EPR/ENDOR, Mössbauer, and quantum-chemical investigations of diiron complexes mimicking the active oxidized state of [FeFe]hydrogenase.

Understanding the catalytic process of the heterolytic splitting and formation of molecular hydrogen is one of the key topics for the development of a future hydrogen economy. With an interest in elucidating the enzymatic mechanism of the [Fe(2)(S(2)C(2)H(4)NH)(CN)(2)(CO)(2)(µ-CO)] active center uniquely found in [FeFe]hydrogenases, we present a detailed spectroscopic and theoretical analysis of its inorganic model [Fe(2)(S(2)X)(CO)(3)(dppv)(PMe(3))](+) [dppv = cis-1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)ethylene] in two forms with S(2)X = ethanedithiolate (1edt) and azadithiolate (1adt). These complexes represent models for the oxidized mixed-valent Fe(I)Fe(II) state analogous to the active oxidized "H(ox)" state of the native H-cluster. For both complexes, the (31)P hyperfine interactions were determined by pulse electron paramagnetic resonance and electron nuclear double resonance (ENDOR) methods. For 1edt, the (57)Fe parameters were measured by electron spin-echo envelope modulation and Mössbauer spectroscopy, while for 1adt, (14)N and selected (1)H couplings could be obtained by ENDOR and hyperfine sublevel correlation spectroscopy. The spin density was found to be predominantly localized on the Fe(dppv) site. This spin distribution is different from that of the H-cluster, where both the spin and charge densities are delocalized over the two Fe centers. This difference is attributed to the influence of the "native" cubane subcluster that is lacking in the inorganic models. The degree and character of the unpaired spin delocalization was found to vary from 1edt, with an abiological dithiolate, to 1adt, which features the authentic cofactor. For 1adt, we find two (14)N signals, which are indicative for two possible isomers of the azadithiolate, demonstrating its high flexibility. All interaction parameters were also evaluated through density functional theory calculations at various levels.

De novo design of a non-natural fold for an iron-sulfur protein: alpha-helical coiled-coil with a four-iron four-sulfur cluster binding site in its central core.

Using a 'metal-first' approach, we computationally designed, prepared, and characterized a four-iron four-sulfur (Fe(4)S(4)) cluster protein with a non-natural alpha-helical coiled-coil fold. The novelty of this fold lies in the placement of a Fe(4)S(4) cluster within the hydrophobic core of a four-helix bundle, making it unique among previous iron-sulfur (FeS) protein designs, and different from known natural FeS proteins. The apoprotein, recombinantly expressed and purified from E. coli, readily self-assembles with Fe(4)S(4) clusters in vitro. UV-Vis absorption and CD spectroscopy, elemental analysis, gel filtration, and analytical ultracentrifugation confirm that the protein is folded and assembled as designed, namely, alpha-helical coiled-coil binding a single Fe(4)S(4) cluster. Dithionite-reduced holoprotein samples have characteristic rhombic EPR spectra, typical of low-potential, [Fe(4)S(4)](+) (S=1/2), with g values of g(zy)=(1.970, 1.975), and g(x)=2.053. The temperature, and power dependence of the signal intensity were also characteristic of [Fe(4)S(4)](+) clusters with very efficient spin relaxation, but almost without any interaction between adjacent clusters. The new design is very promising although optimization is required, particularly for preventing aggregation, and adding second shell interactions to stabilize the reduced state. Its main advantage is its extendibility into a multi-FeS cluster protein by simply duplicating and translating the binding site along the coiled-coil axis. This opens new possibilities for designing protein-embedded redox chains that may be used as "wires" for coupling any given set of redox enzymes.

Advanced electron paramagnetic resonance and density functional theory study of a {2Fe3S} cluster mimicking the active site of [FeFe] hydrogenase.

