Synthetic Models for Nickel-Iron Hydrogenase Featuring Redox-Active Ligands.

The nickel-iron hydrogenase enzymes efficiently and reversibly interconvert protons, electrons, and dihydrogen. These redox proteins feature iron-sulfur clusters that relay electrons to and from their active sites. Reported here are synthetic models for nickel-iron hydrogenase featuring redox-active auxiliaries that mimic the iron-sulfur cofactors. The complexes prepared are NiII(µ-H)FeIIFeII species of formula [(diphosphine)Ni(dithiolate)(µ-H)Fe(CO)2(ferrocenylphosphine)]+ or NiIIFeIFeII complexes [(diphosphine)Ni(dithiolate)Fe(CO)2(ferrocenylphosphine)]+ (diphosphine = Ph2P(CH2)2PPh2 or Cy2P(CH2)2PCy2; dithiolate = -S(CH2)3S-; ferrocenylphosphine = diphenylphosphinoferrocene, diphenylphosphinomethyl(nonamethylferrocene) or 1,1'-bis(diphenylphosphino)ferrocene). The hydride species is a catalyst for hydrogen evolution, while the latter hydride-free complexes can exist in four redox states - a feature made possible by the incorporation of the ferrocenyl groups. Mixed-valent complexes of 1,1'-bis(diphenylphosphino)ferrocene have one of the phosphine groups unbound, with these species representing advanced structural models with both a redox-active moiety (the ferrocene group) and a potential proton relay (the free phosphine) proximal to a nickel-iron dithiolate.

Automated chemical crystallography.

The first fully automated small-molecule robotic X-ray diffractometer is described. After demonstrating the utility of the instrument using multiple samples of ammonium bitartrate, we investigated the conformational chirality of diphenyl dichalcogenide (E(2)Ph(2), where E = S, Se, or Te). Structural and computational studies suggest that the two enantiomers are energetically indistinguishable. Therefore, it was unsurprising that we found (in 35 suitable data collections) the proportion 0.51:0.49 of M-S(2)Ph(2) to P-S(2)Ph(2) in the bulk sample. Interestingly, after 65 data collections of Te(2)Ph(2), (46 provided suitable data sets), we found the proportion 0.72 +/- 0.13 of M-Te(2)Ph(2), suggesting there could be a statistically significant preference for the M-enantiomer in the sample examined here. We found that Se(2)Ph(2) underwent homochiral crystallization, with all 24 crystals being M. Our experiments may represent a salutary lesson in statistical analysis.

Sterically crowded peri-substituted naphthalene phosphines and their PV derivatives.

Three sterically crowded peri-substituted naphthalene phosphines, Nap[PPh(2)][ER] (Nap=naphthalene-1,8-diyl; ER=SEt, SPh, SePh) 1-3, which contain phosphorus and chalcogen functional groups at the peri positions have been prepared. Each phosphine reacts to form a complete series of P(V) chalcogenides Nap[P(E')(Ph(2))(ER)] (E'=O, S, Se). The novel compounds were fully characterised by using X-ray crystallography and multinuclear NMR spectroscopy, IR spectroscopy and MS. X-ray data for 1, 2, nO, nS, nSe (n=1-3) are compared. Eleven molecular structures have been analysed by naphthalene ring torsions, peri-atom displacement, splay angle magnitude, X...E interactions, aromatic ring orientations and quasi-linear arrangements. An increase in the congestion of the peri region following the introduction of heavy chalcogen atoms is accompanied by a general increase in naphthalene distortion. P...E distances increase for molecules that contain bulkier atoms at the peri positions and also when larger chalcogen atoms are bound to phosphorus. The chalcogenides adopt similar conformations that contain a quasi-linear E...P-C fragment, except for 3O, which displays a twist-axial-twist conformation resulting in the formation of a linear O...Se-C alignment. Ab initio MO calculations performed on 2O, 3O, 3S and 3Se reveal Wiberg bond index values of 0.02 to 0.04, which indicates only minor non-bonded interactions; however, calculations on radical cations of 3O, 3S and 3Se reveal increased values (0.14-0.19).

Synthetic and structural studies of 1,8-chalcogen naphthalene derivatives.

