Reactive intermediates in oxygenation reactions with mononuclear nonheme iron catalysts

New mechanistic insights into intramolecular aromatic ligand hydroxylation and benzyl alcohol oxidation initiated by the well-defined (μ-peroxo)diiron(iii) complex

A (μ-peroxo)diiron(iii) complex [Fe₂(L^Ph₄)(O₂)(Ph₃CCO₂)]²⁺ (1-O₂) with a dinucleating ligand (L^Ph₄), generated from the reaction of a carboxylate bridged diiron(ii) complex [Fe₂(L^Ph₄)(Ph₃CCO₂)]²⁺ (1) with dioxygen in CH₂Cl₂, provides a diiron(iv)-oxo species as an active oxidant which is involved in either aromatic ligand hydroxylation or benzyl alcohol oxidation.

Dramatic rate-enhancement of oxygen atom transfer by an iron(iv)-oxo species by equatorial ligand field perturbations

The reactivity and characterization of a novel iron(iv)-oxo species is reported that gives enhanced reactivity as a result of second-coordination sphere perturbations of the ligand system.

Manganese complex-catalyzed oxidation and oxidative kinetic resolution of secondary alcohols by hydrogen peroxide

The highly efficient catalytic oxidation and oxidative kinetic resolution (OKR) of secondary alcohols has been achieved using a synthetic manganese catalyst with low loading and hydrogen peroxide as an environmentally benign oxidant in the presence of a small amount of sulfuric acid as an additive. The product yields were high (up to 93%) for alcohol oxidation and the enantioselectivity was excellent (>90% ee) for the OKR of secondary alcohols. Mechanistic studies revealed that alcohol oxidation occurs via hydrogen atom (H-atom) abstraction from an α-CH bond of the alcohol substrate and a two-electron process by an electrophilic Mn-oxo species. Density functional theory calculations revealed the difference in reaction energy barriers for H-atom abstraction from the α-CH bonds of R- and S-enantiomers by a chiral high-valent manganese-oxo complex, supporting the experimental result from the OKR of secondary alcohols.

The Essential Role of Bond Energetics in C-H Activation/Functionalization

The most fundamental concepts in chemistry are structure, energetics, reactivity and their inter-relationships, which are indispensable for promoting chemistry into a rational science. In this regard, bond energy, the intrinsic determinant directly related to structure and reactivity, should be most essential in serving as a quantitative basis for the design and understanding of organic transformations. Although C-H activation/functionalization have drawn tremendous research attention and flourished during the past decades, understanding the governing rules of bond energetics in these processes is still fragmentary and seems applicable only to limited cases, such as metal-oxo-mediated hydrogen atom abstraction. Despite the complexity of C-H activation/functionalization and the difficulties in measuring bond energies both for the substrates and intermediates, this is definitely a very important issue that should be more generally contemplated. To this end, this review is rooted in the energetic aspects of C-H activation/functionalization, which were previously rarely discussed in detail. Starting with a concise but necessary introduction of various classical methods for measuring heterolytic and homolytic energies for C-H bonds, the present review provides examples that applied the concept and values of C-H bond energy in rationalizing the observations associated with reactivity and/or selectivity in C-H activation/functionalization.

A Systematic Account on Aromatic Hydroxylation by a Cytochrome P450 Model Compound I: A Low-Pressure Mass Spectrometry and Computational Study

Cytochrome P450 enzymes are heme-containing mono-oxygenases that mainly react through oxygen-atom transfer. Specific features of substrate and oxidant that determine the reaction rate constant for oxygen atom transfer are still poorly understood and therefore, we did a systematic gas-phase study on reactions by iron(IV)-oxo porphyrin cation radical structures with arenes. We present herein the first results obtained by using Fourier transform-ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry and provide rate constants and product distributions for the assayed reactions. Product distributions and kinetic isotope effect studies implicate a rate-determining aromatic hydroxylation reaction that correlates with the ionization energy of the substrate and no evidence of aliphatic hydroxylation products is observed. To further understand the details of the reaction mechanism, a computational study on a model complex was performed. These studies confirm the experimental hypothesis of dominant aromatic over aliphatic hydroxylation and show that the lack of an axial ligand affects the aliphatic pathways. Moreover, a two-parabola valence bond model is used to rationalize the rate constant and identify key properties of the oxidant and substrate that drive the reaction. In particular, the work shows that aromatic hydroxylation rates correlate with the ionization energy of the substrate as well as with the electron affinity of the oxidant.

