O2-Tolerant H2 Activation by an Isolated Large Subunit of a [NiFe] Hydrogenase.

The catalytic properties of hydrogenases are nature's answer to the seemingly simple reaction H2 ⇌ 2H+ + 2e-. Members of the phylogenetically diverse subgroup of [NiFe] hydrogenases generally consist of at least two subunits, where the large subunit harbors the H2-activating [NiFe] site and the small subunit contains iron-sulfur clusters mediating e- transfer. Typically, [NiFe] hydrogenases are susceptible to inhibition by O2. Here, we conducted system minimization by isolating and analyzing the large subunit of one of the rare members of the group of O2-tolerant [NiFe] hydrogenases, namely the preHoxG protein of the membrane-bound hydrogenase from Ralstonia eutropha. Unlike previous assumptions, preHoxG was able to activate H2 as it clearly performed catalytic hydrogen/deuterium exchange. However, it did not execute the entire catalytic cycle described for [NiFe] hydrogenases. Remarkably, H2 activation was performed by preHoxG even in the presence of O2, although the unique [4Fe-3S] cluster located in the small subunit and described to be crucial for tolerance toward O2 was absent. These findings challenge the current understanding of O2 tolerance of [NiFe] hydrogenases. The applicability of this minimal hydrogenase in basic and applied research is discussed.

Engineering titania nanostructure to tune and improve its photocatalytic activity.

Photocatalytic pathways could prove crucial to the sustainable production of fuels and chemicals required for a carbon-neutral society. Electron-hole recombination is a critical problem that has, so far, limited the efficiency of the most promising photocatalytic materials. Here, we show the efficacy of anisotropy in improving charge separation and thereby boosting the activity of a titania (TiO2) photocatalytic system. Specifically, we show that H2 production in uniform, one-dimensional brookite titania nanorods is highly enhanced by engineering their length. By using complimentary characterization techniques to separately probe excited electrons and holes, we link the high observed reaction rates to the anisotropic structure, which favors efficient carrier utilization. Quantum yield values for hydrogen production from ethanol, glycerol, and glucose as high as 65%, 35%, and 6%, respectively, demonstrate the promise and generality of this approach for improving the photoactivity of semiconducting nanostructures for a wide range of reacting systems.

Cyclic Group 15 Radical Cations.

Singlet cyclo-1,3-dipnicta-2,4-diazane-1,3-diyls of the type [E(µ-NTer)2 E] (2, E=P, As, Ter=2,6-dimesitylphenyl) can undergo a one-electron-oxidation utilizing silver salts of weakly coordinating anions such as [AgLn][B(C6F5)4 ] (L=donor solvents) to afford the novel cyclic radical cations, [E(µ-NTer)2E](+·) (3(+·)). When smaller and more basic anions were employed in the reaction, the anions were found to form covalent bonds to the radical centers yielding dipnictadiazanes, [FP(µ-NTer)2PF] (5) and [(CF3CO2)P(µ-NTer)2P(CF3CO2)] (6). A two-electron oxidation process, resulting in the formation of dications of the type [E(µ-NTer)2E](2+), could not be observed. Computational and EPR data revealed that the spin density is almost completely localized at the two heavier pnictogen centers E of the former 1,3-dipnictadiazane-1,3-diyls. The bonding situation in the radical cations features a rare example of a transannular one-electron π bond without having a σ bond.

Four-membered heterometallacyclic d° and d¹ complexes of Group†4 metallocenes with amidato ligands.

A study of the coordination chemistry of different amidato ligands [(R)N-C(Ph)O] (R=Ph, 2,6-diisopropylphenyl (Dipp)) at Group 4 metallocenes is presented. The heterometallacyclic complexes [Cp2M(Cl){κ(2)-N,O-(R)N-C(Ph)O}] M=Zr, R=Dipp (1 a), Ph (1 b); M=Hf, R=Ph (2)) were synthesized by reaction of [Cp2MCl2] with the corresponding deprotonated amides. Complex 1 a was also prepared by direct deprotonation of the amide with Schwartz reagent [Cp2Zr(H)Cl]. Salt metathesis reaction of [Cp2Zr(H)Cl] with deprotonated amide [(Dipp)N-C(Ph)O] gave the zirconocene hydrido complex [Cp2M(H){κ(2)-N,O-(Dipp)N-C(Ph)O}] (3). Reaction of 1 a with Mg did not result in the desired Zr(III) complex but in formation of Mg complex [(py)3Mg(Cl) {κ(2)-N,O-(Dipp)N-C(Ph)O}] (4; py=pyridine). The paramagnetic complexes [Cp'2Ti{κ(2)-N,O-(R)N-C(Ph)O}] (Cp'=Cp, R=Ph (7 a); Cp'=Cp, R=Dipp (7 b); Cp'=Cp*, R=Ph (8)) were prepared by the reaction of the known titanocene alkyne complexes [Cp2'Ti(η(2)-Me3SiC2SiMe3)] (Cp'=Cp (5), Cp'=Cp* (6)) with the corresponding amides. Complexes 1 a, 2, 3, 4, 7 a, 7 b, and 8 were characterized by X-ray crystallography. The structure and bonding of complexes 7 a and 8 were also characterized by EPR spectroscopy.