Four novel 1,8-disubstituted naphthalene derivatives 4-7 that contain chalcogen atoms occupying the peri positions have been prepared and fully characterised by using X-ray crystallography, multinuclear NMR spectroscopy, IR spectroscopy and MS. Molecular distortion due to noncovalent substituent interactions was studied as a function of the bulk of the interacting chalcogen atoms and the size and nature of the alkyl group attached to them. X-ray data for 4-7 was compared to the series of known 1,8-bis(phenylchalcogeno)naphthalenes 1-3, which were themselves prepared from novel synthetic routes. A general increase in the E...E' distance was observed for molecules containing bulkier atoms at the peri positions. The decreased S...S distance from phenyl-1 and ethyl-4 analogues is ascribed to a weaker chalcogen lone pair-lone pair repulsion acting in the ethyl analogue due to the presence of two equatorial S(naphthyl) ring conformations. Two novel peri-substituted naphthalene sulfoxides of 1, Nap(O=SPh)(SPh) 8 and Nap(O=SPh)(2) 9, which contain different valence states of sulfur, were prepared and fully characterised by using X-ray crystallography and multinuclear NMR spectroscopy, IR spectroscopy and MS. Molecular structures were analysed by using naphthalene ring torsions, peri-atom displacement, splay angle magnitude, S...S interactions, aromatic ring orientations and quasi-linear O=S...S arrangements. The axial S(naphthyl) rings in 8 and 9 are unfavourable for S...S contacts due to stronger chalcogen lone pair-lone pair repulsion. Although quasi-linear O=S...S alignments suggest attractive interaction is conceivable, analysis of the B3LYP wavefunctions affords no evidence for direct bonding interactions between the S atoms.

Synthetic and structural studies of 1-halo-8-(alkylchalcogeno)naphthalene derivatives.

A series of eight 1-halo-8-(alkylchalcogeno)naphthalene derivatives (1-8; halogen=Br, I; alkylchalcogen=SEt, SPh, SePh, TePh) containing a halogen and a chalcogen atom occupying the peri positions have been prepared and fully characterised by using X-ray crystallography, multinuclear NMR spectroscopy, IR spectroscopy and MS. Naphthalene distortion due to non-covalent substituent interactions was studied as a function of the bulk of the interacting chalcogen atoms and the size and nature of the alkyl group attached to them. X-ray data for 1, 2, 4 and 5-8 were compared. Molecular structures were analysed in terms of naphthalene ring torsions, peri-atom displacement, splay angle magnitude, X...E interactions, aromatic ring orientations and quasi-linear X...E-C arrangements. A general increase in the X...E distance was observed for molecules that contain bulkier atoms at the peri positions. The I...S distance of 4 is comparable with the I...Te distance of 8, and is ascribed to a stronger lone pair-lone pair repulsion due to the presence of an axial S(naphthyl) ring conformation. Density functional theory (B3LYP) calculations performed on 5-8 revealed Wiberg bond index values of 0.05-0.08, which indicate minor interactions taking place between the non-bonded atoms in these compounds.

O2-dependent aliphatic carbon-carbon bond cleavage reactivity in a Ni(II) enolate complex having a hydrogen bond donor microenvironment; comparison with a hydrophobic analogue.

A mononuclear Ni(II) complex having an acireductone type ligand, and supported by the bnpapa (N,N-bis((6-neopentylamino-2-pyridyl)methyl)-N-((2-pyridyl)methyl)amine) ligand, [(bnpapa)Ni(PhC(O)C(OH)C(O)Ph)]ClO(4) (14), has been prepared and characterized by elemental analysis, (1)H NMR, FTIR, and UV-vis. To gain insight into the (1)H NMR features of 14, the air stable analogue complexes [(bnpapa)Ni(CH(3)C(O)CHC(O)CH(3))]ClO(4) (16) and [(bnpapa)Ni(ONHC(O)CH(3))]ClO(4) (17) were prepared and characterized by X-ray crystallography, (1)H NMR, FTIR, UV-vis, mass spectrometry, and solution conductivity measurements. Compounds 16 and 17 are 1:1 electrolyte species in CH(3)CN. (1)H and (2)H NMR studies of 14, 16, and 17 and deuterated analogues revealed that the complexes having six-membered chelate rings for the exogenous ligand (14 and 16) do not have a plane of symmetry within the solvated cation and thus exhibit more complicated (1)H NMR spectra. Compound 17, as well as other simple Ni(II) complexes of the bnpapa ligand (e.g., [(bnpapa)Ni(ClO(4))(CH(3)CN)]ClO(4) (18) and [(bnpapaNi)(2)(mu-Cl)(2)](ClO(4))(2) (19)), exhibit (1)H NMR spectra consistent with the presence of a plane of symmetry within the cation. Treatment of [(bnpapa)Ni(PhC(O)C(OH)C(O)Ph)]ClO(4) (14) with O(2) results in aliphatic carbon-carbon bond cleavage within the acireductone-type ligand and the formation of [(bnpapa)Ni(O(2)CPh)]ClO(4) (9), benzoic acid, benzil, and CO. Use of (18)O(2) in the reaction gives high levels of incorporation (>80%) of one labeled oxygen atom into 9 and benzoic acid. The product mixture and level of (18)O incorporation in this reaction is different than that exhibited by the analogue supported the hydrophobic 6-Ph(2)TPA ligand, [(6-Ph(2)TPA)Ni(PhC(O)C(OH)C(O)Ph)]ClO(4) (2). We propose that this difference is due to variations in the reactivity of bnpapa- and 6-Ph(2)TPA-ligated Ni(II) complexes with triketone and/or peroxide species produced in the reaction pathway.

