A growing family of O2 activating dinuclear iron enzymes with key catalytic diiron(III)-peroxo intermediates: Biological systems and chemical models

Effect of monodentate heterocycle co-ligands on the μ-1,2-peroxo-diiron(III) mediated aldehyde deformylation reactions

Peroxo-diiron(III) species are present in the active sites of many metalloenzymes that carry out challenging organic transformations. The reactivity of these species is influenced by various factors, such as the structure and topology of the supporting ligands, the identity of the axial and equatorial co-ligands, and the oxidation states of the metal ion(s). In this study, we aim to diversify the importance of equatorial ligands in controlling the reactivity of peroxo-diiron(III) species. As a model compound, we chose the previously published and fully characterized [(PBI)2(CH3CN)FeIII(μ-O2)FeIII(CH3CN)(PBI)2]4+ complex, where the steric effect of the four PBI ligands is minimal, so the labile CH3CN molecules easily can be replaced by different monodentate co-ligands (substituted pyridines and N-donor heterocyclic compounds). Thus, their effect on the electronic and spectral properties of peroxo-divas(III) intermediates could be easily investigated. The relationship between structure and reactivity was also investigated in the stoichiometric deformylation of PPA mediated by peroxo-diiron(III) complexes. It was found that the deformylation rates are influenced by the Lewis acidity and redox properties of the metal centers, and showed a linear correlation with the FeIII/FeII redox potentials (in the range of 197 to 415 mV).

DFT mechanistic study of biomimetic diiron complex catalyzed dehydrogenation: Unexpected Fe(III)Fe(III)-1,1-μ-hydroperoxy active species for hydride abstraction

The diiron active site is pivotal in catalyzing transformations in both biological and chemical systems. Recently, a range of biomimetic diiron catalysts have been synthesized, drawing inspiration from the active architecture of soluble methane monooxygenase (sMMO). These catalysts have been successfully deployed for the dehydrogenation of indolines, marking a significant advancement in the field. Using density functional theory (DFT) calculations, we have identified a novel mechanistic pathway that governs the dehydrogenation of indolines catalyzed by a biomimetic diiron complex. Specifically, this reaction is facilitated by the transfer of a hybrid atom from the C1 position of the substrate to the distal oxygen atom of the Fe(III)Fe(III)-1,1-μ-hydroperoxy active species. This transfer serves as the rate-limiting step for the heterolytic cleavage of the OO bond, ultimately generating the substrate cation. The mechanism we propose aligns well with mechanistic investigations incorporating both kinetic isotope effect (KIE) measurements and evaluations of stereochemical selectivity. This research contributes to the broader scientific understanding of catalysis involving biomimetic diiron complexes and offers valuable insights into the catalytic behaviors of non-heme diiron metalloenzymes.

Direct and remote control of electronic structures and redox potentials in μ-oxo diferric complexes

Non-heme diiron enzymes activate O2 for the oxidation of substrates in the form of peroxo FeIII2 or high-valent FeIV2 intermediates. We have developed a dinucleating bis(tetradentate) ligand system that stabilizes peroxo and hydroperoxo FeIII2 complexes with terminal 6-methylpyridine donors, while the peroxo FeIII2 intermediate is reactive with terminal pyridine donors presumably via conversion to a fluent high-valent FeIV2 intermediate. We present here a derivative with electron-donating methoxy substituents at the pyridine donors and its diferric complexes with an {FeIIIX(μ-O)FeIIIX} (X- = Cl-, OAc-, and OH-) or an {FeIII(μ-O)(μ-OAc)FeIII} core. The complex-induced oxidation of EtOH with H2O2 provides μ-OAc-, and in acetone, the complex with mixed OH-/OAc- exogenous donors is obtained. Both reactivities indicate a reactive fluent peroxo FeIII2 intermediate. The coupling constant J and the LMCT transitions are insensitive to the nature of the directly bound ligands X- and reflect mainly the electronic structure of the central {FeIII(μ-O)FeIII} core, while Mössbauer spectroscopy and d-d transitions probe the local FeIII sites. The remote methoxy substituents decrease the potential for the oxidation to FeIV by ∼100 mV, while directly bound OH- in {FeIII(OH)(μ-O)FeIII(OH)} with a short 1.91 Å FeIII-OOH bond decreases the potential by 590 mV compared to {FeIII(OAc)(μ-O)FeIII(OAc)} with a 2.01 Å FeIII-OOAc bond. Interestingly, this FeIII-OH bond is even shorter (1.87 Å) in the mixed OH-/OAc- complex but the potential is the mean value of the potentials of the OH-/OH- and OAc-/OAc- complexes, thus reflecting the electron density of the central {FeIII(μ-O)FeIII} core and not of the local FeIII-OH unit.

