1); (b) twofold bridged nitrosyl ligands with a longer non-bonding M⋯M distance, ca. 1520-1490 cm(-1); (c) threefold bridged nitrosyls, ca. 1470-1410 cm(-1); (d) σ/π dihaptonitrosyl, [M(η2-NO)], where M=Cr, Mn and Ni; ca. 1490-1440 cm(-1). Isonitrosyls, from few examples, appear to absorb below ca. 1100 cm(-1). To be published DFT calculations of the infrared and Raman spectra of complexes with formulae [M(NO)4-n(CO)n] (M=Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, and n=0, 1, 2, 3, 4, respectively) are used as models for the assignments of the ν(MN) and δ(MNO) bands from more complex metal nitrosyls.

Dinitrosyl iron complexes relevant to Rieske cluster nitrosylation

Reaction of the Rieske cluster model complex (Et(4)N)(2)[(N(2)CHPh)Fe(2)S(2)(S(2)-o-xyl)] (N(2)CHPh = dianion of 2,2'-(phenylmethylene)bis(3-methylindole); S(2)-o-xyl = dianion of 1,2-phenylenedimethanethiol) with nitric oxide results in disassembly of the iron-sulfur core and formation of {Fe(NO)(2)}(9) dinitrosyliron complexes (DNICs). Isolation and characterization of these DNICs, including the new compound, (Et(4)N)[(N(2)CHPh)Fe(NO)(2)], demonstrates a homology between the synthetic Riekse cluster and purely thiolate-bound Fe(2)S(2) clusters in reactions involving NO. To model the nitrogen-rich environment of Rieske cluster-derived dinitroysliron species, a new type of neutral {Fe(NO)(2)}(9) DNIC was prepared containing a beta-diketiminate ligand. One-electron reduction of this compound affords the isolable {Fe(NO)(2)}(10) DNIC. These compounds represent a rare example of structurally analogous DNIC redox partners.

Developing iron nitrosyl complexes as NO donor prodrugs

A novel class of water-soluble iron nitrosyl complexes has been developed for use as NO donor prodrugs. To elaborate these NO prodrugs various water-soluble ligands were used such as P(CH2OH)3, 1,3,5-triaza-7-phosphatricyclo[3.3.1.1]decane (PTA), 1,2-bis[bis(hydroxymethyl)phosphino]ethane (HMPE), 1,2-bis[bis(hydroxymethyl)phosphino]benzene (TMBz), cysteamine, cysteamine hydrochloride, L-cysteine ethyl ester hydrochloride (LCEE) and pyrimidine-2-thiol (pyrim). The mononuclear complexes Fe(NO)2P(CH2OH)3Cl , Fe(NO)2(P(CH2OH)3)2, Fe(NO)2(PTA)2, Fe(NO)2HMPE , Fe(NO)2TMBz , [Fe(NO)2pyrimI] , [Fe(NO)3P(CH2OH)3][X] (X=PF6, SbF6, BF4) and the dinuclear species [Fe(NO)2S(CH2)2NH3Cl]2, [Fe(NO)2S(CH2)2NH3I2] , [Fe(NO)2LCEE]2 and [Fe(NO)2pyrim]2 were obtained. Complexes , , , , , , and are water-soluble. , and were identified as nitroxyl and , , , and as nitric oxide donors by applying an EPR NO-trap assay. To determine the amount of nitric oxide which was released from the nitric oxide donors, an additional electrochemical methodology was used. The equilibrium release or the trapping concentration of NO was also studied by a UV-vis method, which allowed the rate constant of NO release to be determined.