NMR and Mössbauer Studies Reveal a Temperature-Dependent Switch from S = 1 to 2 in a Nonheme Oxoiron(IV) Complex with Faster C-H Bond Cleavage Rates.

S = 2 FeIV═O centers generated in the active sites of nonheme iron oxygenases cleave substrate C-H bonds at rates significantly faster than most known synthetic FeIV═O complexes. Unlike the majority of the latter, which are S = 1 complexes, [FeIV(O)(tris(2-quinolylmethyl)amine)(MeCN)]2+ (3) is a rare example of a synthetic S = 2 FeIV═O complex that cleaves C-H bonds 1000-fold faster than the related [FeIV(O)(tris(pyridyl-2-methyl)amine)(MeCN)]2+ complex (0). To rationalize this significant difference, a systematic comparison of properties has been carried out on 0 and 3 as well as related complexes 1 and 2 with mixed pyridine (Py)/quinoline (Q) ligation. Interestingly, 2 with a 2-Q-1-Py donor combination cleaves C-H bonds at 233 K with rates approaching those of 3, even though Mössbauer analysis reveals 2 to be S = 1 at 4 K. At 233 K however, 2 becomes S = 2, as shown by its 1H NMR spectrum. These results demonstrate a unique temperature-dependent spin-state transition from triplet to quintet in oxoiron(IV) chemistry that gives rise to the high C-H bond cleaving reactivity observed for 2.

A Monohydrosulfidodinitrosyldiiron Complex That Generates N2O as a Model for Flavodiiron Nitric Oxide Reductases: Reaction Mechanism and Electronic Structure.

Flavodiiron nitric oxide reductases (FNORs) protect microbes from nitrosative stress under anaerobic conditions by mediating the reduction of nitric oxide (NO) to nitrous oxide (N2O). The proposed mechanism for the catalytic reduction of NO by FNORs involves a dinitrosyldiiron intermediate with a [hs-{FeNO}7]2 formulation, which produces N2O and a diferric species. Moreover, both NO and hydrogen sulfide (H2S) have been implicated in several similar physiological functions in biology and are also known to cross paths in cell signaling. Here we report the synthesis, spectroscopic and theoretical characterization, and N2O production activity of an unprecedented monohydrosulfidodinitrosyldiiron compound, with a [(HS)hs-{FeNO}7/hs-{FeNO}7] formulation, that models the key dinitrosyl intermediate of FNORs. The generation of N2O from this unique compound follows a semireduced pathway, where one-electron reduction generates a reactive hs-{FeNO}8 center via the occupation of an Fe-NO antibonding orbital. In contrast to the well-known reactivity of H2S and NO, the coordinated hydrosulfide remains unreactive toward NO and acts only as a spectator ligand during the NO reduction process.

Functional Models for the Mono- and Dinitrosyl Intermediates of FNORs: Semireduction versus Superreduction of NO.

The reduction of NO to N2O by flavodiiron nitric oxide reductases (FNORs) is related to the disruption of the defense mechanism in mammals against invading pathogens. The proposed mechanism for this catalytic reaction involves both nonheme mono- and dinitrosyl diiron(II) species as the key intermediates. Recently, we reported an initial account for NO reduction activity of an unprecedented mononitrosyl diiron(II) complex, [Fe2(N-Et-HPTB)(NO)(DMF)3](BF4)3 (1) (N-Et-HPTB is the anion of N,N,N',N'-tetrakis(2-(l-ethylbenzimidazolyl))-2-hydroxy-1,3-diaminopropane; DMF = dimethylformamide) with [FeII{FeNO}7] formulation [Jana et al. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2017, 139, 14380]. Here we report the full account for the selective synthesis, characterization, and reactivity of FNOR model complexes, which include a dinitrosyl diiron(II) complex, [Fe2(N-Et-HPTB)(NO)2(DMF)2](BF4)3 (2) with [{FeNO}7]2 formulation and a related, mixed-valent diiron(II, III) complex, [Fe2(N-Et-HPTB)(OH)(DMF)3](BF4)3 (3). Importantly, whereas complex 2 is able to produce 89% of N2O via a semireduced mechanism (1 equiv of CoCp2 per dimer = 50% of NO reduced), complex 1, under the same conditions (0.5 equiv of CoCp2 per dimer = 50% of NO reduced), generates only ∼50% of N2O. The mononitrosyl complex therefore requires superreduction for quantitative N2O generation, which constitutes an interesting dichotomy between 1 and 2. Reaction products obtained after N2O generation by 2 using 1 and 2 equiv of reductant were characterized by molecular structure determination and electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy. Despite several available literature reports on N2O generation by diiron complexes, this is the first case where the end products from these reactions could be characterized unambiguously, which clarifies a number of tantalizing observations about the nature of these products in the literature.

Functional Mononitrosyl Diiron(II) Complex Mediates the Reduction of NO to N2O with Relevance for Flavodiiron NO Reductases.