Methanotrophs: Metabolic versatility from utilization of methane to multi-carbon sources and perspectives on current and future applications

The development of biorefineries for a sustainable bioeconomy has been driven by the concept of utilizing environmentally friendly and cost-effective renewable energy sources. Methanotrophic bacteria with a unique capacity to utilize methane as a carbon and energy source can serve as outstanding biocatalysts to develop C1 bioconversion technology. By establishing the utilization of diverse multi-carbon sources, integrated biorefinery platforms can be created for the concept of the circular bioeconomy. An understanding of physiology and metabolism could help to overcome challenges for biomanufacturing. This review summaries fundamental gaps for methane oxidation and the capability to utilize multi-carbon sources in methanotrophic bacteria. Subsequently, breakthroughs and challenges in harnessing methanotrophs as robust microbial chassis for industrial biotechnology were compiled and overviewed. Finally, capabilities to exploit the inherent advantages of methanotrophs to synthesize various target products in higher titers are proposed.

Second coordination sphere effects on the mechanistic pathways for dioxygen activation by a ferritin: involvement of a Tyr radical and the identification of a cation binding site

Ferritins are ubiquitous diiron enzymes involved in iron(II) detoxification and oxidative stress responses and can act as metabolic iron stores. The overall reaction mechanisms of ferritin enzymes are still unclear, particularly concerning the role of the conserved, near catalytic center Tyr residue. Thus, we carried out a computational study of a ferritin using a large cluster model of well over 300 atoms including its first- and second-coordination sphere. The calculations reveal important insight into the structure and reactivity of ferritins. Specifically, the active site Tyr residue delivers a proton and electron in the catalytic cycle prior to iron(II) oxidation. In addition, the calculations highlight a likely cation binding site at Asp65, which through long-range electrostatic interactions, influences the electronic configuration and charge distributions of the metal center. The results are consistent with experimental observations but reveal novel detail of early mechanistic steps that lead to an unusual mixed-valent iron(III)-iron(II) center.

Methane Monooxygenase Mimic Asymmetric Oxidation: Self-Assembling μ-Hydroxo, Carboxylate-Bridged Diiron(III)-Catalyzed Enantioselective Dehydrogenation

Mimicking naturally occurring metalloenzymes to enrich the diversity of catalytic asymmetric oxidation reactions is a long-standing goal for modern chemistry. Toward this end, a range of methane monooxygenase (MMO) mimic chiral carboxylate-bridged (μ-hydroxo) diiron(III) dimer complexes using salan as basal ligand and sodium aryl carboxylate as additive have been designed and synthesized. The chiral diiron complexes exhibit efficient catalytic reactivity in dehydrogenative kinetic resolution of indolines using environmentally benign hydrogen peroxide as oxidant. In particular, complex C9 bearing sterically encumbered salan ligands and a 2-naphthoate bridge is identified as the optimal catalyst in terms of chiral recognition. Further investigation reveals that this MMO mimic chiral catalyst can be readily generated by self-assembly under the dehydrogenation conditions. The self-assembling catalytic system is applicable to a series of indolines with multiple stereocenters and diverse substituent patterns in high efficiency with a high level of chiral recognition (selectivity factor up to 153). Late-stage dehydrogenative kinetic resolution of bioactive molecules is further examined.

Ferritin-Like Proteins: A Conserved Core for a Myriad of Enzyme Complexes

Ferritin-like proteins share a common fold, a four α-helix bundle core, often coordinating a pair of metal ions. Although conserved, the ferritin fold permits a diverse set of reactions, and is central in a multitude of macromolecular enzyme complexes. Here, we emphasize this diversity through three members of the ferritin-like superfamily: the soluble methane monooxygenase, the class I ribonucleotide reductase and the aldehyde deformylating oxygenase. They all rely on dinuclear metal cofactors to catalyze different challenging oxygen-dependent reactions through the formation of multi-protein complexes. Recent studies using cryo-electron microscopy, serial femtosecond crystallography at an X-ray free electron laser source, or single-crystal X-ray diffraction, have reported the structures of the active protein complexes, and revealed unprecedented insights into the molecular mechanisms of these three enzymes.

