Geometric Control of Reduction Potential in Oxomolybdenum Centers: Implications to the Serine Coordination in DMSO Reductase

Influence of the ligand-field on EPR parameters of cis- and trans-isomers in MoV systems relevant to molybdenum enzymes: Experimental and density functional theory study

The electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) investigation of mononuclear cis- and trans-(L1O)MoOCl2 complexes [L1OH = bis(3,5-dimethylpyrazolyl)-3-tert-butyl-2-hydroxy-5-methylphenyl)methane] reveals a significant difference in their spin Hamiltonian parameters which reflect different equatorial and axial ligand fields created by the heteroscorpionate donor atoms. Density functional theory (DFT) was used to calculate the values of principal components and relative orientations of the g and A tensors, and the molecular framework in four pairs of isomeric mononuclear oxo‑molybdenum(V) complexes (cis- and trans-(L1O)MoOCl2, cis,cis- and cis,trans-(L-N2S2)MoOCl [L-N2S2H2 = N,N'-dimethyl-N,N'-bis(mercaptophenyl)ethylenediamine], cis,cis- and cis,trans-(L-N2S2)MoO(SCN), and cis- and trans-[(dt)2MoO(OMe)]2- [dtH2 = 2,3-dimercapto-2-butene]). Scalar relativistic DFT calculations were conducted using three different exchange-correlation functionals. It was found that the use of hybrid exchange-correlation functional with 25% of the Hartree-Fock exchange leads to the best quantitative agreement between theory and experiment. A simplified ligand-field approach was used to analyze the influence of the ligand fields in all cis- and trans-isomers on energies and contributions of molybdenum d-orbital manifold to g and A tensors and relative orientations. Specifically, contributions that originated from the spin-orbit coupling of the dxz, dyz, and dx2-y2 orbitals into the ground state have been discussed. The new findings are discussed in the context of the experimental data of mononuclear molybdoenzyme, DMSO reductase.

Metal-Dithiolene Bonding Contributions to Pyranopterin Molybdenum Enzyme Reactivity

Here we highlight past work on metal-dithiolene interactions and how the unique electronic structure of the metal-dithiolene unit contributes to both the oxidative and reductive half reactions in pyranopterin molybdenum and tungsten enzymes. The metallodithiolene electronic structures detailed here were interrogated using multiple ground and excited state spectroscopic probes on the enzymes and their small molecule analogs. The spectroscopic results have been interpreted in the context of bonding and spectroscopic calculations, and the pseudo-Jahn-Teller effect. The dithiolene is a unique ligand with respect to its redox active nature, electronic synergy with the pyranopterin component of the molybdenum cofactor, and the ability to undergo chelate ring distortions that control covalency, reduction potential, and reactivity in pyranopterin molybdenum and tungsten enzymes.

Nitrate and periplasmic nitrate reductases

The nitrate anion is a simple, abundant and relatively stable species, yet plays a significant role in global cycling of nitrogen, global climate change, and human health. Although it has been known for quite some time that nitrate is an important species environmentally, recent studies have identified potential medical applications. In this respect the nitrate anion remains an enigmatic species that promises to offer exciting science in years to come. Many bacteria readily reduce nitrate to nitrite via nitrate reductases. Classified into three distinct types--periplasmic nitrate reductase (Nap), respiratory nitrate reductase (Nar) and assimilatory nitrate reductase (Nas), they are defined by their cellular location, operon organization and active site structure. Of these, Nap proteins are the focus of this review. Despite similarities in the catalytic and spectroscopic properties Nap from different Proteobacteria are phylogenetically distinct. This review has two major sections: in the first section, nitrate in the nitrogen cycle and human health, taxonomy of nitrate reductases, assimilatory and dissimilatory nitrate reduction, cellular locations of nitrate reductases, structural and redox chemistry are discussed. The second section focuses on the features of periplasmic nitrate reductase where the catalytic subunit of the Nap and its kinetic properties, auxiliary Nap proteins, operon structure and phylogenetic relationships are discussed.