Hypervalent adducts of chalcogen-containing peri-substituted naphthalenes; reactions of sulfur, selenium, and tellurium with dihalogens.

A range of structurally diverse compounds 1-15 {Nap[SPh](2).Br(4) (Nap = naphthalene-1,8-diyl); Nap[SePh][EPh].Br(4) (E = Se, S); Nap[SePh](2).I(2); Nap[SePh][EPh].3/2I(2) (E = Se, S); Nap[TePh][G].X(2) (G = SePh, SPh, Br, I; X = Br, I); and [Nap(PPh(2)OH)(SPh)](+)Br(3)(-)} formed from the reactions between peri-substituted naphthalene chalcogen donors D1-D8 {Nap[ER][E'R] (ER/E'R = SPh, SePh, TePh); Nap[TePh][X] (X = Br, I); and Nap[PPh(2)][SPh]} and dibromine and diiodine were characterized by X-ray crystallography and where possible by multinuclear NMR, IR, and MS. X-ray data for 1-15 were analyzed by naphthalene ring torsions, peri-atom displacement, splay angle magnitude, peri-distance, aromatic ring orientations, and quasi-linear three-body arrangements. The hypervalent linear moieties are considered in the context of the charge-transfer model and the 3c-4e model introduced by Pimentel and Rundle. In general, the conformation of the final products obeyed the rule based on charge-transfer that "seesaw" (X-ER(2)-X, 10-E-4) adducts arise when the halogen (X) is more electronegative than the chalcogen (E), and if the converse is true then, CT "spoke" (X-X-ER(2), 8-E-3) adducts are formed. Upon treatment with dibromine, selenium donor compounds D2 {Nap[SePh](2)} and D3 {Nap[SePh][SPh]} afford unusual tribromide salts of bromoselenyl cations containing a hypervalent X-E...E' 3c-4e type interaction. Upon treatment with diiodine, D2 and D3 form "Z-shaped", "extended spoke" adducts containing an uncommon 2:3 donor/chalcogen ratio and incorporating chains of I(2) held together by rare I...I interactions. As expected, "seesaw" 10-E-4 adducts are formed following the reaction of Te donors D4-D7 {Nap[TePh][X] (X = Br, I); Nap[TePh][EPh] (E = Se, S)} with the dihalogens. Naphthalene distortion in general is comparable between respective donor compounds and products 1-15. Ionic species 2 and 3 display a noticeable reduction in molecular distortion explained by the relief of steric strain via weak peri-interactions and the onset of 3c-4e bonding.

1,2-Bis(2-bromo-benz-yl)diselane.

In the title compound, C(14)H(12)Br(2)Se(2), the Se-Se bond length [2.3034 (9) Å] is similar to those in diphenyl diselenide [2.3066 (7) and 2.3073 (10) Å] and shorter than that in 1,8-diselenona-phthalene [2.0879 (8)Å]. The mol-ecule adopts a classical gauche conformation.

N3-Ligated nickel(ii) diketonate complexes: synthesis, characterization and evaluation of O2 reactivity.

