The first example of a nitrile hydratase model complex that reversibly binds nitriles.

Nitrile hydratase (NHase) is an iron-containing metalloenzyme that converts nitriles to amides. The mechanism by which this biochemical reaction occurs is unknown. One mechanism that has been proposed involves nucleophilic attack of an Fe-bound nitrile by water (or hydroxide). Reported herein is a five-coordinate model compound ([Fe(III)(S(2)(Me2)N(3)(Et,Pr))](+)) containing Fe(III) in an environment resembling that of NHase, which reversibly binds a variety of nitriles, alcohols, amines, and thiocyanate. XAS shows that five-coordinate [Fe(III)(S(2)(Me2)N(3)(Et,Pr))](+) reacts with both methanol and acetonitrile to afford a six-coordinate solvent-bound complex. Competitive binding studies demonstrate that MeCN preferentially binds over ROH, suggesting that nitriles would be capable of displacing the H(2)O coordinated to the iron site of NHase. Thermodynamic parameters were determined for acetonitrile (DeltaH = -6.2(+/-0.2) kcal/mol, DeltaS = -29.4(+/-0.8) eu), benzonitrile (-4.2(+/-0.6) kcal/mol, DeltaS = -18(+/-3) eu), and pyridine (DeltaH = -8(+/-1) kcal/mol, DeltaS = -41(+/-6) eu) binding to [Fe(III)(S(2)(Me2)N(3)(Et,Pr))](+) using variable-temperature electronic absorption spectroscopy. Ligand exchange kinetics were examined for acetonitrile, iso-propylnitrile, benzonitrile, and 4-tert-butylpyridine using (13)C NMR line-broadening analysis, at a variety of temperatures. Activation parameters for ligand exchange were determined to be DeltaH(+ +) = 7.1(+/-0.8) kcal/mol, DeltaS(+ +) = -10(+/-1) eu (acetonitrile), DeltaH(+ +) = 5.4(+/-0.6) kcal/mol, DeltaS(+ +) = -17(+/-2) eu (iso-propionitrile), DeltaH(+ +) = 4.9(+/-0.8) kcal/mol, DeltaS(+ +) = -20(+/-3) eu (benzonitrile), and DeltaH(+ +) = 4.7(+/-1.4) kcal/mol DeltaS(+ +) = -18(+/-2) eu (4-tert-butylpyridine). The thermodynamic parameters for pyridine binding to a related complex, [Fe(III)(S(2)(Me2)N(3)(Pr,Pr))](+) (DeltaH = -5.9(+/-0.8) kcal/mol, DeltaS = -24(+/-3) eu), are also reported, as well as kinetic parameters for 4-tert-butylpyridine exchange (DeltaH(+ +) = 3.1(+/-0.8) kcal/mol, DeltaS(+ +) = -25(+/-3) eu). These data show for the first time that, when it is contained in a ligand environment similar to that of NHase, Fe(III) is capable of forming a stable complex with nitriles. Also, the rates of ligand exchange demonstrate that low-spin Fe(III) in this ligand environment is more labile than expected. Furthermore, comparison of [Fe(III)(S(2)(Me2)N(3)(Et,Pr))](+) and [Fe(III)(S(2)(Me2)N(3)(Pr,Pr))](+) demonstrates how minor distortions induced by ligand constraints can dramatically alter the reactivity of a metal complex.

Enhancing reactivity via structural distortion.