The use of a cis-dioxomolybdenum(VI) dinuclear complex with quadradentate 1,4-benzenediylbis(benzyldithiocarbamate)(2-) as model compound for the active site of oxo transfer molybdoenzymes: reactivity, kinetics, and catalysis

Dinuclear cis-dioxomolybdenum(VI) complex [{MoO(2)(Bz(2)Benzenediyldtc)}(2)] coordinated by a quadradentate dithiocarbamate (Bz(2)Benzenediyldtc(2-)=1,4-benzenediylbis(benzyldithiocarbamate)(2-)) has been prepared and characterized by elemental analysis, (13)C NMR, IR and UV-vis spectroscopy. The kinetics of the oxygen atom transfer between [{MoO(2)(Bz(2)Benzenediyldtc)}(2)] and PPh(3) was studied spectrophotometrically in CH(2)Cl(2) medium at 520 nm and four different temperatures, 288, 293, 298 and 303 K, respectively. The reaction follows second order kinetics with the rate constant k=0.163(2)M(-1)S(-1) and its increasingly strong absorption at 520 nm clearly indicate the formation of a μ-oxo molybdenum(V) species as a product. Despite the steric restrictions imposed by the ligand structure to prevent the formation of Mo(V) species, experimental evidence confirms its interference during the process. The product can then be formulated as [MoO(2)(Bz(2)Benzenediyldtc)(2)Mo(2)O(3)(Bz(2)Benzenediyldtc)(2)MoO(2)] which has one μ-oxomolybdenum(V) moiety. An Eyring plot allows the activation parameters ΔH(‡)=64.2(1) kJ mol(-1) and ΔS(‡)=-45.1(6) J K(-1) mol(-1) to be determined from the temperature dependence of the rate constant, suggesting an associative transition state for the oxo transfer reaction. Catalytic oxygen atom transfer reaction from DMSO to PPh(3) was also followed by monitoring the chemical shift changes in (31)P NMR spectroscopy. The substrate oxidation process follows a well-defined catalytic cycle capable of 100% conversion for the reaction of PPh(3) and DMSO without intervention of Mo(V) formation during about 36 h.

Spectroscopic and electronic structure studies of a dimethyl sulfoxide reductase catalytic intermediate: implications for electron- and atom-transfer reactivity

The electronic structure of a genuine paramagnetic des-oxo Mo(V) catalytic intermediate in the reaction of dimethyl sulfoxide reductase (DMSOR) with (CH(3))(3)NO has been probed by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR), electronic absorption, and magnetic circular dichroism (MCD) spectroscopies. EPR spectroscopy reveals rhombic g- and A-tensors that indicate a low-symmetry geometry for this intermediate and a singly occupied molecular orbital that is dominantly metal centered. The excited-state spectroscopic data were interpreted in the context of electronic structure calculations, and this has resulted in a full assignment of the observed MCD and electronic absorption bands, a detailed understanding of the metal-ligand bonding scheme, and an evaluation of the Mo(V) coordination geometry and Mo(V)-S(dithiolene) covalency as it pertains to the stability of the intermediate and electron-transfer regeneration. Finally, the relationship between des-oxo Mo(V) and des-oxo Mo(IV) geometric and electronic structures is discussed relative to the reaction coordinate in members of the DMSOR enzyme family.

Sodium, magnesium and zinc complexes of mono(phenolate) heteroscorpionate ligands