Rubredoxin-related maturation factor guarantees metal cofactor integrity during aerobic biosynthesis of membrane-bound [NiFe] hydrogenase.

The membrane-bound [NiFe] hydrogenase (MBH) supports growth of Ralstonia eutropha H16 with H2 as the sole energy source. The enzyme undergoes a complex biosynthesis process that proceeds during cell growth even at ambient O2 levels and involves 14 specific maturation proteins. One of these is a rubredoxin-like protein, which is essential for biosynthesis of active MBH at high oxygen concentrations but dispensable under microaerobic growth conditions. To obtain insights into the function of HoxR, we investigated the MBH protein purified from the cytoplasmic membrane of hoxR mutant cells. Compared with wild-type MBH, the mutant enzyme displayed severely decreased hydrogenase activity. Electron paramagnetic resonance and infrared spectroscopic analyses revealed features resembling those of O2-sensitive [NiFe] hydrogenases and/or oxidatively damaged protein. The catalytic center resided partially in an inactive Niu-A-like state, and the electron transfer chain consisting of three different Fe-S clusters showed marked alterations compared with wild-type enzyme. Purification of HoxR protein from its original host, R. eutropha, revealed only low protein amounts. Therefore, recombinant HoxR protein was isolated from Escherichia coli. Unlike common rubredoxins, the HoxR protein was colorless, rather unstable, and essentially metal-free. Conversion of the atypical iron-binding motif into a canonical one through genetic engineering led to a stable reddish rubredoxin. Remarkably, the modified HoxR protein did not support MBH-dependent growth at high O2. Analysis of MBH-associated protein complexes points toward a specific interaction of HoxR with the Fe-S cluster-bearing small subunit. This supports the previously made notion that HoxR avoids oxidative damage of the metal centers of the MBH, in particular the unprecedented Cys6[4Fe-3S] cluster.

Water reduction with visible light: synergy between optical transitions and electron transfer in Au-TiO(2) catalysts visualized by in†situ EPR spectroscopy.

Golden electrons: Visible light excites conduction electron transfer from gold particles to support vacancies where they are taken up by protons to produce hydrogen. This transfer process was visualized by in situ EPR spectroscopy.

Highly strained heterometallacycles of Group†4 metallocenes with bis(diphenylphosphino)methanide ligands.

A study of the coordination chemistry of different bis(diphenylphosphino)methanide ligands [Ph2PC(X)PPh2] (X = H, SiMe3) with Group 4 metallocenes is presented. The paramagnetic complexes [Cp2Ti{κ(2)-P,P-Ph2PC(X)PPh2}] (X = H (3 a), X = SiMe3 (3 b)) have been prepared by the reactions of [(Cp2TiCl)2] with [Li{C(X)PPh2}2(thf)3]. Complex 3 b could also be synthesized by reaction of the known titanocene alkyne complex [Cp2Ti(η(2)-Me3SiC2SiMe3)] with Ph2PC(H)(SiMe3)PPh2 (2 b). The heterometallacyclic complex [Cp2Zr(H){κ(2)-P,P-Ph2PC(H)PPh2}] (4 aH) has been prepared by reaction of the Schwartz reagent with [Li{C(H)PPh2}2(thf)3]. Reactions of [Cp2HfCl2] with [Li{C(X)PPh2}2(thf)3] gave the highly strained corresponding metallacycles [Cp2M(Cl){κ(2)-P,P-Ph2PC(X)PPh2}] (5 aCl and 5 bCl) in very good yields. Complexes 3 a, 4 aH, and 5 aCl have been characterized by X-ray crystallography. Complex 3 a has also been characterized by EPR spectroscopy. The structure and bonding of the complexes has been investigated by DFT analysis. Reactions of complexes 4 aH, 5 aCl, and 5 bCl did not give the corresponding more unsaturated heterometallacyclobuta-2,3-dienes.