Accessing Drug Metabolites via Transition-Metal Catalyzed C-H Oxidation: The Liver as Synthetic Inspiration

Can classical and modern chemical C-H oxidation reactions complement biotransformation in the synthesis of drug metabolites? We have surveyed the literature in an effort to try to answer this important question of major practical significance in the pharmaceutical industry. Drug metabolites are required throughout all phases of the drug discovery and development process; however, their synthesis is still an unsolved problem. This Review, not intended to be comprehensive or historical, highlights relevant applications of chemical C-H oxidation reactions, electrochemistry and microfluidic technologies to drug templates in order to access drug metabolites, and also highlights promising reactions to this end. Where possible or appropriate, the contrast with biotransformation is drawn. In doing so, we have tried to identify gaps where they exist in the hope to spur further activity in this very important research area.

C-H Bond Oxidation Catalyzed by an Imine-Based Iron Complex: A Mechanistic Insight

A family of imine-based nonheme iron(II) complexes (LX)2Fe(OTf)2 has been prepared, characterized, and employed as C-H oxidation catalysts. Ligands LX (X = 1, 2, 3, and 4) stand for tridentate imine ligands resulting from spontaneous condensation of 2-pycolyl-amine and 4-substituted-2-picolyl aldehydes. Fast and quantitative formation of the complex occurs just upon mixing aldehyde, amine, and Fe(OTf)2 in a 2:2:1 ratio in acetonitrile solution. The solid-state structures of (L1)2Fe(OTf)(ClO4) and (L3)2Fe(OTf)2 are reported, showing a low-spin octahedral iron center, with the ligands arranged in a meridional fashion. (1)H NMR analyses indicate that the solid-state structure and spin state is retained in solution. These analyses also show the presence of an amine-imine tautomeric equilibrium. (LX)2Fe(OTf)2 efficiently catalyze the oxidation of alkyl C-H bonds employing H2O2 as a terminal oxidant. Manipulation of the electronic properties of the imine ligand has only a minor impact on efficiency and selectivity of the oxidative process. A mechanistic study is presented, providing evidence that C-H oxidations are metal-based. Reactions occur with stereoretention at the hydroxylated carbon and selectively at tertiary over secondary C-H bonds. Isotopic labeling analyses show that H2O2 is the dominant origin of the oxygen atoms inserted in the oxygenated product. Experimental evidence is provided that reactions involve initial oxidation of the complexes to the ferric state, and it is proposed that a ligand arm dissociates to enable hydrogen peroxide binding and activation. Selectivity patterns and isotopic labeling studies strongly suggest that activation of hydrogen peroxide occurs by heterolytic O-O cleavage, without the assistance of a cis-binding water or alkyl carboxylic acid. The sum of these observations provides sound evidence that controlled activation of H2O2 at (LX)2Fe(OTf)2 differs from that occurring in biomimetic iron catalysts described to date.

Mechanistic elucidation of C-H oxidation by electron rich non-heme iron(IV)-oxo at room temperature

Non-heme iron(IV)-oxo species form iron(III) intermediates during hydrogen atom abstraction (HAA) from the C-H bond. While synthesizing a room temperature stable, electron rich, non-heme iron(IV)-oxo compound, we obtained iron(III)-hydroxide, iron(III)-alkoxide and hydroxylated-substrate-bound iron(II) as the detectable intermediates. The present study revealed that a radical rebound pathway was operative for benzylic C-H oxidation of ethylbenzene and cumene. A dissociative pathway for cyclohexane oxidation was established based on UV-vis and radical trap experiments. Interestingly, experimental evidence including O-18 labeling and mechanistic study suggested an electron transfer mechanism to be operative during C-H oxidation of alcohols (e.g. benzyl alcohol and cyclobutanol). The present report, therefore, unveils non-heme iron(IV)-oxo promoted substrate-dependent C-H oxidation pathways which are of synthetic as well as biological significance.