The reaction of bis(3,5-dimethylpyrazolyl)methylphenol N(2)O(Ar)H (1) with NaH in THF formed dimeric [Na(kappa(2)-N(2)O(Ar))(THF)](2) (2), which contains a kappa(2)(N,O)-bound bidentate N(2)O(Ar) ligand. The reaction of 1 with Mg(n)Bu(2) gave the four-coordinate monomeric butyl compound Mg(N(2)O(Ar))(n)Bu (3), whereas with (n)BuMgCl, a mixture of products was formed, including the six-coordinate homoleptic species Mg(N(2)O(Ar))(2) (4). The reaction of [Na(kappa(2)-N(2)O(Ar))(THF)](2) with (n)BuMgCl also gave 3, as did the redistribution reaction of Mg(n)Bu(2) with 4. The reaction of 1 with Mg{N(SiRMe(2))(2)}(2) afforded the four-coordinate amide derivatives Mg(N(2)O(Ar)){N(SiRMe(2))(2)} (R = Me (6) or H (7)), together with 4. The reactions of 1 with ZnMe(2) or Zn{N(SiMe(3))(2)}(2) gave the monomeric compounds Zn(N(2)O(Ar))Me (8) and Zn(N(2)O(Ar)){N(SiMe(3))(2)} (9), respectively. The reaction 9 of with HCl formed Zn(N(2)O(Ar))Cl (11), and subsequent addition of LiN(SiHMe(2))(2) to 11 led to Zn(N(2)O(Ar)){N(SiHMe(2))(2)} (12). The reaction of 1 with either Zn{N(SiMe(3))(2)}(2) or 9 gave Zn(N(2)O(Ar))(2). The compounds 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 9 and 11 were crystallographically characterized. Compound was very active for the ring-opening polymerization (ROP) of epsilon-caprolactone (epsilon-CL) but the process was very poorly controlled as judged by the M(n) and polydispersity index of the polymer. Compounds 3, 8, 9 and 12 gave poor conversions to poly(epsilon-CL) over extended periods. N(2)O(Ar)H = 2,4-di-tert-butyl-6-(bis(3,5-dimethylpyrazolyl)methyl)phenol.

Computational studies of EPR parameters for paramagnetic molybdenum complexes. II. Larger MoV systems relevant to molybdenum enzymes

The careful validation of modern density functional methods for the computation of electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) parameters in molybdenum complexes has been extended to a number of low-symmetry MoV systems that model molybdoenzyme active sites. Both g and hyperfine tensors tend to be reproduced best by hybrid density functionals with about 30-40% exact-exchange admixture, with no particular spin contamination problems encountered. Spin-orbit corrections to hyperfine tensors are mandatory for quantitative and, in some cases, even for qualitative agreement. The g11 (g||) component of the g tensor tends to come out too positive when spin-orbit coupling is included only to leading order in perturbation theory. Compared to single-crystal experiments, the calculations reproduce both g- and hyperfine-tensor orientations well, both relative to each other and to the molecular framework. This is significant, as simulations of the EPR spectra of natural-abundance frozen-solution samples frequently do not allow a reliable determination of the hyperfine tensors. These may now be extracted based on the quantum-chemically calculated parameters. In a number of cases, revised simulations of the experimental spectra have brought theory and experiment into substantially improved agreement. Systems with two terminal oxo ligands, and to some extent with an oxo and a sulfido ligand, have been confirmed to exhibit particularly large negative Deltag33 shifts and thus large g anisotropies. This is discussed in the context of the experimental data for xanthine oxidase.

Oxo−Molybdenum(VI,V,IV) Complexes of the Facially Coordinating Tris(mercaptoimidazolyl)borate Ligand: Synthesis, Characterization, and Oxygen Atom Transfer Reactivity

A series of monooxo-Mo(IV,V) and dioxo-Mo(VI) complexes of the "soft" tripodal ligand, sodium tris(mercaptoimidazolyl)borate (NaTm(Me)), have been synthesized as potential oxygen atom transfer (OAT) models for sulfite oxidase. Complexes have been characterized by X-ray crystallography, cyclic voltammetry, and EPR, where appropriate. Oxygen atom transfer kinetics of Tm(Me)MoO(2)Cl, both stoichiometric and catalytic, have been studied by a combination of UV-vis and (31)P NMR spectroscopies under a variety of conditions. OAT rates are consistent with previously established relationships between redox potential/reactivity and mechanistic studies. The analysis of these complexes as potential structural and functional analogues of relevance to molybdoenzymes is further discussed.