Bioanalytical applications of Mössbauer spectroscopy

Data on the applications of Mössbauer spectroscopy in the transmission (mainly on 57Fe nuclei) and emission (on 57Co nuclei) variants for analytical studies at the molecular level of metal-containing components in a wide range of biological objects (from biocomplexes and biomacromolecules to supramolecular structures, cells, tissues and organisms) and of objects that are participants or products of biological processes, published in the last 15 years are discussed and systematized. The prospects of the technique in its biological applications, including the developing fields (emission variant, use of synchrotron radiation), are formulated.

The bibliography includes 248 references.

Mixed Valence (μ-Phenoxido) FeII FeIII et FeIII FeIV Compounds: Electron and Proton Transfers

Mixed-valence non-heme diiron centers are present at the active sites of a few enzymes and confer them interesting reactivities with the two ions acting in concert. Related (μ-phenoxido)diiron complexes have been developed as enzyme mimics. They exhibit very rich spectroscopic properties enabling independent monitoring of each individual ion, which proved useful for mechanistic studies of catalytic hydrolysis and oxidation reactions. In our studies of such complexes, we observed that these compounds give rise to a wide variety of electron transfers (intervalence charge transfer), proton transfers (tautomerism), coupled electron and proton transfers (H^. abstraction and PCET). In this minireview, we present and analyze the main results illustrating the latter aspects.

Iron Oxidation in Escherichia coli Bacterioferritin Ferroxidase Centre, a Site Designed to React Rapidly with H2O2 but Slowly with O2

Both O2 and H2O2 can oxidize iron at the ferroxidase center (FC) of Escherichia coli bacterioferritin (EcBfr) but mechanistic details of the two reactions need clarification. UV/Vis, EPR, and Mössbauer spectroscopies have been used to follow the reactions when apo-EcBfr, pre-loaded anaerobically with Fe2+, was exposed to O2 or H2O2. We show that O2 binds di-Fe2+ FC reversibly, two Fe2+ ions are oxidized in concert and a H2O2 molecule is formed and released to the solution. This peroxide molecule further oxidizes another di-Fe2+ FC, at a rate circa 1000 faster than O2, ensuring an overall 1:4 stoichiometry of iron oxidation by O2. Initially formed Fe3+ can further react with H2O2 (producing protein bound radicals) but relaxes within seconds to an H2O2-unreactive di-Fe3+ form. The data obtained suggest that the primary role of EcBfr in vivo may be to detoxify H2O2 rather than sequester iron.

Iron Oxidation in Escherichia coli Bacterioferritin Ferroxidase Centre, a Site Designed to React Rapidly with H2 O2 but Slowly with O2

Both O₂ and H₂O₂ can oxidize iron at the ferroxidase center (FC) of Escherichia coli bacterioferritin (EcBfr) but mechanistic details of the two reactions need clarification. UV/Vis, EPR, and Mössbauer spectroscopies have been used to follow the reactions when apo‐EcBfr, pre‐loaded anaerobically with Fe²⁺, was exposed to O₂ or H₂O₂. We show that O₂ binds di‐Fe²⁺ FC reversibly, two Fe²⁺ ions are oxidized in concert and a H₂O₂ molecule is formed and released to the solution. This peroxide molecule further oxidizes another di‐Fe²⁺ FC, at a rate circa 1000 faster than O₂, ensuring an overall 1:4 stoichiometry of iron oxidation by O₂. Initially formed Fe³⁺ can further react with H₂O₂ (producing protein bound radicals) but relaxes within seconds to an H₂O₂‐unreactive di‐Fe³⁺ form. The data obtained suggest that the primary role of EcBfr in vivo may be to detoxify H₂O₂ rather than sequester iron.

N-oxygenation of amino compounds: Early stages in its application to the biocatalyzed preparation of bioactive compounds

Among the compounds that contain unusual functional groups, nitro is perhaps one of the most interesting due to the valuable properties it confers on pharmaceuticals and explosives. Traditional chemistry has for many years used environmentally unfriendly strategies; in contrast, the biocatalyzed production of this type of products offers a promising alternative. The small family of enzymes formed by N-oxygenases allows the conversion of an amino group to a nitro through the sequential addition of oxygen. These enzymes also make it possible to obtain other less oxidized N-O functions, such as hydroxylamine or nitroso, present in intermediate or final products. The current substrates on which these enzymes are reported to work encompass a few aromatic molecules and sugars. The unique characteristics of N-oxygenases and the great economic value of the products that they could generate, place them in a position of very high scientific and industrial interest. The most important and best studied N-oxygenases will be presented here.

