Direct tests of cytochrome c and c1 functions in the electron transport chain of malaria parasites.

The mitochondrial electron transport chain (ETC) of Plasmodium malaria parasites is a major antimalarial drug target, but critical cytochrome (cyt) functions remain unstudied and enigmatic. Parasites express two distinct cyt c homologs (c and c-2) with unusually sparse sequence identity and uncertain fitness contributions. P. falciparum cyt c-2 is the most divergent eukaryotic cyt c homolog currently known and has sequence features predicted to be incompatible with canonical ETC function. We tagged both cyt c homologs and the related cyt c1 for inducible knockdown. Translational repression of cyt c and cyt c1 was lethal to parasites, which died from ETC dysfunction and impaired ubiquinone recycling. In contrast, cyt c-2 knockdown or knockout had little impact on blood-stage growth, indicating that parasites rely fully on the more conserved cyt c for ETC function. Biochemical and structural studies revealed that both cyt c and c-2 are hemylated by holocytochrome c synthase, but UV-vis absorbance and EPR spectra strongly suggest that cyt c-2 has an unusually open active site in which heme is stably coordinated by only a single axial amino acid ligand and can bind exogenous small molecules. These studies provide a direct dissection of cytochrome functions in the ETC of malaria parasites and identify a highly divergent Plasmodium cytochrome c with molecular adaptations that defy a conserved role in eukaryotic evolution.

Direct Tests of Cytochrome Function in the Electron Transport Chain of Malaria Parasites.

The mitochondrial electron transport chain (ETC) of Plasmodium malaria parasites is a major antimalarial drug target, but critical cytochrome functions remain unstudied and enigmatic. Parasites express two distinct cyt c homologs ( c and c -2) with unusually sparse sequence identity and uncertain fitness contributions. P. falciparum cyt c -2 is the most divergent eukaryotic cyt c homolog currently known and has sequence features predicted to be incompatible with canonical ETC function. We tagged both cyt c homologs and the related cyt c 1 for inducible knockdown. Translational repression of cyt c and cyt c 1 was lethal to parasites, which died from ETC dysfunction and impaired ubiquinone recycling. In contrast, cyt c -2 knockdown or knock-out had little impact on blood-stage growth, indicating that parasites rely fully on the more conserved cyt c for ETC function. Biochemical and structural studies revealed that both cyt c and c -2 are hemylated by holocytochrome c synthase, but UV-vis absorbance and EPR spectra strongly suggest that cyt c -2 has an unusually open active site in which heme is stably coordinated by only a single axial amino-acid ligand and can bind exogenous small molecules. These studies provide a direct dissection of cytochrome functions in the ETC of malaria parasites and identify a highly divergent Plasmodium cytochrome c with molecular adaptations that defy a conserved role in eukaryotic evolution. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: Mitochondria are critical organelles in eukaryotic cells that drive oxidative metabolism. The mitochondrion of Plasmodium malaria parasites is a major drug target that has many differences from human cells and remains poorly studied. One key difference from humans is that malaria parasites express two cytochrome c proteins that differ significantly from each other and play untested and uncertain roles in the mitochondrial electron transport chain (ETC). Our study revealed that one cyt c is essential for ETC function and parasite viability while the second, more divergent protein has unusual structural and biochemical properties and is not required for growth of blood-stage parasites. This work elucidates key biochemical properties and evolutionary differences in the mitochondrial ETC of malaria parasites.

New Role for Radical SAM Enzymes in the Biosynthesis of Thio(seleno)oxazole RiPP Natural Products.