Water oxidation catalysed by iron complex of N,N'-dimethyl-2,11-diaza[3,3](2,6)pyridinophane. Spectroscopy of iron-oxo intermediates and density functional theory calculations

The macrocyclic [Fe^III(L1)Cl₂]⁺ (1, L1 = N,N'-dimethyl-2,11-diaza[3,3](2,6)pyridinophane) complex is an active catalyst for the oxidation of water to oxygen using [NH₄]₂[Ce^IV(NO₃)₆] (CAN), NaIO₄, or Oxone as the oxidant. The mechanism of 1-catalysed water oxidation was examined by spectroscopic methods and by ¹⁸O-labelling experiments, revealing that Fe^IV 0000000000000000000000000000000000 0000000000000000000000000000000000 0000000000000000000000000000000000 0000000000000000000000000000000000 0000000000000000000000000000000000 0000000000000000000000000000000000 0000000000000000000000000000000000 0000000000000000000000000000000000 0000000000000000000000000000000000 0000000000000000000000000000000000 0000000000000000000000000000000000 0000000000000000000000000000000000 0000000000000000000000000000000000 0000000000000000000000000000000000 0000000000000000000000000000000000 1111111111111111111111111111111111 1111111111111111111111111111111111 0000000000000000000000000000000000 0000000000000000000000000000000000 0000000000000000000000000000000000 0000000000000000000000000000000000 1111111111111111111111111111111111 1111111111111111111111111111111111 0000000000000000000000000000000000 0000000000000000000000000000000000 0000000000000000000000000000000000 0000000000000000000000000000000000 0000000000000000000000000000000000 0000000000000000000000000000000000 0000000000000000000000000000000000 0000000000000000000000000000000000 0000000000000000000000000000000000 0000000000000000000000000000000000 0000000000000000000000000000000000 O and/or Fe^V 0000000000000000000000000000000000 0000000000000000000000000000000000 0000000000000000000000000000000000 0000000000000000000000000000000000 0000000000000000000000000000000000 0000000000000000000000000000000000 0000000000000000000000000000000000 0000000000000000000000000000000000 0000000000000000000000000000000000 0000000000000000000000000000000000 0000000000000000000000000000000000 0000000000000000000000000000000000 0000000000000000000000000000000000 0000000000000000000000000000000000 0000000000000000000000000000000000 1111111111111111111111111111111111 1111111111111111111111111111111111 0000000000000000000000000000000000 0000000000000000000000000000000000 0000000000000000000000000000000000 0000000000000000000000000000000000 1111111111111111111111111111111111 1111111111111111111111111111111111 0000000000000000000000000000000000 0000000000000000000000000000000000 0000000000000000000000000000000000 0000000000000000000000000000000000 0000000000000000000000000000000000 0000000000000000000000000000000000 0000000000000000000000000000000000 0000000000000000000000000000000000 0000000000000000000000000000000000 0000000000000000000000000000000000 0000000000000000000000000000000000 O species are likely to be involved in the reaction. The redox behaviour of 1 and these high-valent Fe 0000000000000000000000000000000000 0000000000000000000000000000000000 0000000000000000000000000000000000 0000000000000000000000000000000000 0000000000000000000000000000000000 0000000000000000000000000000000000 0000000000000000000000000000000000 0000000000000000000000000000000000 0000000000000000000000000000000000 0000000000000000000000000000000000 0000000000000000000000000000000000 0000000000000000000000000000000000 0000000000000000000000000000000000 0000000000000000000000000000000000 0000000000000000000000000000000000 1111111111111111111111111111111111 1111111111111111111111111111111111 0000000000000000000000000000000000 0000000000000000000000000000000000 0000000000000000000000000000000000 0000000000000000000000000000000000 1111111111111111111111111111111111 1111111111111111111111111111111111 0000000000000000000000000000000000 0000000000000000000000000000000000 