Tuning the Reactivity of Cofacial Porphyrin Prisms for Oxygen Reduction Using Modular Building Blocks

We assembled eight cofacial porphyrin prisms using MTPyP (M = Co(II) or Zn(II), TPyP = 4-tetrapyridylporphyrin) and functionalized ruthenium-based "molecular clips" using coordination-driven self-assembly. Our approach allows for the rapid synthesis of these architectures in isolated yields as high as 98% for the assembly step. Structural and reactivity studies provided a deeper understanding of the role of the building blocks on the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). Catalytic efficacy was probed by using cyclic and hydrodynamic voltammetry on heterogeneous catalyst inks in aqueous media. The reported prisms showed outstanding selectivity (>98%) for the kinetically hindered 4e^-/4H⁺ reduction of O₂ to H₂O over the kinetically more accessible 2e^-/2H⁺ reduction to H₂O₂. Furthermore, we have demonstrated significant cofacial enhancement in the observed catalytic rate constant k_s (∼5 orders of magnitude) over the mononuclear analogue. We conclude that the steric bulk of the clip plays an important role in the structural dynamics of these prisms, which in turn modulates the ORR reactivity with respect to selectivity and kinetics.

A three-component monooxygenase from Rhodococcus wratislaviensis may expand industrial applications of bacterial enzymes

The high-valent iron-oxo species formed in the non-heme diiron enzymes have high oxidative reactivity and catalyze difficult chemical reactions. Although the hydroxylation of inert methyl groups is an industrially promising reaction, utilizing non-heme diiron enzymes as such a biocatalyst has been difficult. Here we show a three-component monooxygenase system for the selective terminal hydroxylation of α-aminoisobutyric acid (Aib) into α-methyl-D-serine. It consists of the hydroxylase component, AibH1H2, and the electron transfer component. Aib hydroxylation is the initial step of Aib catabolism in Rhodococcus wratislaviensis C31-06, which has been fully elucidated through a proteome analysis. The crystal structure analysis revealed that AibH1H2 forms a heterotetramer of two amidohydrolase superfamily proteins, of which AibHm2 is a non-heme diiron protein and functions as a catalytic subunit. The Aib monooxygenase was demonstrated to be a promising biocatalyst that is suitable for bioprocesses in which the inert C–H bond in methyl groups need to be activated.

Makoto Hibi et al. report a novel three-component monooxygenase system in Rhodococcus wratislaviensis. This enzyme catalyzes the activation of an inert C–H bond and may be potentially important as a biocatalyst for industrial applications.

A nonheme peroxo-diiron(III) complex exhibiting both nucleophilic and electrophilic oxidation of organic substrates

The complex [Fe^III₂(μ-O₂)(L₃)₄(S)₂]⁴⁺ (L₃ = 2-(4-thiazolyl)benzimidazole, S = solvent) forms upon reaction of [Fe^II(L₃)₂] with H₂O₂ and is a functional model of peroxo-diiron intermediates invoked during the catalytic cycle of oxidoreductases. The spectroscopic properties of the complex are in line with those of complexes formed with N-donor ligands. [Fe^III₂(μ-O₂)(L₃)₄(S)₂]⁴⁺ shows both nucleophilic (aldehydes) and electrophilic (phenol, N,N-dimethylanilines) oxidative reactivity and unusually also electron transfer oxidation.

A bidentate ligand based iron complex shows nucleophillic and electrophillice reactivity in the oxidation of organic substrates.

Neighbouring effects on catalytic epoxidation by Fe-cyclam in M2-PDIxCy complexes

The unsymmetric PDIeCy ligand, featuring pyridinediimine and cylam sites, can be selectively metalated. Complementing the diiron compound, we have synthesized two heterobimetallic isomers, [ZnPDIFeCy(PDIeCy)(OTf)4] (3) and [FePDIZnCy(PDIeCy)(OTf)4] (4), and a dizinc complex, [Zn2(PDIeCy)(OTf)4] (5). Olefin epoxidation by the series of complexes was investigated. The M-PDI site influences the reactivity of the M-cyclam, resulting in increased activity toward enones.