Despite extensive investigations of the active site of the [FeFe] hydrogenases, many details concerning the properties of the "hydrogen converting cluster" are not yet fully understood. The complexity of the so-called H-cluster is one of the main difficulties in studying the properties of its components. The present study is aimed at the mixed-valence EPR active [Fe2(µ-CO)(CO)3(CN)2{MeSCH2C(Me)(CH2S)2}](1-) that is structurally closely related to the redox active binuclear part of the H-cluster in its CO-inhibited oxidized state. In this work, we present a characterization of this compound by advanced pulse EPR methods. The accurate determination of the (57)Fe, (1)H, (2)H, (14)N, and (15)N electron nuclear hyperfine interactions provided a very detailed picture of the electronic structure of this complex. A theoretical study using density functional theory (DFT) calculations identified possible isomers of the compound and further refined the knowledge about its properties. It was found that upon one electron oxidation of the parent Fe(I)-Fe(I) complex, the dominant mixed-valence Fe(I)-Fe(II) species is the one in which the CN ligand of the iron center that is distal to the thioether moves from the basal to the apical position. The unpaired spin distribution of the model complex is found to be clearly different from that of the native H-cluster. These differences are discussed and provide new insight into the functional features of the [FeFe] hydrogenase active site.

Ligand-centred reactivity of bis(picolyl)amine iridium: sequential deprotonation, oxidation and oxygenation of a "non-innocent" ligand.

Treatment of [Ir(bpa)(cod)](+) complex [1](+) with a strong base (e.g., tBuO(-)) led to unexpected double deprotonation to form the anionic [Ir(bpa-2H)(cod)](-) species [3](-), via the mono-deprotonated neutral amido complex [Ir(bpa-H)(cod)] as an isolable intermediate. A certain degree of aromaticity of the obtained metal-chelate ring may explain the favourable double deprotonation. The rhodium analogue [4](-) was prepared in situ. The new species [M(bpa-2H)(cod)](-) (M = Rh, Ir) are best described as two-electron reduced analogues of the cationic imine complexes [M(I)(cod)(Py-CH(2)-N=CH-Py)](+). One-electron oxidation of [3](-) and [4](-) produced the ligand radical complexes [3](*) and [4](*). Oxygenation of [3](-) with O(2) gave the neutral carboxamido complex [Ir(cod)(py-CH(2)-N-CO-py)] via the ligand radical complex [3](*) as a detectable intermediate.

The electronic structure of the H-cluster in the [FeFe]-hydrogenase from Desulfovibrio desulfuricans: a Q-band 57Fe-ENDOR and HYSCORE study.

The active site of the (57)Fe-enriched [FeFe]-hydrogenase (i.e., the "H-cluster") from Desulfovibrio desulfuricans has been examined using advanced pulse EPR methods at X- and Q-band frequencies. For both the active oxidized state (H(ox)) and the CO inhibited form (H(ox)-CO) all six (57)Fe hyperfine couplings were detected. The analysis shows that the apparent spin density extends over the whole H-cluster. The investigations revealed different hyperfine couplings of all six (57)Fe nuclei in the H-cluster of the H(ox)-CO state. Four large 57Fe hyperfine couplings in the range 20-40 MHz were found (using pulse ENDOR and TRIPLE methods) and were assigned to the [4Fe-4S](H) (cubane) subcluster. Two weak (57)Fe hyperfine couplings below 5 MHz were identified using Q-band HYSCORE spectroscopy and were assigned to the [2Fe](H) subcluster. For the H(ox) state only two different 57Fe hyperfine couplings in the range 10-13 MHz were detected using pulse ENDOR. An (57)Fe line broadening analysis of the X-band CW EPR spectrum indicated, however, that all six (57)Fe nuclei in the H-cluster are contributing to the hyperfine pattern. It is concluded that in both states the binuclear subcluster [2Fe](H) assumes a [Fe(I)Fe(II)] redox configuration where the paramagnetic Fe(I) atom is attached to the [4Fe-4S](H) subcluster. The (57)Fe hyperfine interactions of the formally diamagnetic [4Fe-4S](H) are due to an exchange interaction between the two subclusters as has been discussed earlier by Popescu and Münck [Popescu, C.V.; Münck, E., J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1999, 121, 7877-7884]. This exchange coupling is strongly enhanced by binding of the extrinsic CO ligand. Binding of the dihydrogen substrate may induce a similar effect, and it is therefore proposed that the observed modulation of the electronic structure by the changing ligand surrounding plays an important role in the catalytic mechanism of [FeFe]-hydrogenase.