0000000000000000000000000000000000 0000000000000000000000000000000000 0000000000000000000000000000000000 0000000000000000000000000000000000 0000000000000000000000000000000000 0000000000000000000000000000000000 0000000000000000000000000000000000 0000000000000000000000000000000000 0000000000000000000000000000000000 O species of L1 has been examined by both cyclic voltammetry and density functional theory (DFT) calculations. In aqueous solutions, the cyclic voltammograms of 1 at different pH show a pH-dependent reversible couple (E_1/2 = +0.46 V vs. SCE at pH 1) and an irreversible anodic wave (E_pa = +1.18 V vs. SCE at pH 1) assigned to the Fe^III/Fe^II couple and the Fe^III to Fe^IV oxidation, respectively. DFT calculations showed that the E value of the half reaction involving [Fe^V(L1)(O)(OH)]²⁺/[Fe^IV(L1)(O)(OH₂)]²⁺ is +1.42 V vs. SCE at pH 1. Using CAN as the oxidant at pH 1, the formation of an Fe^IV 0000000000000000000000000000000000 0000000000000000000000000000000000 0000000000000000000000000000000000 0000000000000000000000000000000000 0000000000000000000000000000000000 0000000000000000000000000000000000 0000000000000000000000000000000000 0000000000000000000000000000000000 0000000000000000000000000000000000 0000000000000000000000000000000000 0000000000000000000000000000000000 0000000000000000000000000000000000 0000000000000000000000000000000000 0000000000000000000000000000000000 0000000000000000000000000000000000 1111111111111111111111111111111111 1111111111111111111111111111111111 0000000000000000000000000000000000 0000000000000000000000000000000000 0000000000000000000000000000000000 0000000000000000000000000000000000 1111111111111111111111111111111111 1111111111111111111111111111111111 0000000000000000000000000000000000 0000000000000000000000000000000000 0000000000000000000000000000000000 0000000000000000000000000000000000 0000000000000000000000000000000000 0000000000000000000000000000000000 0000000000000000000000000000000000 0000000000000000000000000000000000 0000000000000000000000000000000000 0000000000000000000000000000000000 0000000000000000000000000000000000 O reaction intermediate was suggested by ESI-MS and UV-vis absorption spectroscopic measurements, and the rate of oxygen evolution was linearly dependent on the concentrations of both 1 and CAN. Using NaIO₄ or Oxone as the oxidant at pH 1, the rate of oxygen evolution was linearly dependent on the concentration of 1, and a reactive Fe^V 0000000000000000000000000000000000 0000000000000000000000000000000000 0000000000000000000000000000000000 0000000000000000000000000000000000 0000000000000000000000000000000000 0000000000000000000000000000000000 0000000000000000000000000000000000 0000000000000000000000000000000000 0000000000000000000000000000000000 0000000000000000000000000000000000 0000000000000000000000000000000000 0000000000000000000000000000000000 0000000000000000000000000000000000 0000000000000000000000000000000000 0000000000000000000000000000000000 1111111111111111111111111111111111 1111111111111111111111111111111111 0000000000000000000000000000000000 0000000000000000000000000000000000 0000000000000000000000000000000000 0000000000000000000000000000000000 1111111111111111111111111111111111 1111111111111111111111111111111111 0000000000000000000000000000000000 0000000000000000000000000000000000 0000000000000000000000000000000000 0000000000000000000000000000000000 0000000000000000000000000000000000 0000000000000000000000000000000000 0000000000000000000000000000000000 0000000000000000000000000000000000 0000000000000000000000000000000000 0000000000000000000000000000000000 0000000000000000000000000000000000 O species with formula [Fe^V(L1)(O)₂]⁺ generated by oxidation with NaIO₄ or Oxone was suggested by ESI-MS measurements. DFT calculations revealed that [Fe^V(L1)(O)₂]⁺ is capable of oxidizing water to oxygen with a reaction barrier of 15.7 kcal mol^-1.

