The effect of π-π stacking interaction of the indole ring with the coordinated phenoxyl radical in a nickel(ii)-salen type complex. Comparison with the corresponding Cu(ii) complex

In order to gain new insights into the effect of the π-π stacking interaction of the indole ring with the phenoxyl radical moiety as seen in the active form of galactose oxidase, we have prepared Ni(ii) complexes of a methoxy substituted salen-type ligand containing a pendent indole ring on the dinitrogen chelate backbone and characterized their one-electron oxidized forms. The X-ray crystal structure analysis and the other physicochemical experiments of the Ni(ii) complex revealed no significant intramolecular interaction of the indole ring with the coordination plane. On the other hand, the X-ray crystal structures of the oxidized Ni(ii) complex exhibited the π-π stacking interaction of the indole ring mainly with one of the two phenolate moieties. While the phenoxyl radical electron was delocalized on the two phenolate moieties in the Ni(ii)-salen coordination plane, the phenolate moiety in close contact with the indole moiety was considered to be the initial oxidation locus, indicating that the indole ring interacted with the phenoxyl radical by π-π stacking. The UV-vis-NIR spectrum of the oxidized Ni(ii) complex with the pendent indole ring was different from that of the complex without the side chain indole ring, but the differences were rather small in comparison with the oxidized Cu(ii)-salen complexes with the π-π stacking interaction of the indole ring. Such differences are due to the electronic structure difference, the localized radical electron on one of the phenolate moieties in the oxidized Cu(ii) complexes being more favorable for the π-π stacking interaction.

π-π Stacking Interaction in an Oxidized CuII -Salen Complex with a Side-Chain Indole Ring: An Approach to the Function of the Tryptophan in the Active Site of Galactose Oxidase

In order to gain new insights into the effect of the π-π stacking interaction of the indole ring with the Cu^II -phenoxyl radical as seen in the active form of galactose oxidase, we have prepared a Cu^II complex of a methoxy-substituted salen-type ligand, containing a pendent indole ring on the dinitrogen chelate backbone, and characterized its one-electron-oxidized forms. The X-ray crystal structures of the oxidized Cu^II complex exhibited the π-π stacking interaction of the indole ring mainly with one of the two phenolate moieties. The phenolate moiety in close contact with the indole moiety showed the characteristic phenoxyl radical structural features, indicating that the indole ring favors the π-π stacking interaction with the phenoxyl radical. The UV/Vis/NIR spectra of the oxidized Cu^II complex with the pendent indole ring was significantly different from those of the complex without the side-chain indole ring, and the absorption and CD spectra exhibited a solvent dependence, which is in line with the phenoxyl radical-indole stacking interaction in solution. The other physicochemical results and theoretical calculations strongly support that the indole ring, as an electron donor, stabilizes the phenoxyl radical by the π-π stacking interaction.

Characterization of an NH-pi interaction in Co(III) ternary complexes with aromatic amino acids

The NH-pi interaction has been detected in the crystal structures of Co(III) ternary complexes with N,N-bis(carboxymethyl)-(S)-phenylalanine (BCMPA) and aromatic amino acids including (S)-phenylalanine ((S)-Phe), (R)-phenylalanine ((R)-Phe), and (S)-tryptophan ((S)-Trp)). Additionally, this interaction has been studied in solution for Co(III) ternary complexes with BCMPA or NTA (NTA = nitrilotriacetic acid) and several amino acids (AA) by means of electronic absorption, circular dichroism (CD), and (1)H NMR spectroscopies. The CD intensities of the Co(III) complexes with aromatic amino acids measured in the d-d region ( approximately 20.5 x 10(3) cm(-)(1)) are significantly decreased in ethanol solutions relative to water. Analogous complexes with aliphatic amino acids do not exhibit this solvent effect. The (1)H NMR spectra of the Co(III) complexes with aromatic amino acids measured in DMSO-d(6) exhibit upfield shifts of the NH peaks compared with those with aliphatic amino acids, which suggest a shielding effect due to the aromaticity. The upshift values coincide with those experimentally evaluated from the crystal structures. The magnitude of the upfield shifts agrees well with Hammett's rule, indicating that the increase of pi-electron densities on the aromatic rings leads attractive NH-pi interaction that exerts a larger shielding effect for the NH protons. In ligand-substitution reactions of the carbonatocobalt(III) complexes with amino acids, the yields of those with aromatic amino acids are higher than the yields obtained for complexes with aliphatic amino acids. This observation is discussed in connection with the important contribution of the NH-pi interaction as one of the promotion factors in the reaction.