Hydrogen-atom transfer in open-shell organometallic chemistry: the reactivity of Rh(II)(cod) and Ir(II)(cod) radicals.

A series of new metalloradical rhodium and iridium complexes [M(II)(cod)(N-ligand)](2+) in the uncommon oxidation state +II were synthesized by one-electron oxidation of their [M(I)(cod)(N-ligand)](+) precursors (M=Rh, Ir; cod=(Z,Z)-1,5-cyclooctadiene; and N-ligand is a podal bis(pyridyl)amine ligand: N,N-bis(2-pyridylmethyl)amine (dpa), N-(2-pyridylmethyl)-N-(6-methyl-2-pyridylmethyl)amine (pla), or N-benzyl-N,N-bis(6-methyl-2-pyridylmethyl)amine (Bn-dla). EPR spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and DFT calculations reveal that each of these [M(II)(cod)(N-ligand)](2+) species adopts a square-pyramidal geometry with the two cod double bonds and the two pyridine fragments in the basal plane and the N(amine) donor at the apical position. The unpaired electron of these species mainly resides at the metal center, but the apical N(amine) donor also carries a considerable fraction of the total spin density (15-18 %). Density functional calculations proved a valuable tool for the analysis and simulation of the experimental EPR spectra. Whereas the M(II)(olefin) complexes are quite stable as solids, in solution they spontaneously transform into a 1:1 mixture of M(III)(allyl) species and protonated M(I)(olefin) complexes (in the forms [M(I)(olefin)(protonated N-ligand)](2+) for M=Rh and [M(III)(H)(olefin)(N-ligand)](2+) for M=Ir). Similar reactions were observed for the related propene complex [M(II)(propene)(Me(2)tpa)](2+) (Me(2)tpa=N,N,N-tris(6-methyl-2-pyridylmethyl)amine). The decomposition rate of the [M(II)(cod)(N-ligand)](2+) species decreases with increasing N-ligand bulk in the following order: dpa>pla>Bn-dla. Decomposition of the most hindered [M(II)(cod)(Bn-dla)](2+) complexes proceeds by a second-order process. The kinetic rate expression v=k(obs)[M(II)](2) in acetone with k(obs)=k'[H(+)][S], where [S] is the concentration of additional coordinating reagents (MeCN), is in agreement with ligand-assisted dissociation of one of the pyridine donors. Solvent coordination results in formation of more open, reactive species. Protonation of the noncoordinating pyridyl group increases the concentration of this species, and thus [H(+)] appears in the kinetic rate expression. The kinetic data are in agreement with bimolecular hydrogen-atom transfer from M(II)(cod) to another M(II) species (DeltaH( not equal)=11.5+/-2 kcal mol(-1), DeltaS( not equal)=-27+/-10 cal K(-1) mol(-1), and DeltaG( not equal)(298 K)=19.5+/-5 kcal mol(-1)).

EPR analysis of multiple forms of [4Fe-4S](3+) clusters in HiPIPs.

The electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectrum from the [4Fe-4S](3+) cluster in several high-potential iron-sulfur proteins (HiPIPs) is complex: it is not the pattern of a single, isolated S=1/2 system. Multifrequency EPR from 9 to 130 GHz reveals that the apparent peak positions (g values) are frequency-independent: the spectrum is dominated by the Zeeman interaction plus g-strain broadening. The spectra taken at frequencies above the X-band are increasingly sensitive to rapid-passage effects; therefore, the X-band data, which are slightly additionally broadened by dipolar interaction, were used for quantitative spectral analysis. For a single geometrical [4Fe-4S](3+) structure the (Fe-Fe)(5+) mixed-valence dimer can be assigned in six different ways to a pair of iron ions, and this defines six valence isomers. Systematic multicomponent g-strain simulation shows that the [4Fe-4S](3+) paramagnets in seven HiPIPs from different bacteria each consist of three to four discernible species, and these are assigned to valence isomers of the clusters. This interpretation builds on previous EPR analyzes of [4Fe-4S](3+) model compounds, and it constitutes a high-resolution extension of the current literature model, proposed from paramagnetic NMR studies.