Functional models of nonheme diiron enzymes: reactivity of the μ-oxo-μ-1,2-peroxo-diiron(iii) intermediate in electrophilic and nucleophilic reactions

The reactivity of the previously reported peroxo-adduct [FeIII2(μ-O)(μ-1,2-O2)(IndH)2(solv)2]2+ (1) (IndH = 1,3-bis(2-pyridyl-imino)isoindoline) has been investigated in nucleophilic (e.g., deformylation of alkyl and aryl alkyl aldehydes) and electrophilic (e.g. oxidation of phenols) stoichiometric reactions as biomimics of ribonucleotide reductase (RNR-R2) and aldehyde deformylating oxygenase (ADO) enzymes. Based on detailed kinetic and mechanistic studies, we have found further evidence for the ambiphilic behaviour of the peroxo intermediates proposed for diferric oxidoreductase enzymes.

Sc3+-Promoted O-O Bond Cleavage of a (μ-1,2-Peroxo)diiron(III) Species Formed from an Iron(II) Precursor and O2 to Generate a Complex with an FeIV2(μ-O)2 Core

Soluble methane monooxygenase (sMMO) carries out methane oxidation at 4 °C and under ambient pressure in a catalytic cycle involving the formation of a peroxodiiron(III) intermediate (P) from the oxygenation of the diiron(II) enzyme and its subsequent conversion to Q, the diiron(IV) oxidant that hydroxylates methane. Synthetic diiron(IV) complexes that can serve as models for Q are rare and have not been generated by a reaction sequence analogous to that of sMMO. In this work, we show that [Fe^II(Me₃NTB)(CH₃CN)](CF₃SO₃)₂ (Me₃NTB = tris((1-methyl-1H-benzo[d]imidazol-2-yl)methyl)amine) (1) reacts with O₂ in the presence of base, generating a (μ-1,2-peroxo)diiron(III) adduct with a low O-O stretching frequency of 825 cm^-1 and a short Fe···Fe distance of 3.07 Å. Even more interesting is the observation that the peroxodiiron(III) complex undergoes O-O bond cleavage upon treatment with the Lewis acid Sc³⁺ and transforms into a bis(μ-oxo)diiron(IV) complex, thus providing a synthetic precedent for the analogous conversion of P to Q in the catalytic cycle of sMMO.

Bioinspired symmetrical and unsymmetrical diiron complexes for selective oxidation catalysis with hydrogen peroxide

Two new symmetrical and unsymmetrical diiron(iii) complexes were synthesized and characterized by X-ray diffraction analysis, mass spectrometry, UV-visible and Mössbauer spectroscopies. They were then used for selective oxidation catalysis.

High-resolution iron X-ray absorption spectroscopic and computational studies of non-heme diiron peroxo intermediates

Ferritin-like carboxylate-bridged non-heme diiron enzymes activate O₂ for a variety of difficult reactions throughout nature. These reactions often begin by abstraction of hydrogen from strong CH bonds. The enzymes activate O₂ at their diferrous cofactors to form canonical diferric peroxo intermediates, with a range of possible coordination modes. Herein, we explore the ability of high-energy resolution fluorescence detected X-ray absorption spectroscopy (HERFD XAS) to provide insight into the nature of peroxo level intermediates in non-heme diiron proteins. Freeze quenched (FQ) peroxo intermediates from p-aminobenzoate N-oxygenase (AurF), aldehyde-deformylating oxygenase (ADO), and the β subunit of class Ia ribonucleotide reductase from Escherichia coli (Ecβ) are investigated. All three intermediates are proposed to adopt different peroxo binding modes, and each exhibit different Fe Kα HERFD XAS pre-edge features and intensities. As these FQ-trapped samples consist of multiple species, deconvolution of HERFD XAS spectra based on speciation, as determined by Mössbauer spectroscopy, is also necessitated - yielding 'pure' diferric peroxo HERFD XAS spectra from dilute protein samples. Finally, the impact of a given peroxo coordination mode on the HERFD XAS pre-edge energy and intensity is evaluated through time-dependent density functional theory (TDDFT) calculations of the XAS spectra on a series of hypothetical model complexes, which span a full range of possible peroxo coordination modes to a diferric core. The utility of HERFD XAS for future studies of enzymatic intermediates is discussed.