Ribosomally synthesized post-translationally modified peptides (RiPPs) are ubiquitous and represent a structurally diverse class of natural products. The ribosomally encoded precursor polypeptides are often extensively modified post-translationally by enzymes that are encoded by coclustered genes. Radical S-adenosyl-l-methionine (SAM) enzymes catalyze numerous chemically challenging transformations. In RiPP biosynthetic pathways, these transformations include the formation of C-H, C-C, C-S, and C-O linkages. In this paper, we show that the Geobacter lovleyi sbtM gene encodes a radical SAM protein, SbtM, which catalyzes the cyclization of a Cys/SeCys residue in a minimal peptide substrate. Biochemical studies of this transformation support a mechanism involving H-atom abstraction at the C-3 of the substrate Cys to initiate the chemistry. Several possible cyclization products were considered. The collective biochemical, spectroscopic, mass spectral, and computational observations point to a thiooxazole as the product of the SbtM-catalyzed modification. To our knowledge, this is the first example of a radical SAM enzyme that catalyzes a transformation involving a SeCys-containing peptide and represents a new paradigm for formation of oxazole-containing RiPP natural products.

Molecular and Electronic Structures and Single-Molecule Magnet Behavior of Tris(thioether)-Iron Complexes Containing Redox-Active α-Diimine Ligands.

Incorporating radical ligands into metal complexes is one of the emerging trends in the design of single-molecule magnets (SMMs). While significant effort has been expended to generate multinuclear transition metal-based SMMs with bridging radical ligands, less attention has been paid to mononuclear transition metal-radical SMMs. Herein, we describe the first α-diiminato radical-containing mononuclear transition metal SMM, namely, [κ2-PhTttBu]Fe(AdNCHCHNAd) (1), and its analogue [κ2-PhTttBu]Fe(CyNCHCHNCy) (2) (PhTttBu = phenyltris(tert-butylthiomethyl)borate, Ad = adamantyl, and Cy = cyclohexyl). 1 and 2 feature nearly identical geometric and electronic structures, as shown by X-ray crystallography and electronic absorption spectroscopy. A more detailed description of the electronic structure of 1 was obtained through EPR and Mössbauer spectroscopies, SQUID magnetometry, and DFT, TD-DFT, and CAS calculations. 1 and 2 are best described as high-spin iron(II) complexes with antiferromagnetically coupled α-diiminato radical ligands. A strong magnetic exchange coupling between the iron(II) ion and the ligand radical was confirmed in 1, with an estimated coupling constant J < -250 cm-1 (J = -657 cm-1, DFT). Calibrated CAS calculations revealed that the ground-state Fe(II)-α-diiminato radical configuration has significant ionic contributions, which are weighted specifically toward the Fe(I)-neutral α-diimine species. Experimental data and theoretical calculations also suggest that 1 possesses an easy-axis anisotropy, with an axial zero-field splitting parameter D in the range from -4 to-1 cm-1. Finally, dynamic magnetic studies show that 1 exhibits slow magnetic relaxation behavior with an energy barrier close to the theoretical maximum, 2|D|. These results demonstrate that incorporating strongly coupled α-diiminato radicals into mononuclear transition metal complexes can be an effective strategy to prepare SMMs.

Exceptionally High O-H Bond Dissociation Free Energy of a Dicopper(II) µ-Hydroxo Complex and Insights into the Geometric and Electronic Structure Origins Thereof.

The strength of the relevant bonds in bond-making and bond-breaking processes can directly affect the overall efficiency of the process. Copper-oxygen sites are known to catalyze reactions with some of the most recalcitrant C-H bonds found in nature as quantified by the bond dissociation free energy (BDFE), yet only a handful of copper-bound O-H bond strengths have been defined. Equally important in the design of synthetic catalysts is an understanding of the geometric and electronic structure origins of these thermodynamic parameters. In this report, the BDFE(OH) of two dicopper-hydroxo complexes, {[LCu]2-(µ-OH)}3+ and {[LCu]2-(µ-OH)}4+ (L = tris(2-pyridylmethyl)amine), were measured. Two key observations were made: (i) the BDFE(OH)s of these complexes were exceptionally high at 103.4 and 91.7 kcal/mol, respectively, which are the highest condensed phase MO-H BDFEs to date and (ii) that the higher oxidation state had a lower BDFE(OH), which is counter to expectations based on known mononuclear BDFE(OH)s which increase with the oxidation state. To understand the origin of these thermodynamic values, the BDFE(OH)s were measured and analyzed for the mononuclear complexes [LCu(OH2)]1+ and [LCu(OH2)]2+ in the same ligand environment. This treatment revealed "dinuclear effects" that include contributions from rehybridization of the oxygen, mixed valency of the metals, magnetic exchange between the metals, and differences in solvation, which are general with respect to [M]2-OH complexes to varying degrees. These analyses are important because they provide a starting point for rationally tuning the thermodynamics of catalytic intermediates broadly and for understanding how copper active sites achieve activation of strong C-H bonds.