Reaction of [Fe2(N-Et-HPTB)(CH3COS)](BF4)2 (1) with (NO)(BF4) produces a nonheme mononitrosyl diiron(II) complex, [Fe2(N-Et-HPTB)(NO)(DMF)3](BF4)3 (2). Complex 2 is the first example of a [FeII{Fe(NO)}7] species and is also the first example of a mononitrosyl diiron(II) complex that mediates the reduction of NO to N2O. This work describes the selective synthesis, detailed characterization and NO reduction activity of 2 and thus provides new insights regarding the mechanism of flavodiiron nitric oxide reductases.

Controlling the Reactivity of Bifunctional Ligands: Carboxylate-Bridged Nonheme Diiron(II) Complexes Bearing Free Thiol Groups.

Carboxylate-bridged nonheme diiron(II) complexes, bearing free functional groups in general, and free thiol groups in particular, were sought. While the addition of sodium γ-hydroxybutyrate into a mixture of Fe(BF4)2·6H2O, HN-Et-HPTB, and Et3N afforded the complex [Fe2(N-Et-HPTB)(µ-O2C-(CH2)3-OH)](BF4)2 (2) (where N-Et-HPTB is the anion of N,N,N',N'-tetrakis(2-(1-ethylbenzimidazolyl))-2-hydroxy-1,3-diaminopropane), a similar, straightforward process could not be used for the synthesis of diiron(II) complexes with free thiol groups. In order to circumvent this problem, a new class of thiolate bridged diiron(II) complexes, [Fe2(N-Et-HPTB)(µ-SR(1))](BF4)2 (R(1) = Me (1a), Et (1b), (t)Bu (1c), Ph (1d)) was synthesized. Selective proton exchange reactions of one representative compound, 1b, with reagents of the type HS-R(2)-COOH yielded the target compounds, [Fe2(N-Et-HPTB)(µ-O2C-R(2)-SH)](BF4)2 (R(2) = C6H4 (3a), CH2CH2 (3b), CH2(CH2)5CH2 (3c)). Redox properties of the complexes 3a-3c were studied in comparison with the complex, [Fe2(N-Et-HPTB)(µ-O2CMe)](BF4)2 (5). Reaction of (Cp2Fe)(BF4) with 1b yielded [Fe(II)2(N-Et-HPTB)(DMF)3](BF4)3·DMF (4) (when crystallized from DMF/diethyl ether), which might indicate the formation of a transient ethanethiolate bridged {Fe(II)Fe(III)} species, followed by a rapid internal redox reaction to generate diethyldisulfide and the solvent coordinated diiron(II) complex, 4. This possibility was supported by a comparative cyclic voltammetric study of 1a-1c and 4. Prospects of the complexes of the type 3a-3c as potential building blocks for the synthesis of nonheme diiron(II) complexes covalently attached with other redox active metals has been substantiated by the synthesis of the complexes, [Fe2(N-EtHPTB)(µ-O2C-R(2)-S)Cu(Me3TACN)](BF4)2 (R = p-C6H4 (7a), CH2CH2 (7b)). All the compounds were characterized by a combination of single-crystal X-ray structure determinations and/or elemental analysis.

Reduction of NO by diiron complexes in relation to flavodiiron nitric oxide reductases.

Reduction of nitric oxide (NO) to nitrous oxide (N2O) is associated with immense biological and health implications. Flavodiiron nitric oxide reductases (FNORs) are diiron containing enzymes that catalyze the two electron reduction of NO to N2O and help certain pathogenic bacteria to survive under "nitrosative stress" in anaerobic growth conditions. Consequently, invading bacteria can proliferate inside the body of mammals by bypassing the immune defense mechanism involving NO and may thus lead to harmful infections. Various mechanisms, namely the direct reduction, semireduction, superreduction and hyponitrite mechanisms, have been proposed over time for catalytic NO reduction by FNORs. Model studies in relation to the diiron active site of FNORs have immensely helped to replicate the minimal structure-reactivity relationship and to understand the mechanism of NO reduction. A brief overview of the FNOR activity and the proposed reaction mechanisms followed by a systematic description and detailed analysis of the model studies is presented, which describes the development in the area of NO reduction by diiron complexes and its implications. A great deal of successful modeling chemistry as well as the shortcomings related to the synthesis and reactivity studies is discussed in detail. Finally, future prospects in this particular area of research are proposed, which in due course may bring more clarity in the understanding of this important redox reaction.

Transfer of hydrosulfide from thiols to iron(ii): a convenient synthetic route to nonheme diiron(ii)-hydrosulfide complexes.

While the attempted synthesis of diiron(ii)-hydrosulfide complexes using HS- produced an insoluble precipitate, the reaction of Fe(BF4)2·6H2O, Et3N and HN-Et-HPTB with RSH (R = tBu, CH2Ph) yielded the desired complex, [Fe2(N-Et-HPTB)(SH)(H2O)](BF4)2 (1a). The synthesis, one electron oxidation and dioxygen activity of 1a in comparison with an analogous chloride complex, [Fe2(N-Et-HPTB)(Cl)(DMF)2](BF4)2 (2), are described.