Stoichiometric Aldehyde Deformylation Mediated by Nucleophilic Peroxo-diiron(III) Complex as a Functional Model of Aldehyde Deformylating Oxygenase

The reactivity of the previously reported peroxo adduct [Fe^III ₂ (μ-O₂ )(MeBzim-Py)₄ (CH₃ CN)₂ ]⁴⁺ (1) (MeBzim-Py=2-(2'-pyridyl)-N-methylbenzimidazole) towards aldehyde substrates including phenylacetaldehyde (PAA), hydrocinnamaldehyde (HCA), propionaldehyde (PA), 2-phenylpropionaldehyde (PPA), cyclohexanecarboxaldehyde (CCA), and para-substituted benzaldehydes (benzoyl chlorides) has been investigated. Complex 1 proved to be a nucleophilic oxidant in aldehyde deformylation reaction. These models, including detailed kinetic and mechanistic studies, may serve as the first biomimics of aldehyde deformylating oxygenase (ADO) enzymes.

Biosynthesis and Chemical Applications of Thioamides

Thioamidation as a posttranslational modification is exceptionally rare, with only a few reported natural products and exactly one known protein example (methyl-coenzyme M reductase from methane-metabolizing archaea). Recently, there has been significant progress in elucidating the biosynthesis and function of several thioamide-containing natural compounds. Separate developments in the chemical installation of thioamides into peptides and proteins have enabled cell biology and biophysical studies to advance the current understanding of natural thioamides. This review highlights the various strategies used by Nature to install thioamides in peptidic scaffolds and the potential functions of this rare but important modification. We also discuss synthetic methods used for the site-selective incorporation of thioamides into polypeptides with a brief discussion of the physicochemical implications. This account will serve as a foundation for the further study of thioamides in natural products and their various applications.

Reaction of O2 with a diiron protein generates a mixed-valent Fe2+/Fe3+ center and peroxide

The gene encoding the cyanobacterial ferritin SynFtn is up-regulated in response to copper stress. Here, we show that, while SynFtn does not interact directly with copper, it is highly unusual in several ways. First, its catalytic diiron ferroxidase center is unlike those of all other characterized prokaryotic ferritins and instead resembles an animal H-chain ferritin center. Second, as demonstrated by kinetic, spectroscopic, and high-resolution X-ray crystallographic data, reaction of O₂ with the di-Fe²⁺ center results in a direct, one-electron oxidation to a mixed-valent Fe²⁺/Fe³⁺ form. Iron-O₂ chemistry of this type is currently unknown among the growing family of proteins that bind a diiron site within a four α-helical bundle in general and ferritins in particular. The mixed-valent form, which slowly oxidized to the more usual di-Fe³⁺ form, is an intermediate that is continually generated during mineralization. Peroxide, rather than superoxide, is shown to be the product of O₂ reduction, implying that ferroxidase centers function in pairs via long-range electron transfer through the protein resulting in reduction of O₂ bound at only one of the centers. We show that electron transfer is mediated by the transient formation of a radical on Tyr40, which lies ∼4 Å from the diiron center. As well as demonstrating an expansion of the iron-O₂ chemistry known to occur in nature, these data are also highly relevant to the question of whether all ferritins mineralize iron via a common mechanism, providing unequivocal proof that they do not.

Catalytic methane oxidation by a supramolecular conjugate based on a μ-nitrido-bridged iron porphyrinoid dimer

Catalytic CH₄ oxidation using a μ-nitrido-bridged iron porphyrinoid dimer was successfully activated by supramolecular complexation.

Mononuclear iron(ii) complexes containing a tripodal and macrocyclic nitrogen ligand: synthesis, reactivity and application in cyclohexane oxidation catalysis

Two novel tripodal ligands L¹ and L² based on a tris(methylpyridyl)amine (TPA) motif have been prepared and reacted with two different iron(ii) salts. The ligand L¹ contains a bis(amino-phenyl)-TPA group whereas the macrocyclic ligand L² displays two different coordinating cores, namely TPA and pyridine-dicarboxamide. The resulting mononuclear complexes 1-4 have been characterized in the solid state and in solution by spectroscopic and electrochemical methods. All complexes are high spin and mainly pentacoordinated. X-ray diffraction analyses of the crystals of complexes 2 and 3 demonstrate that the coordination sphere of the iron(ii) centre adopts either a distorted bipyramidal-trigonal or square pyramidal geometry. In the absence of an exogenous substrate, oxidation of complex 2 by H₂O₂ induces an intramolecular aromatic hydroxylation, as shown by the X-ray structure of the resulting dinuclear complex 2'. Catalytic studies in the presence of a substrate (cyclohexane) show that the reaction process is strongly impacted by the macrocyclic topology of the ligand and the nature of the counter-ion.