Substituted Benzothietes: Synthesis and a Quantum Chemical Investigation of Their Cycloreversion Properties.

A flexible synthesis for highly substituted benzothietes that does not require flash-vacuum pyrolysis was developed. This allows for the use of a number of functional groups and nonvaporizable molecules. Highly stabilized derivatives were isolated. The molecular orbital properties of various benzothietes were evaluated by density functional methods. The mechanism of the cycloreversion of the four-membered ring was compared to that of the oxygen-containing analogues.

Understanding Hydrogen Bonding Interactions in Crosslinked Methylammonium Lead Iodide Crystals: Towards Reducing Moisture and Light Degradation Pathways.

Methylammonium lead halide perovskite-based solar cells have demonstrated efficiencies as high as 24.2 %, highlighting their potential as inexpensive and solution-processable alternatives to silicon solar cell technologies. Poor stability towards moisture, ultraviolet irradiation, heat, and a bias voltage of the perovskite layer and its various device interfaces limits the commercial feasibility of this material for outdoor applications. Herein, we investigate the role of hydrogen bonding interactions induced when metal halide perovskite crystals are crosslinked with alkyl or π-conjugated boronic acid small molecules (-B(OH)2 ). The crosslinked perovskite crystals are investigated under continuous light irradiation and moisture exposure. These studies demonstrate that the origin of the interaction between the alkyl or π-conjugated crosslinking molecules is due to hydrogen bonding between the -B(OH)2 terminal group of the crosslinker and the I of the [PbI6 ]4- octahedra of the perovskite layer. Also, this interaction influences the stability of the perovskite layer towards moisture and ultraviolet light irradiation. Morphology and structural analyses, as well as IR studies as a function of aging under both dark and light conditions show that π-conjugated boronic acid molecules are more effective crosslinkers of the perovskite crystals than their alkyl counterparts thus imparting better stability towards light and moisture degradation.

A Tricopper(I) Complex Competent for O Atom Transfer, C-H Bond Activation, and Multiple O2 Activation Steps.

Oxygenation of a tricopper(I) cyclophanate (1) affords reactive transients competent for C-H bond activation and O atom transfer to various substrates (including toluene, dihydroanthracene, and ethylmethylsulfide) based on 1H NMR, gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (MS), and electrospray ionization (ESI)/MS data. Low product yields (<1%) are determined for C-H activation substrates (e.g, toluene, ethylbenzene), which we attribute to competitive ligand oxidation. The combined stopped-flow UV/visible, electron paramagnetic resonance, ESI/MS, 1H NMR, and density functional theory (DFT) results for reaction of 1 with O2 are consistent with transient peroxo- and di(oxo)-bridged intermediates. DFT calculations elucidate a concerted proton-coupled electron transfer from toluene to the di(µ-oxo) intermediate and subsequent radical rebound as the C-H activation mechanism. Our results support a multicopper oxidase-like mechanism for O2 activation by 1, traversing species similar to the coplanar Cu3O2 unit in the peroxy and native intermediates.

Thermodynamics of a µ-oxo Dicopper(II) Complex for Hydrogen Atom Abstraction.