Properties and reactivities of nonheme iron(IV)-oxo versus iron(V)-oxo: long-range electron transfer versus hydrogen atom abstraction

Recent work of Nam and co-workers [J. Yoon, S. A. Wilson, Y. K. Jang, M. S. Seo, K. Nehru, B. Hedman, K. O. Hodgson, E. Bill, E. I. Solomon and W. Nam, Angew. Chem., Int. Ed., 2009, 48, 1257] on a biomimetic iron complex implicated a mixture of iron(IV)-oxo and iron(V)-oxo intermediates but the latter could not be spectroscopically characterized, hence its involvement was postulated. To gain insight into the relative activity of these iron(IV)-oxo versus iron(V)-oxo intermediates, we have performed an extensive density functional theory (DFT) study on the chemical properties of the chemical system of Nam et al., namely [Fe(O)(BQEN)(NCCH3)](2+/3+) with BQEN = N,N'-dimethyl-N,N'-bis(8-quinolyl)ethane-1,2-diamine and their reactivity in hydrogen atom abstraction from ethylbenzene. We show that the perceived iron(V)-oxo species actually is an iron(IV)-oxo ligand cation radical, similar to cytochrome P450 compound I. Moreover, this intermediate has an extremely large electron affinity and therefore can abstract electrons from substrates readily. In our particular system, this means that prior to the hydrogen atom abstraction, an electron is abstracted to form an iron(IV)-oxo species, which subsequently abstracts a hydrogen atom from the substrate. Thus, our calculations show for the first time how some nonheme iron complexes react by long-range electron transfer and others directly via hydrogen atom abstraction. We have rationalized our results with detailed thermochemical cycles that explain the observed reactivity patterns.

Mechanism of Oxidation of Ethane to Ethanol at Iron(IV)-Oxo Sites in Magnesium-Diluted Fe2(dobdc)

The catalytic properties of the metal-organic framework Fe2(dobdc), containing open Fe(II) sites, include hydroxylation of phenol by pure Fe2(dobdc) and hydroxylation of ethane by its magnesium-diluted analogue, Fe0.1Mg1.9(dobdc). In earlier work, the latter reaction was proposed to occur through a redox mechanism involving the generation of an iron(IV)-oxo species, which is an intermediate that is also observed or postulated (depending on the case) in some heme and nonheme enzymes and their model complexes. In the present work, we present a detailed mechanism by which the catalytic material, Fe0.1Mg1.9(dobdc), activates the strong C-H bonds of ethane. Kohn-Sham density functional and multireference wave function calculations have been performed to characterize the electronic structure of key species. We show that the catalytic nonheme-Fe hydroxylation of the strong C-H bond of ethane proceeds by a quintet single-state σ-attack pathway after the formation of highly reactive iron-oxo intermediate. The mechanistic pathway involves three key transition states, with the highest activation barrier for the transfer of oxygen from N2O to the Fe(II) center. The uncatalyzed reaction, where nitrous oxide directly oxidizes ethane to ethanol is found to have an activation barrier of 280 kJ/mol, in contrast to 82 kJ/mol for the slowest step in the iron(IV)-oxo catalytic mechanism. The energetics of the C-H bond activation steps of ethane and methane are also compared. Dehydrogenation and dissociation pathways that can compete with the formation of ethanol were shown to involve higher barriers than the hydroxylation pathway.

Mechanistic insight into the hydroxylation of alkanes by a nonheme iron(V)-oxo complex

Hydroxylation of alkanes by a mononuclear nonheme iron(V)-oxo complex, [Fe(V)(O)(TAML)](-), is initiated by a rate-determining hydrogen atom (H-atom) abstraction, followed by an oxygen non-rebound process. Evidence for the H-atom abstraction-oxygen non-rebound mechanism is obtained experimentally and supported by DFT calculations.

H2 oxidation versus organic substrate oxidation in non-heme iron mediated reactions with H2O2

A mixture of α-[Fe(CF₃SO₃)₂(BPMCN)] and H₂O₂ is able to oxidize H₂. However, the presence of acetic acid enhances organic substrate oxidation.