Interest in O2-dependent aliphatic carbon-carbon (C-C) bond cleavage reactions of first row divalent metal diketonate complexes stems from the desire to further understand the reaction pathways of enzymes such as DKE1 and to extract information to develop applications in organic synthesis. A recent report of O2-dependent aliphatic C-C bond cleavage at ambient temperature in Ni(ii) diketonate complexes supported by a tridentate nitrogen donor ligand [(MBBP)Ni(PhC(O)CHC(O)Ph)]Cl (7-Cl; MBBP = 2,6-bis(1-methylbenzimidazol-2-yl)pyridine) in the presence of NEt3 spurred our interest in further examining the chemistry of such complexes. A series of new TERPY-ligated Ni(ii) diketonate complexes of the general formula [(TERPY)Ni(R2-1,3-diketonate)]ClO4 (1: R = CH3; 2: R = C(CH3)3; 3: R = Ph) was prepared under air and characterized using single crystal X-ray crystallography, elemental analysis, 1H NMR, ESI-MS, FTIR, and UV-vis. Analysis of the reaction mixtures in which these complexes were generated using 1H NMR and ESI-MS revealed the presence of both the desired diketonate complex and the bis-TERPY derivative [(TERPY)2Ni](ClO4)2 (4). Through selective crystallization 1-3 were isolated in analytically pure form. Analysis of reaction mixtures leading to the formation of the MBBP analogs [(MBBP)Ni(R2-1,3-diketonate)]X (X = ClO4: 5: R = CH3; 6: R = C(CH3)3; 7-ClO4: R = Ph; X = Cl: 7-Cl: R = Ph) using 1H NMR and ESI-MS revealed the presence of [(MBBP)2Ni](ClO4)2 (8). Analysis of aerobic acetonitrile solutions of analytically pure 1-3, 5 and 6 containing NEt3 and in some cases H2O using 1H NMR and UV-vis revealed evidence for the formation of additional bis-ligand complexes (4 and 8) but suggested no oxidative diketonate cleavage reactivity. Analysis of the organic products generated from 3, 7-ClO4 and 7-Cl revealed unaltered dibenzoylmethane. Our results therefore indicate that N3-ligated Ni(ii) complexes of unsubstituted diketonate ligands do not exhibit O2-dependent aliphatic C-C bond clevage at room temperature, including in the presence of NEt3 and/or H2O.

Intramolecular phosphine-phosphine donor-acceptor complexes.

The reaction of 5-diphenoxyphosphanyl-6-diisopropylphosphinoacenaphthene 12 with chlorotrimethylsilane unexpectedly gave a phosphonium-phosphine compound 13, containing the structural motif of four phosphorus atoms connected in a chain. To explain the mechanism of this complex transformation, a proposed intermediate 5-dichlorophosphino-6-diisopropylphosphinoacenaphthene 14 was synthesized by an alternative method. The two (formally) phosphine environments in 14 form an intramolecular donor-acceptor (phosphonium-phosphoranide) complex, stable at room temperature in the solid state and as a solution in certain solvents. A (31)P NMR mechanistic study showed that, despite the presence of a rigid acenaphthene backbone, 14 is unstable in the presence of nucleophiles and disproportionates into 13 and other phosphorus containing products. Both 13 and 14 have been crystallographically characterized.

8-Bromo-naphthalen-1-amine.

The title compound, C(10)H(8)BrN, was obtained by slow addition of sodium azide to 8-bromo-1-naphthoic acid, followed by addition of aqueous ammonia. The crude product was crystallized from petroleum ether to give pink crystals. Compared to other 1,8-disubstituted naphthalene compounds, this compound exhibits less strain between the 1 and 8 substituents. Additionally, the NH protons form both intra- and inter-molecular hydrogen bonds. The naphthalene units are arranged in a herring-bone stacking motif.

Influence of water on the formation of O2-reactive divalent metal enolate complexes of relevance to acireductone dioxygenases.

Reaction conditions were evaluated for the preparation of [(6-PhTPA)Ni(PhC(O)C(OH)C(O)Ph)]ClO(4) (3) and [(6-Ph(2)TPA)Co(PhC(O)C(OH)C(O)Ph)]ClO(4) (7), two complexes of structural relevance to the enzyme/substrate (ES) adduct in Ni(II)- and Co(II)-containing forms of acireductone dioxygenase. The presence of water in reactions directed at the preparation of 3 and 7 was found to result in isomerization of the enolate precursor 2-hydroxy-1,3-diphenylpropane-1,3-dione to give the ester 2-oxo-2-phenylethylbenzoate. Performing synthetic procedures under dryer conditions reduced the amount of ester production and enabled the isolation of 3 in high yield. This complex was comprehensively characterized, including by X-ray crystallography. Using similar conditions for the 6-Ph(2)TPACo-containing system, the amount of ester generated was only modestly affected, but the formation of a benzoate complex ([(6-Ph(2)TPA)Co(O(2)CPh)]ClO(4), 10) resulting from ester hydrolysis was prevented. The best preparation of 7 was found to involve dry conditions and short reaction times. The approach outlined herein toward determining appropriate reaction conditions for the preparation of 3 and 7 involved the preparation and characterization of several air-stable (6-PhTPA)Ni- and (6-Ph(2)TPA)Co-containing analog complexes having enolate, solvent, and benzoate ligands. These complexes were used as paramagnetic (1)H NMR standards for evaluation of reaction mixtures containing 3 and 7.

Controlling Cu...Cu distances using halides: (8-phenylthionaphth-1-yl)diphenylphosphine copper halide dimers.