The mono-µ-hydroxo complex {[Cu(tmpa)]2-(µ-OH)}3+ (1) can undergo reversible deprotonation at -30 °C to yield {[Cu(tmpa)]2-(µ-O)}2+ (2). This species is basic with a pKa of 24.3. 2 is competent for concerted proton-electron transfer from TEMPOH, but is an intrinsically poor hydrogen atom abstractor (BDFE(OH) of 77.2 kcal/mol) based on kinetic and thermodynamic analyses. Nonetheless, DFT calculations experimentally calibrated against 2 reveal that [Cu2O]2+ is likely thermodynamically viable in copper-dependent methane monoxygenase enzymes.

Electrocatalytic Water Oxidation by a Homogeneous Copper Catalyst Disfavors Single-Site Mechanisms.

Deployment of solar fuels derived from water requires robust oxygen-evolving catalysts made from earth abundant materials. Copper has recently received much attention in this regard. Mechanistic parallels between Cu and single-site Ru/Ir/Mn water oxidation catalysts, including intermediacy of terminal Cu oxo/oxyl species, are prevalent in the literature; however, intermediacy of late transition metal oxo species would be remarkable given the high d-electron count would fill antibonding orbitals, making these species high in energy. This may suggest alternate pathways are at work in copper-based water oxidation. This report characterizes a dinuclear copper water oxidation catalyst, {[(L)Cu(II)]2-(µ-OH)2}(OTf)2 (L = Me2TMPA = bis((6-methyl-2-pyridyl)methyl)(2-pyridylmethyl)amine) in which water oxidation proceeds with high Faradaic efficiency (>90%) and moderate rates (33 s-1 at ∼1 V overpotential, pH 12.5). A large kinetic isotope effect (kH/kD = 20) suggests proton coupled electron transfer in the initial oxidation as the rate-determining step. This species partially dissociates in aqueous solution at pH 12.5 to generate a mononuclear {[(L)Cu(II)(OH)]}+ adduct (Keq = 0.0041). Calculations that reproduce the experimental findings reveal that oxidation of either the mononuclear or dinuclear species results in a common dinuclear intermediate, {[LCu(III)]2-(µ-O)2}2+, which avoids formation of terminal Cu(IV)═O/Cu(III)-O• intermediates. Calculations further reveal that both intermolecular water nucleophilic attack and redox isomerization of {[LCu(III)]2-(µ-O)2}2+ are energetically accessible pathways for O-O bond formation. The consequences of these findings are discussed in relation to differences in water oxidation pathways between Cu catalysts and catalysts based on Ru, Ir, and Mn.

Phenol-Induced O-O Bond Cleavage in a Low-Spin Heme-Peroxo-Copper Complex: Implications for O2 Reduction in Heme-Copper Oxidases.

This study evaluates the reaction of a biomimetic heme-peroxo-copper complex, {[(DCHIm)(F8)FeIII]-(O22-)-[CuII(AN)]}+ (1), with a phenolic substrate, involving a net H-atom abstraction to cleave the bridging peroxo O-O bond that produces FeIV═O, CuII-OH, and phenoxyl radical moieties, analogous to the chemistry carried out in heme-copper oxidases (HCOs). A 3D potential energy surface generated for this reaction reveals two possible reaction pathways: one involves nearly complete proton transfer (PT) from the phenol to the peroxo ligand before the barrier; the other involves O-O homolysis, where the phenol remains H-bonding to the peroxo OCu in the transition state (TS) and transfers the H+ after the barrier. In both mechanisms, electron transfer (ET) from phenol occurs after the PT (and after the barrier); therefore, only the interaction with the H+ is involved in lowering the O-O cleavage barrier. The relative barriers depend on covalency (which governs ET from Fe), and therefore vary with DFT functional. However, as these mechanisms differ by the amount of PT at the TS, kinetic isotope experiments were conducted to determine which mechanism is active. It is found that the phenolic proton exhibits a secondary kinetic isotope effect, consistent with the calculations for the H-bonded O-O homolysis mechanism. The consequences of these findings are discussed in relation to O-O cleavage in HCOs, supporting a model in which a peroxo intermediate serves as the active H+ acceptor, and both the H+ and e- required for O-O cleavage derive from the cross-linked Tyr residue present at the active site.

