Enantiomer-specific binding of ruthenium(II) molecular wires by the amine oxidase of Arthrobacter globiformis.

The copper amine oxidase from Arthrobacter globiformis (AGAO) is reversibly inhibited by molecular wires comprising a Ru(II) complex head group and an aromatic tail group joined by an alkane linker. The crystal structures of a series of Ru(II)-wire-AGAO complexes differing with respect to the length of the alkane linker have been determined. All wires lie in the AGAO active-site channel, with their aromatic tail group in contact with the trihydroxyphenylalanine quinone (TPQ) cofactor of the enzyme. The TPQ cofactor is consistently in its active ("off-Cu") conformation, and the side chain of the so-called "gate" residue Tyr296 is consistently in the "gate-open" conformation. Among the wires tested, the most stable complex is produced when the wire has a -(CH2)4- linker. In this complex, the Ru(II)(phen)(bpy)2 head group is level with the protein molecular surface. Crystal structures of AGAO in complex with optically pure forms of the C4 wire show that the linker and head group in the two enantiomers occupy slightly different positions in the active-site channel. Both the Lambda and Delta isomers are effective competitive inhibitors of amine oxidation. Remarkably, inhibition by the C4 wire shows a high degree of selectivity for AGAO in comparison with other copper-containing amine oxidases.

Reversible inhibition of copper amine oxidase activity by channel-blocking ruthenium(II) and rhenium(I) molecular wires.

Molecular wires comprising a Ru(II)- or Re(I)-complex head group, an aromatic tail group, and an alkane linker reversibly inhibit the activity of the copper amine oxidase from Arthrobacter globiformis (AGAO), with K(i) values between 6 muM and 37 nM. In the crystal structure of a Ru(II)-wire:AGAO conjugate, the wire occupies the AGAO active-site substrate access channel, the trihydroxyphenylalanine quinone cofactor is ordered in the "off-Cu" position with its reactive carbonyl oriented toward the inhibitor, and the "gate" residue, Tyr-296, is in the "open" position. Head groups, tail-group substituents, and linker lengths all influence wire-binding interactions with the enzyme.

Preparative and structural studies on the carbonyl cyanides of iron, manganese, and ruthenium: fundamentals relevant to the hydrogenases.

The reaction of cyanide, carbon monoxide, and ferrous derivatives led to the isolation of three products, trans- and cis-[Fe(CN)(4)(CO)(2)](2)(-) and [Fe(CN)(5)(CO)](3)(-), the first two of which were characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The new compounds show self-consistent IR, (13)C NMR, and mass spectroscopic properties. The reaction of trans-[Fe(CN)(4)(CO)(2)](2)(-) with Et(4)NCN gives [Fe(CN)(5)(CO)](3)(-) via a first-order (dissociative) pathway. The corresponding cyanation of cis-[Fe(CN)(4)(CO)(2)](2)(-), which is a minor product of the Fe(II)/CN(-)/CO reaction, does not proceed at measurable rates. Methylation of [Fe(CN)(5)(CO)](3)(-) gave exclusively cis-[Fe(CN)(4)(CNMe)(CO)](2)(-), demonstrating the enhanced nucleophilicity of CN(-) trans to CN(-) vs. CN(-) trans to CO. Methylation has an electronic effect similar to that of protonation as determined electrochemically. We also characterized [M(CN)(3)(CO)(3)](n)(-) for Ru (n = 1) and Mn (n = 2) derivatives. The Ru complex, which is new, was prepared by cyanation of a [RuCl(2)(CO)(3)](2) solution.

Systematic assembly of the double molecular boxes: [Cs subset [CpCo(CN)(3)](4)[Cp*Ru](3)] as a tridentate ligand.

Cubic cage compounds composed of Co-CN-Ru linkages have been prepared which illustrate the following features: (i) new motifs for alkali metal ion complexation (i.e., cationic receptors for cations), (ii) a new family of triaza-metalloligands, and (iii) a double box-like cage. The cages are synthesized by the condensation of [CpCo(CN)(3)](-) and [Cp*Ru(NCMe)(3)](+) (cyclopentadienyl, Cp; pentamethylcyclopentadienyl, Cp*) the presence of Cs(+). The species [Cs subset[[CpCo(CN)(3)](4)[Cp*Ru](4)](+) and [Cs subset[[CpCo(CN)(3)](4)[Cp*Ru](3)[Cp*Rh]](2+) illustrate the box-completion reaction Cs subset Co(4)Ru(3) + M (M = Cp*Rh(2+), Cp*Ru(+)). With the naked ion precursors [Na(NCMe)(6)](+) and [Fe(NCMe)(6)](2+), the box-completion reactions afforded [Na[Cs subset[CpCo(CN)(3)](4)[Cp*Ru](3)]](2)](+) and [Fe[Cs subset [CpCo(CN)(3)](4)[Cp*Ru](3)]](2)](2+). These cages provide the first examples, to our knowledge, of the double-box motif.