In the isomorphous binuclear Cu2X2L2 systems (L = (8-phenylthionaphth-1-yl)diphenylphosphine the Cu...Cu separation is reduced as the halide size increases.

Phosphorus peri-bridged acenaphthenes: efficient syntheses, characterisation and quaternization reactions.

Using a novel strategy, tertiary phosphines based on single atom peri-bridged acenaphthenes were prepared and characterized by multinuclear NMR and by X-ray diffraction.

Structure and reactivity of phosphorus-selenium heterocycles with peri-substituted naphthalene backbones.

Reaction of naphthalene-1.8-bis(dichlorophosphine) with sodium selenide and selenium gives naphthalene-1,8-diyl)-1,3,2,4-diselenoxodiphosphetane 2,4-diselenide (27), a molecule with its four-membered PSePSe ring spanned by a naphthalene-1,8-diyl backbone. 27 was fully characterised, including by X-ray diffraction. Unusually, the reaction yielded not only 27, but also a polymeric or oligomeric material that was selenium deficient, containing significant amount of species with phosphorus atoms not fully oxidised to P(V). Reactions of the selenium deficient material with simple alcohols afforded two 1,2-diphosphaacenaphthenes, which were structurally characterised.

Manganese(II) chemistry of a new N3O-donor chelate ligand: synthesis, X-ray structures, and magnetic properties of solvent- and oxalate-bound complexes.

The synthesis and characterization of a new N3O donor ligand N-benzyl-N-((6-pivaloylamido-2-pyridyl)methyl)-N-(2-pyridylmethyl)amine (bpppa) is reported. Treatment of bpppa with Mn(II)(ClO4)2.6H2O in acetonitrile solution yielded the mononuclear [(bpppa)Mn(CH3CN)(H2O)](ClO4)2 (1) which was characterized by X-ray crystallography, elemental analysis, IR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, and a solution magnetic moment measurement. Admixture of equimolar equivalents of bpppa and Mn(II)(ClO4)2.6H2O in methanol solution, followed by addition of 0.5 or 1 equivalents of sodium oxalate, yielded the binuclear complex [{(bpppa)Mn}2([mu]-C2O4)](ClO4)2 (2), which was characterized by X-ray crystallography, elemental analysis, IR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, and solid-state magnetic measurements. While 1 is mononuclear, the formation of the binuclear oxalate derivative indicates that use of the bpppa ligand does not enable isolation of a complex that is structurally relevant to a proposed 1:1 Mn(II)-oxalate adduct in the catalytic cycle of the oxalate degrading enzyme oxalate decarboxylase.

Mononuclear N3S(thioether)-ligated copper(II) methoxide complexes: synthesis, characterization, and hydrolytic reactivity.

Mononuclear copper(II) methoxide complexes supported by N(3)S(thioether) chelate ligands having two internal hydrogen bond donors have been prepared, comprehensively characterized, and evaluated for hydrolytic reactivity.

NMR studies of mononuclear octahedral Ni(II) complexes supported by tris((2-pyridyl)methyl)amine-type ligands.

The recent discovery of acireductone dioxygenase (ARD), a metalloenzyme containing a mononuclear octahedral Ni(II) center, necessitates the development of model systems for evaluating the role of the metal center in substrate oxidation chemistry. In this work, three Ni(II) complexes of an aryl-appended tris((2-pyridyl)methyl)amine ligand (6-Ph(2)TPA, N,N-bis((6-phenyl-2-pyridyl)methyl)-N-((2-pyridyl)methyl)amine), [(6-Ph(2)TPA)Ni(CH(3)CN)(CH(3)OH)](ClO(4))(2) (1), [(6-Ph(2)TPA)Ni(ONHC(O)CH(3))]ClO(4) (3), and [(6-Ph(2)TPA)Ni-Cl(CH(3)CN)]ClO(4) (4), and one Ni(II) complex of tris((2-pyridyl)methyl)amine, [(TPA)Ni(CH(3)CN)(H(2)O)](ClO(4))(2) (2), have been characterized in acetonitrile solution using conductance methods and NMR spectroscopy. In acetonitrile solution, 1-4 have monomeric cations that exhibit isotropically shifted (1)H NMR resonances. Full assignment of these resonances was achieved using one- and two-dimensional (1)H NMR techniques and (2)H NMR of analogues having deuteration of the supporting chelate ligand. COSY cross peaks were observed for pyridyl protons of the 6-Ph(2)TPA ligand in 1 and 3. This study lays the groundwork for using NMR methods to examine chemical reactions of 1 and 2 with model substrates of relevance to ARD.