Perception of the plant hormone ethylene: known-knowns and known-unknowns.

The gaseous phytohormone ethylene is implicated in virtually all phases of plant growth and development and thus has a major impact on crop production. This agronomic impact makes understanding ethylene signaling the Philosopher's Stone of the plant biotechnology world in applications including post-harvest transport of foodstuffs, consistency of foodstuff maturity pre-harvest, decorative flower freshness and longevity, and biomass production for biofuel applications. Ethylene is biosynthesized by plants in response to environmental factors and plant life-cycle events, and triggers a signaling cascade that modulates over 1000 genes. The key components in the perception of ethylene are a family of copper dependent receptors, the bioinorganic chemistry of which has been largely ignored by the chemical community. Since identification of these receptors two decades ago, there has been tremendous growth in knowledge in the biological community on the signal transduction pathways and mechanisms of ethylene signaling. In this review, we highlight these advances and key chemical voids in knowledge that are overdue for exploration, and which are required to ultimately regulate and control ethylene signaling.

Peroxo and Superoxo Moieties Bound to Copper Ion: Electron-Transfer Equilibrium with a Small Reorganization Energy.

Oxygenation of [Cu2(UN-O(-))(DMF)](2+) (1), a structurally characterized dicopper Robin-Day class I mixed-valent Cu(II)Cu(I) complex, with UN-O(-) as a binucleating ligand and where dimethylformamide (DMF) binds to the Cu(II) ion, leads to a superoxo-dicopper(II) species [Cu(II)2(UN-O(-))(O2(•-))](2+) (2). The formation kinetics provide that kon = 9 × 10(-2) M(-1) s(-1) (-80 °C), ΔH(‡) = 31.1 kJ mol(-1) and ΔS(‡) = -99.4 J K(-1) mol(-1) (from -60 to -90 °C data). Complex 2 can be reversibly reduced to the peroxide species [Cu(II)2(UN-O(-))(O2(2-))](+) (3), using varying outer-sphere ferrocene or ferrocenium redox reagents. A Nernstian analysis could be performed by utilizing a monodiphenylamine substituted ferrocenium salt to oxidize 3, leading to an equilibrium mixture with Ket = 5.3 (-80 °C); a standard reduction potential for the superoxo-peroxo pair is calculated to be E° = +130 mV vs SCE. A literature survey shows that this value falls into the range of biologically relevant redox reagents, e.g., cytochrome c and an organic solvent solubilized ascorbate anion. Using mixed-isotope resonance Raman (rRaman) spectroscopic characterization, accompanied by DFT calculations, it is shown that the superoxo complex consists of a mixture of µ-1,2- (2(1,2)) and µ-1,1- (2(1,1)) isomers, which are in rapid equilibrium. The electron transfer process involves only the µ-1,2-superoxo complex [Cu(II)2(UN-O(-))(µ-1,2-O2(•-))](2+) (2(1,2)) and µ-1,2-peroxo structures [Cu(II)2(UN-O(-))(O2(2-))](+) (3) having a small bond reorganization energy of 0.4 eV (λin). A stopped-flow kinetic study results reveal an outer-sphere electron transfer process with a total reorganization energy (λ) of 1.1 eV between 2(1,2) and 3 calculated in the context of Marcus theory.

Observation of a Cu(II)(2) (µ-1,2-peroxo)/Cu(III)(2) (µ-oxo)(2) equilibrium and its implications for copper-dioxygen reactivity.