Solvent effects in the geometric reorganization of an oxo-molybdenum(v) system

We have previously postulated a serine gated electron transfer hypothesis (Inorg. Chem, 2002, 41, 1281-1291) to possibly be involved in gating electron transfer between the Mo(V) and Mo(IV) states. In this study we explored the effect of solvent dielectric upon the rate and mechanism of isomerization of an oxo-Mo(V) core in attempt to understand the effect of solvent polarity to the isomerization reaction. To this end, the data suggests that there may be significant entropic contributions to the reorganization of metal center as a function of the local dielectric constant. Furthermore, we note that there is a change in the observed rate as well as the mechanism of the geometric rearrangement when it is examined in polar and non-polar environments. More specifically, in low dielectric media, the reaction proceeds either via a fast dissociation which is then followed by a twist mechanism or by a dissociation that is synchronized with the twist mechanism.

Oxidation-state and metal-ion dependent stereoisomerization in oxo molybdenum and tungsten complexes of a bulky alkoxy heteroscorpionate ligand

Monooxo Mo(V) complexes of a N2O heteroscorpionate ligand designated (L10O) are found to exist as isolable cis and trans isomers. We have been able to trap the kinetically labile cis isomer and follow its isomerization to the thermodynamically more stable trans form. We have also followed the kinetics of isomerization between the cis and trans isomers of the corresponding dioxo Mo(VI) and W(VI) species. Here the trans is the labile isomer that spontaneously converts to the thermodynamically more stable cis. It is observed that at 60 degrees C in DMSO the Mo(VI) complex isomerizes approximately 6.5 times faster than the Mo(V) and nearly 5 times faster than the corresponding W(VI) analogs. The temperature dependence to the kinetics of the Mo(V) and Mo(VI) isomerizations give activation parameters that are similar for both oxidation states and consistent with those previously observed in [(L1O)MoOCl2] suggesting a similar twist mechanism is operating in all cases. Thus there are oxidation state, metal ion and donor atom dependent differences in isomeric stability that could have significant implications for understanding the mechanisms of both enzymatic and nonenzymatic oxo atom transfer reactions catalyzed by complexes of Mo, W and Re.

A Family of Dioxo−Molybdenum(VI) Complexes of N2X Heteroscorpionate Ligands of Relevance to Molybdoenzymes

Four new Mo(VI)-dioxo complexes of a family of N2X heteroscorpionate ligands are reported which, together with data already available for (TpR)-, provide a unique example of a comprehensive set of isostructural, isoelectronic complexes differing only in one biologically relevant donor atom. A study of these complexes allows for a direct comparison of structural, spectroscopic, and oxygen atom transfer reactivity properties of the Mo(VI)-dioxo center (of relevance to various families of molybdoenzymes) as a function of donor atom identity.

Heteroscorpionate ligands based on bis(pyrazol-1-yl)methane: design and coordination chemistry

Scorpionates represent one of the most versatile types of tridentate ligand that can coordinate to a wide variety of elements, e.g. from early to late transition metals, and the coordination chemistry of these systems has developed greatly in recent years. This Perspective gives an account of studies on the following aspects: (1) the preparative methods for a new class of heteroscorpionate [RR'C(pz)2] ligand derived from bis(pyrazol-1-yl)methane and (2) the description of metal complexes containing these ligands, examples of which incorporate a range of different metals from the Periodic Table.

Donor atom dependent geometric isomers in mononuclear oxo-molybdenum(V) complexes: implications for coordinated endogenous ligation in molybdoenzymes