Iron(II) complexes supported by sulfonamido tripodal ligands: endogenous versus exogenous substrate oxidation

High-valent iron species are known to act as powerful oxidants in both natural and synthetic systems. While biological enzymes have evolved to prevent self-oxidation by these highly reactive species, development of organic ligand frameworks that are capable of supporting a high-valent iron center remains a challenge in synthetic chemistry. We describe here the reactivity of an Fe(II) complex that is supported by a tripodal sulfonamide ligand with both dioxygen and an oxygen-atom transfer reagent, 4-methylmorpholine-N-oxide (NMO). An Fe(III)–hydroxide complex is obtained from reaction with dioxygen, while NMO gives an Fe(III)–alkoxide product resulting from activation of a C–H bond of the ligand. Inclusion of Ca²⁺ ions in the reaction with NMO prevented this ligand activation and resulted in isolation of an Fe(III)–hydroxide complex in which the Ca²⁺ ion is coordinated to the tripodal sulfonamide ligand and the hydroxo ligand. Modification of the ligand allowed the Fe(III)–hydroxide complex to be isolated from NMO in the absence of Ca²⁺ ions, and a C–H bond of an external substrate could be activated during the reaction. This study highlights the importance of robust ligand design in the development of synthetic catalysts that utilize a high-valent iron center.

Oxidation of an Fe(II) complex supported by a sulfonamido tripodal ligand was explored with dioxygen and an O-atom transfer reagent. While dioxygen gave an Fe(III)−hydroxido complex, the O-atom transfer reagent resulted in C−H activation of the ligand to form an Fe(III)−alkoxide species. Modification of the ligand prevented this ligand oxidation and allowed for activation of C−H bonds on an external substrate.

Applications of density functional theory to iron-containing molecules of bioinorganic interest

The past decades have seen an explosive growth in the application of density functional theory (DFT) methods to molecular systems that are of interest in a variety of scientific fields. Owing to its balanced accuracy and efficiency, DFT plays particularly useful roles in the theoretical investigation of large molecules. Even for biological molecules such as proteins, DFT finds application in the form of, e.g., hybrid quantum mechanics and molecular mechanics (QM/MM), in which DFT may be used as a QM method to describe a higher prioritized region in the system, while a MM force field may be used to describe remaining atoms. Iron-containing molecules are particularly important targets of DFT calculations. From the viewpoint of chemistry, this is mainly because iron is abundant on earth, iron plays powerful (and often enigmatic) roles in enzyme catalysis, and iron thus has the great potential for biomimetic catalysis of chemically difficult transformations. In this paper, we present a brief overview of several recent applications of DFT to iron-containing non-heme synthetic complexes, heme-type cytochrome P450 enzymes, and non-heme iron enzymes, all of which are of particular interest in the field of bioinorganic chemistry. Emphasis will be placed on our own work.

Hydrocarbon oxidation catalyzed by a cheap nonheme imine-based iron(ii) complex

An imine-based iron complex, prepared in situ from iron(ii), pyridine-2-carbaldehyde and 2-aminomethylpyridine, effectively catalyzes hydrocarbon oxidation at low loadings.

Mechanism and Catalytic Diversity of Rieske Non-Heme Iron-Dependent Oxygenases

Rieske non-heme iron-dependent oxygenases are important enzymes that catalyze a wide variety of reactions in the biodegradation of xenobiotics and the biosynthesis of bioactive natural products. In this perspective article, we summarize recent efforts to elucidate the catalytic mechanisms of Rieske oxygenases and highlight the diverse range of reactions now known to be catalyzed by such enzymes.

Comparison of the reactivity of nonheme iron(IV)-oxo versus iron(IV)-imido complexes: which is the better oxidant?

Which is better? The first detailed comparison of the reactivity of nonheme iron(IV)-imido versus nonheme iron(IV)-oxo intermediates with substrates is presented. The iron(IV)-imido variant reacts with sulfides five times faster than iron(IV)-oxo, whereas the reverse trend is observed for hydrogen atom abstraction. These observed trends are analyzed and explained.