Synthesis of small-molecule Cu2 O2 adducts has provided insight into the related biological systems and their reactivity patterns including the interconversion of the Cu(II) 2 (µ-η(2) :η(2) -peroxo) and Cu(III) 2 (µ-oxo)2 isomers. In this study, absorption spectroscopy, kinetics, and resonance Raman data show that the oxygenated product of [(BQPA)Cu(I) ](+) initially yields an "end-on peroxo" species, that subsequently converts to the thermodynamically more stable "bis-µ-oxo" isomer (Keq =3.2 at -90 °C). Calibration of density functional theory calculations to these experimental data suggest that the electrophilic reactivity previously ascribed to end-on peroxo species is in fact a result of an accessible bis-µ-oxo isomer, an electrophilic Cu2 O2 isomer in contrast to the nucleophilic reactivity of binuclear Cu(II) end-on peroxo species. This study is the first report of the interconversion of an end-on peroxo to bis-µ-oxo species in transition metal-dioxygen chemistry.

Structure/function correlations among coupled binuclear copper proteins through spectroscopic and reactivity studies of NspF.

The terminal step of 4-hydroxy-3-nitrosobenzamide biosynthesis in Streptomyces murayamaensis is performed by NspF, a mono-oxygenase that converts o-aminophenols to the corresponding nitroso product (hydroxyanilinase activity). Previous biochemical characterization of the resting form of NspF suggested that this enzyme belonged to the coupled binuclear copper enzyme (CBC) family. Another member of this enzyme family, tyrosinase, is able to mono-oxygenate monophenols (monophenolase activity) but not o-aminophenols. To gain insight into the unique reactivity of NspF, we have generated and characterized the oxy form of its active site. The observation of spectral features identical to those of oxy-tyrosinase indicates that oxy-NspF contains a Cu(2)O(2) core where peroxide is coordinated in a µ-η(2):η(2) mode, confirming that NspF is a CBC enzyme. This oxy form is found to react with monophenols, indicating that, like tyrosinase, NspF also possesses monophenolase activity. A comparison of the two electrophilic mechanisms for the monophenolase and hydroxyanilinase activity indicates a large geometric change between their respective transition states. The potential for specific interactions between the protein pocket and the substrate in each transition state is discussed within the context of the differential reactivity of this family of enzymes with equivalent µ-η(2):η(2) peroxy bridged coupled binuclear copper active sites.

Electronic structure of a low-spin heme/Cu peroxide complex: spin-state and spin-topology contributions to reactivity.

This study details the electronic structure of the heme­peroxo­copper adduct {[(F8)Fe(DCHIm)]-O2-[Cu(AN)]}+ (LS(AN)) in which O2(2­) bridges the metals in a µ-1,2 or "end-on" configuration. LS(AN) is generated by addition of coordinating base to the parent complex {[(F8)Fe]-O2-[Cu(AN)]}+ (HS(AN)) in which the O2(2­) bridges the metals in an µ-η2:η2 or "side-on" mode. In addition to the structural change of the O2(2­) bridging geometry, coordination of the base changes the spin state of the heme fragment (from S = 5/2 in HS(AN) to S = 1/2 in LS(AN)) that results in an antiferromagnetically coupled diamagnetic ground state in LS(AN). The strong ligand field of the porphyrin modulates the high-spin to low-spin effect on Fe­peroxo bonding relative to nonheme complexes, which is important in the O­O bond cleavage process. On the basis of DFT calculations, the ground state of LS(AN) is dependent on the Fe­O­O­Cu dihedral angle, wherein acute angles (<~150°) yield an antiferromagnetically coupled electronic structure while more obtuse angles yield a ferromagnetic ground state. LS(AN) is diamagnetic and thus has an antiferromagnetically coupled ground state with a calculated Fe­O­O­Cu dihedral angle of 137°. The nature of the bonding in LS(AN) and the frontier molecular orbitals which lead to this magneto-structural correlation provide insight into possible spin topology contributions to O­O bond cleavage by cytochrome c oxidase.

Copper dioxygen (bio)inorganic chemistry.