Diiron monooxygenases in natural product biosynthesis

Covering: up to 2017 The participation of non-heme dinuclear iron cluster-containing monooxygenases in natural product biosynthetic pathways has been recognized only recently. At present, two families have been discovered. The archetypal member of the first family, CmlA, catalyzes β-hydroxylation of l-p-aminophenylalanine (l-PAPA) covalently linked to the nonribosomal peptide synthetase (NRPS) CmlP, thereby effecting the first step in the biosynthesis of chloramphenicol by Streptomyces venezuelae. CmlA houses the diiron cluster in a metallo-β-lactamase protein fold instead of the 4-helix bundle fold of nearly every other diiron monooxygenase. CmlA couples O2 activation and substrate hydroxylation via a structural change caused by formation of the l-PAPA-loaded CmlP:CmlA complex. The other new diiron family is typified by two enzymes, AurF and CmlI, which catalyze conversion of aryl-amine substrates to aryl-nitro products with incorporation of oxygen from O2. AurF from Streptomyces thioluteus catalyzes the formation of p-nitrobenzoate from p-aminobenzoate as a precursor to the biostatic compound aureothin, whereas CmlI from S. venezuelae catalyzes the ultimate aryl-amine to aryl-nitro step in chloramphenicol biosynthesis. Both enzymes stabilize a novel type of peroxo-intermediate as the reactive species. The rare 6-electron N-oxygenation reactions of CmlI and AurF involve two progressively oxidized pathway intermediates. The enzymes optimize efficiency by utilizing one of the reaction pathway intermediates as an in situ reductant for the diiron cluster, while simultaneously generating the next pathway intermediate. For CmlI, this reduction allows mid-pathway regeneration of the peroxo intermediate required to complete the biosynthesis. CmlI ensures specificity by carrying out the multistep aryl-amine oxygenation without dissociating intermediate products.

The biosynthesis of methanobactin

Metal homeostasis poses a major challenge to microbes, which must acquire scarce elements for core metabolic processes. Methanobactin, an extensively modified copper-chelating peptide, was one of the earliest natural products shown to enable microbial acquisition of a metal other than iron. We describe the core biosynthetic machinery responsible for the characteristic posttranslational modifications that grant methanobactin its specificity and affinity for copper. A heterodimer comprising MbnB, a DUF692 family iron enzyme, and MbnC, a protein from a previously unknown family, performs a dioxygen-dependent four-electron oxidation of the precursor peptide (MbnA) to install an oxazolone and an adjacent thioamide, the characteristic methanobactin bidentate copper ligands. MbnB and MbnC homologs are encoded together and separately in many bacterial genomes, suggesting functions beyond their roles in methanobactin biosynthesis.

Elucidating light-induced charge accumulation in an artificial analogue of methane monooxygenase enzymes using time-resolved X-ray absorption spectroscopy

We report the use of time-resolved X-ray absorption spectroscopy in the ns-μs time scale to track the light induced two electron transfer processes in a multi-component photocatalytic system, consisting of [Ru(bpy)₃]²⁺/ a diiron(iii,iii) model/triethylamine. EXAFS analysis with DFT calculations confirms the structural configurations of the diiron(iii,iii) and reduced diiron(ii,ii) states.

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.

Hydrogen-Atom Transfer Oxidation with H2O2 Catalyzed by [FeII(1,2-bis(2,2'-bipyridyl-6-yl)ethane(H2O)2]2+: Likely Involvement of a (μ-Hydroxo)(μ-1,2-peroxo)diiron(III) Intermediate

