Thermodynamics of pyridine and 1-alkyl-pyridinium complexes of protohaemin in aqueous solution

Bonding of nitrosobenzene and phenyl isocyanide to chelated mesoheme, hemoglobin and ferrous phthalocyanine

Reactions of nitrosobenzene, phenyl isocyanide and their ring-substituted analogues with hemoglobin, ferrous phthalocyanine and a synthetic model compound of hemoglobin were investigated by optical, 1H-NMR and infrared spectroscopy. Complexes of chelated ferromesoheme, the model compound, with 2-methyl-, 2-ethyl, 2-isopropyl- or 2,6-disubstituted nitrosobenzene were less stable than its complex with nitrosobenzene. Formation of a complex of the model compound with 2-tert-butylnitrosobenzene was incomplete. Previous studies showed that 2,6-disubstituted nitrosobenzenes are not ligands of ferrohemoglobin. In the present work 2,6-dimethylphenyl isocyanide was found to be a ligand of ferrohemoglobin. These results are consistent with binding of the nitrogen of the nitroso group of nitrosobenzene and of the carbon of the isocyanide group of phenyl isocyanide to ferroheme. The same bonding modes of these ligands to ferrous phthalocyanine were inferred from ring-current-induced shifts in the 1H-NMR spectra of the respective complexes.

The nature of heme-aniline interactions during hemin-mediated oxygen activation and insertion reactions

The interaction of aniline with hemin during oxygen activation and insertion mediated by the metalloporphyrin has been studied by a combined theoretical, semiempirical, and experimental approach. Results indicate that association is via a planar pi bonding interaction between the aromatic pi electrons of the amine and tetrapyrrole ring system. The effect of very high concentrations of hydroxyl radical scavengers on the system is discussed.

Magnetic and spectroscopic probes for FeOFe linkages in hemin systems

Magnetic and spectroscopic properties of mu-oxo-bis-hemins from natural and structurally related porphyrins were investigated as probes for ascertaining the presence or absence of FeIII-O-FeIII linkages between hemin moieties of hemeproteins. Magnetic susceptibilities of solids from 2.2 to 293 degrees K were investigated. The data fit the temperature variations expected for a pair of antiferromagnetically coupled S = 5/2, iron (III) porphyrins with J values of 175, 190, 195, 205, and 210 degrees K for deuterohemins with hydrogen, vinyl, 2'-ethoxycarbonylcyclopropyl, acetyl, propionyl, and ethyl 2,4-substituents, respectively. This magnetic character is reflected in PMR spectra that exhibit resonances with far less broadening and paramagnetic shift than is the case for monomeric high-spin hemins. Only impurities are seen in EPR spectra, which serve effectively in monitoring the magnetic purity of preparations. An infrared active asymmetric stretching frequency characteristic of the FeOFe linkage can be identified by substitution of 160 by 180. Electronic spectra are highly characteristic with poorly resolved absorption bands. The substituents on the porphyrin ring exert significant, but usually not large, electronic and steric effects on these properties. Solvent effects were relatively small and no firm evidence for binding of ligands trans to bridging oxygen was found. The uniqueness of these physical properties and their low sensitivity to changes in porphyrin structure or medium facilitates the identification of mu-oxo linkage in hemins or oxidized hemeproteins.