Cu/O2 intermediates in biological, homogeneous, and heterogeneous catalysts exhibit unique spectral features that reflect novel geometric and electronic structures that make significant contributions to reactivity. This review considers how the respective intermediate electronic structures overcome the spin-forbidden nature of O2 binding, activate O2 for electrophilic aromatic attack and H-atom abstraction, catalyze the 4 e- reduction of O2 to H2O, and discusses the role of exchange coupling between Cu ions in determining reactivity.

Sulfur donor atom effects on copper(I)/O(2) chemistry with thioanisole containing tetradentate N(3)S ligand leading to µ-1,2-peroxo-dicopper(II) species.

To better understand the effect of thioether coordination in copper-O(2) chemistry, the tetradentate N(3)S ligand L(ASM) (2-(methylthio)-N,N-bis((pyridin-2-yl)methyl)benzenamine) and related alkylether ligand L(EOE) (2-ethoxy-N,N-bis((pyridin-2-yl)methyl)ethanamine) have been studied. The corresponding copper(I) complexes, [(L(ASM))Cu(I)](+) (1a) and [(L(EOE))Cu(I)](+) (3a), were studied as were the related compound [(L(ESE))Cu(I)](+) (2a, L(ESE) = (2-ethylthio-N,N-bis((pyridin-2-yl)methyl)ethanamine). The X-ray structure of 1a and its solution conductivity reveal a monomeric molecular structure possessing thioether coordination which persists in solution. In contrast, the C-O stretching frequencies of the derivative Cu(I)-CO complexes reveal that for these complexes, the modulated ligand arms, whether arylthioether, alkylthioether, or ether, are not coordinated to the cuprous ion. Electrochemical data for 1a and 2a in CH(3)CN and N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) show the thioanisole moiety to be a poor electron donor compared to alkylthioether (1a is ∼200 mV more positive than 2a). The structures of [(L(ASM))Cu(II)(CH(3)OH)](2+) (1c) and [(L(ESE))Cu(II)(CH(3)OH)](2+) (2c) have also been obtained and indicate nearly identical copper coordination environments. Oxygenation of 1a at reduced temperature gives a characteristic deep blue intermediate [{(L(ASM))Cu(II)}(2)(O(2)(2-))](2+) (1b(P)) with absorption features at 442 (1,500 M(-1) cm(-1)), 530 (8,600 M(-1) cm(-1)), and 605 nm (10,400 M(-1) cm(-1)); these values compare well to the ligand-to-metal charge-transfer (LMCT) transitions previously reported for [{(L(ESE))Cu(II)}(2)(O(2)(2-))](2+) (2b(P)). Resonance Raman data for [{(L(ASM))Cu(II)}(2)(O(2)(2-))](2+) (1b(P)) support the formation of µ-1,2-peroxo species ν(O-O) = 828 cm(-1)(Δ((18)O(2)) = 48), ν(sym)(Cu-O) = 547 cm(-1) (Δ((18)O(2)) = 23), and ν(asym)(Cu-O) = 497 cm(-1) (Δ((18)O(2)) = 22) and suggest the L(ASM) ligand is a poorer electron donor to copper than is L(ESE). In contrast, the oxygenation of [(L(EOE))Cu(I)](+) (3a), possessing an ether donor as an analogue of the thioether in L(ESE), led to the formation of a bis(µ-oxo) species [{(L(EOE))Cu(III)}(2)(O(2-))(2)](2+) (3b(O); 380 nm, ε ∼ 10,000 M(-1) cm(-1)). This result provides further support for the sulfur influence in 1b(P) and 2b(P), in particular coordination of the sulfur to the Cu. Thermal decomposition of 1b(P) is accompanied by ligand sulfoxidation. The structure of [{(L(EOE))Cu(II)(Cl)}(2)](+) (3c) generated from the reductive dehalogenation of organic chlorides suggests that the ether moiety is weakly bound to the cupric ion. A detailed discussion of the spectroscopic and structural characteristics of 1b(P), 2b(P), and 3b(O) is presented.