The iron(II) triflate complex (1) of 1,2-bis(2,2'-bipyridyl-6-yl)ethane, with two bipyridine moieties connected by an ethane bridge, was prepared. Addition of aqueous 30% H₂O₂ to an acetonitrile solution of 1 yielded 2, a green compound with λ_max=710 nm. Moessbauer measurements on 2 showed a doublet with an isomer shift (δ) of 0.35 mm/s and a quadrupole splitting (ΔE_Q) of 0.86 mm/s, indicative of an antiferromagnetically coupled diferric complex. Resonance Raman spectra showed peaks at 883, 556 and 451 cm^-1 that downshifted to 832, 540 and 441 cm^-1 when 1 was treated with H₂¹⁸O₂. All the spectroscopic data support the initial formation of a (μ-hydroxo)(μ-1,2-peroxo)diiron(III) complex that oxidizes carbon-hydrogen bonds. At 0°C 2 reacted with cyclohexene to yield allylic oxidation products but not epoxide. Weak benzylic C-H bonds of alkylarenes were also oxidized. A plot of the logarithms of the second order rate constants versus the bond dissociation energies of the cleaved C-H bond showed an excellent linear correlation. Along with the observation that oxidation of the probe substrate 2,2-dimethyl-1-phenylpropan-1-ol yielded the corresponding ketone but no benzaldehyde, and the kinetic isotope effect, k_H/k_D , of 2.8 found for the oxidation of xanthene, the results support the hypothesis for a metal-based H-atom abstraction mechanism. Complex 2 is a rare example of a (μ-hydroxo)(μ-1,2-peroxo)diiron(III) complex that can elicit the oxidation of carbon-hydrogen bonds.

Unprecedented (μ-1,1-Peroxo)diferric Structure for the Ambiphilic Orange Peroxo Intermediate of the Nonheme N-Oxygenase CmlI

The final step in the biosynthesis of the antibiotic chloramphenicol is the oxidation of an aryl-amine substrate to an aryl-nitro product catalyzed by the N-oxygenase CmlI in three two-electron steps. The CmlI active site contains a diiron cluster ligated by three histidine and four glutamate residues and activates dioxygen to perform its role in the biosynthetic pathway. It was previously shown that the active oxidant used by CmlI to facilitate this chemistry is a peroxo-diferric intermediate (CmlIP). Spectroscopic characterization demonstrated that the peroxo binding geometry of CmlIP is not consistent with the μ-1,2 mode commonly observed in nonheme diiron systems. Its geometry was tentatively assigned as μ-η2:η1 based on comparison with resonance Raman (rR) features of mixed-metal model complexes in the absence of appropriate diiron models. Here, X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) and rR studies have been used to establish a refined structure for the diferric cluster of CmlIP. The rR experiments carried out with isotopically labeled water identified the symmetric and asymmetric vibrations of an Fe-O-Fe unit in the active site at 485 and 780 cm-1, respectively, which was confirmed by the 1.83 Å Fe-O bond observed by XAS. In addition, a unique Fe···O scatterer at 2.82 Å observed from XAS analysis is assigned as arising from the distal O atom of a μ-1,1-peroxo ligand that is bound symmetrically between the irons. The (μ-oxo)(μ-1,1-peroxo)diferric core structure associated with CmlIP is unprecedented among diiron cluster-containing enzymes and corresponding biomimetic complexes. Importantly, it allows the peroxo-diferric intermediate to be ambiphilic, acting as an electrophilic oxidant in the initial N-hydroxylation of an arylamine and then becoming a nucleophilic oxidant in the final oxidation of an aryl-nitroso intermediate to the aryl-nitro product.

Time-Resolved Investigations of Heterobimetallic Cofactor Assembly in R2lox Reveal Distinct Mn/Fe Intermediates

The assembly mechanism of the Mn/Fe ligand-binding oxidases (R2lox), a family of proteins that are homologous to the nonheme diiron carboxylate enzymes, has been investigated using time-resolved techniques. Multiple heterobimetallic intermediates that exhibit unique spectral features, including visible absorption bands and exceptionally broad electron paramagnetic resonance signatures, are observed through optical and magnetic resonance spectroscopies. On the basis of comparison to known diiron species and model compounds, the spectra have been attributed to (μ-peroxo)-Mn^III/Fe^III and high-valent Mn/Fe species. Global spectral analysis coupled with isotopic substitution and kinetic modeling reveals elementary rate constants for the assembly of Mn/Fe R2lox under aerobic conditions. A complete reaction mechanism for cofactor maturation that is consistent with experimental data has been developed. These results suggest that the Mn/Fe cofactor can perform direct C-H bond abstraction, demonstrating the potential for potent chemical reactivity that remains unexplored.