To examine how small structural changes influence the reactivity and magnetic properties of biologically relevant metal complexes, the reactivity and magnetic properties of two structurally related five-coordinate Fe(III) thiolate compounds are compared. (Et,Pr)-ligated [Fe(III)(S(2)(Me2)N(3)(Et,Pr))]PF(6) (3) is synthesized via the abstraction of a sulfur from alkyl persulfide ligated [Fe(III)(S(2)(Me2)N(3)(Et,Pr))-S(pers)]PF(6) (2) using PEt(3). (Et,Pr)-3 is structurally related to (Pr,Pr)-ligated [Fe(III)(S(2)(Me2)N(3)(Pr,Pr))]PF(6) (1), a nitrile hydratase model compound previously reported by our group, except it contains one fewer methylene unit in its ligand backbone. Removal of this methylene distorts the geometry, opens a S-Fe-N angle by approximately 10 degrees, alters the magnetic properties by stabilizing the S = 1/2 state relative to the S = 3/2 state, and increases reactivity. Reactivity differences between 3 and 1 were assessed by comparing the thermodynamics and kinetics of azide binding. Azide binds reversibly to both (Et,Pr)-3 and (Pr,Pr)-1 in MeOH solutions. The ambient temperature K(eq) describing the equilibrium between five-coordinate 1 or 3 and azide-bound 1-N(3) or 3-N(3) in MeOH is approximately 10 times larger for the (Et,Pr) system. In CH(2)Cl(2), azide binds approximately 3 times faster to 3 relative to 1, and in MeOH, azide dissociates 1 order of magnitude slower from 3-N(3) relative to 1-N(3). The increased on rates are most likely a consequence of the decreased structural rearrangement required to convert 3 to an approximately octahedral structure, or they reflect differences in the LUMO (vs SOMO) orbital population (i.e., spin-state differences). Dissociation rates from both 3-N(3) and 1-N(3) are much faster than one would expect for low-spin Fe(III). Most likely this is due to the labilizing effect of the thiolate sulfur that is trans to azide in these structures.

Observation of Magnetic Ordering as High as 28 K for meso-Tetrakis(4-halophenyl)porphinatomanganese(III) Tetracyanoethenide, [MnTXPP][TCNE] (X = F, Br, I).

The toluene solvates of meso-tetrakis(4-halophenyl)porphinatomanganese(III) tetracyanoethenide, [MnTFPP][TCNE] (1F), [MnTBrPP][TCNE] (1Br), and [MnTIPP][TCNE] (1I) have been prepared, and the magnetic and thermal properties have been determined and compared to those of [MnTClPP][TCNE] (1Cl). 1Br and 1I form uniform 1-D chains with each [TCNE](*)(-) being trans-&mgr;-N-sigma-bound to Mn(III) with Mn-N distances of 2.293 (1Br) and 2.276 (1I), which are a bit longer than 2.267 Å observed for 1Cl. The Mn-N-C angles are 167.2, 168.1, and 158.7, while intrachain Mn.Mn separations are 10.189, 10.277, and 10.101 Å. The magnetic susceptibilities for 1Br and 1I can be fit by the Curie-Weiss expression with high-temperature (T > 200 K) theta and low-temperature (T < 110 K) effective theta' values of -53 and 13 K and -79 and 30 K, respectively, compared to -60 and 13 K in 1Cl. theta is not observed for 1F; however, theta' is 70 K. The magnetic data are consistent with linear chain ferrimagnets composed of antiferromagnetically coupled S = 2 Mn(III) sites and S = (1)/(2) [TCNE](*)(-) sites with the antiferromagnetic intrachain coupling, J(intra/)k(B) (k(B) = Boltzmann's constant) determined from fits to the Seiden expression, of -225, -33, -30, and -53 K for the 1F, 1Cl, 1Br, and 1I, respectively. Hysteresis with coercive fields at 2 K of 20.0, 6.7, 4.0, and 15.9 kOe was observed for the 1F, 1Cl, 1Br, and 1I, respectively. Metamagnetic behavior is observed below 10 K for 1F, and below 5 K for both 1Br and 1I. The observed critical fields of 21.8, 6.8, 4.1, and 15.8 kOe were observed for 1F, 1Cl, 1Br, and 1I at 2 K, respectively. The ordering temperatures, T(c), determined from the maxima in the chi'(T) data taken at 10 Hz, are 28.0, 8.8, 8.0, and 6.5 K for 1F, 1Cl, 1Br, and 1I, respectively. The 28 K T(c) for 1F is the highest reported for this family of magnets.