We have previously demonstrated that the complex [(L1O)MoOCl(2)], where L1OH = (2-hydroxy-3-tert-butyl-5-methylphenyl)bis(3,5-dimethylpyrazolyl)methane, exists as both cis and trans isomers (Kail, B.; Nemykin, V. N.; Davie, S. R.; Carrano, C. J.; Hammes, B. S.; Basu, P. Inorg. Chem. 2002, 41, 1281-1291). Here, the cis isomer is defined as the geometry with the heteroatom in the equatorial position, and the trans isomer is designated as the geometry with the heteroatom positioned trans to the terminal oxo group. The trans isomer represents the thermodynamically more stable geometry as indicated by its spontaneous formation from the cis isomer. In this report, we show that for complexes of [(LO)MoOCl(2)], where LOH is the sterically less restrictive (2-hydroxyphenyl)bis(3,5-dimethylpyrazolyl)methane, only the trans isomer could be isolated, while in the corresponding thiolate containing ligand (2-dimethylethanethiol)bis(3,5-dimethylpyrazolyl)methane (L3SH) only the cis isomer could be observed. In addition, we have isolated and structurally characterized the complex [(L1O)MoO(OPh)(Cl)], a rare example of a species possessing both cis and trans phenolates. Using DFT calculations, we have investigated the origins of the differences in stability between the cis and trans isomers in these complexes and suggest that they are related to the trans influence of the oxo-group. Crystal data for [(LO)MoOCl(2)] (1) include that it crystallizes in the triclinic space group P(-)1 with cell dimensions a = 8.9607 (12) A, b = 10.596 (4) A, c = 13.2998 (13) A, alpha = 98.03 (2) degrees, beta = 103.21 (2) degrees, gamma = 110.05(2) degrees, and Z = 2. [(L1O)MoO(OPh)Cl].2CH(2)Cl(2) (2.2CH(2)Cl(2)) crystallizes in the triclinic space group P(-)1 with cell dimensions a = 12.2740 (5) A, b = 13.0403 (5) A, c = 13.6141 (6) A, alpha = 65.799 (2) degrees, beta = 64.487 (2) degrees, gamma = 65.750 (2) degrees, and Z = 2. [(L3S)Mo(O)Cl(2)] (3) crystallizes in the orthorhombic space group Pna2(1), with cell dimensions a = 13.2213 (13) A, b = 8.817 (2) A, c = 15.649 (4) A, and Z = 4. The implications of these results on the function of mononuclear molybdoenzymes such as sulfite oxidase, and the DMSO reductase, are discussed.

Synthesis, characterization, electrochemistry, electronic structure, and isomerization of mononuclear oxo-molybdenum(V) complexes: the serine gate hypothesis in the function of DMSO reductases

Crystal structures of DMSO reductases isolated from two different sources and the crystal structure of related trimethylamine-N-oxide reductase indicate that the angle between the terminal oxo atom on the molybdenum and the serinato oxygen varies significantly. To understand the significance of this angular variation, we have synthesized two isomeric compounds of the heteroscorpionato ligand (L1OH) (cis- and trans-(L1O)Mo(V)OCl(2)), where the phenolic oxygen mimics the serinato oxygen donor. Density functional and semiempirical calculations indicate that the trans isomer is more stable than the cis. The lower stability of the cis isomer can be attributed to two factors. First, a strong antibonding interaction between the phenolic oxygen with molybdenum d(xy) orbital raises the energy of this orbital. Second, the strong trans influence of the terminal oxo group in the trans isomer places the phenol ring, and hence the bulky tertiary butyl group, in a less sterically hindered position. In solution, the cis isomer spontaneously converts to the thermodynamically favorable trans isomer. This geometric transformation follows a first-order process, with an enthalpy of activation of 20 kcal/mol and an entropy of activation of -9 cal/mol K. Computational analysis at the semiempirical level supports a twist mechanism as the most favorable pathway for the geometric transformation. The twist mechanism is further supported by detailed mass spectral data collected in the presence of excess tetraalkylammonium salts. Both the cis and trans isomers exhibit well-defined one-electron couples due to the reduction of molybdenum(V) to molybdenum(IV), with the cis isomer being more difficult to reduce. Both isomers also exhibit oxidative couples because of the oxidation of molybdenum(V) to molybdenum(VI), with the cis isomer being easier to oxidize. This electrochemical behavior is consistent with a higher-energy redox orbital in the cis isomer, which has been observed computationally. Collectively, this investigation demonstrates that by changing the O(t)-Mo-O(p) angle, the reduction potential can be modulated. This geometrically controlled modulation may play a gating role in the electron-transfer process during the regeneration steps in the catalytic cycle.