Electronic Configurations and the Effect of Peripheral Substituents of (Nitrosyl)iron Corroles.

There have been debates on the electronic configurations of (nitrosyl)iron corroles for decades. In this work, pentacoordinate [Fe(TPC)(NO)], [Fe(TTC)(NO)], and [Fe(TpFC)(NO)] with different para-substituted phenyl groups (TPC, TTC, and TpFC = tris(phenyl, 4-tolyl, or 4-fluorophenyl)corrole, respectively) have been isolated and investigated by various techniques including single-crystal X-ray diffraction, UV-vis spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry, Fourier transform infrared, NMR, and absorption fine structure spectroscopy. Multitemperature and high-magnetic-field (3, 6, and 9 T) Mössbauer spectroscopy was also applied on all three complexes, which determined the S = 0 diamagnetic states, consistent with the magnetic susceptibility and electron paramagnetic resonance measurements. Density functional theory predictions by different functionals were compared, and the new calculation strategy, which gave remarkable agreement of the experimental Mössbauer parameters (ΔEQ and δ), allowed further assignment on the electronic configuration of {FeNO}6-(corrole3-) with antiferromagnetically coupled (S = 1/2, FeIII) and (S = 1/2, NO). Correlated sequences between the electronic donating/withdrawing capability of para substituents and the reduction/oxidation potentials, metal out-of-plane displacements (Δ4 and Δ23), and Mössbauer parameters (Vzz and ΔEQ) were also established, which suggests the strong effects of peripheral substituents.

Perspectives on Ligand Properties of N-Heterocyclic Carbenes in Iron Porphyrin Complexes.

There has been considerable research interest in the ligand nature of N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs). In this work, two six-coordinate NHC iron porphyrin complexes [FeII(TTP)(1,3-Me2Imd)2] (TTP = tetratolylporphyrin, 1,3-Me2Imd = 1,3-dimethylimidazol-2-ylidene) and [FeIII(TDCPP)(1,3-Me2Imd)2]ClO4 (TDCPP = 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(2,6-dichlorophenyl)porphyrin) are reported. Single-crystal X-ray characterizations demonstrate that both complexes have strongly ruffled conformations and relatively perpendicular ligand orientations which are forced by the sterically bulky 1,3-Me2Imd NHC ligands. Multitemperature (4.2-300 K) and high magnetic field (0-9 T) Mössbauer and low-temperature (4.0 K) EPR spectroscopies definitely confirmed the low-spin states of [FeII(TTP)(1,3-Me2Imd)2] (S = 0) and [FeIII(TDCPP)(1,3-Me2Imd)2]ClO4 (S = 1/2). The similarity of 1,3-Me2Imd and imidazole, as well as the well-established correlations between the ligand nature and spectroscopic characteristics of [FeII,III(Porph)(L)2]0,+ (Porph: porphyrin; L: planar base ligand) species, allowed direct comparisons between the pair of ligands which revealed for the first time that NHC has a stronger π-acceptor ability than imidazoles, in addition to its very strong σ-donation.

Effects of Superparamagnetic Iron Nanoparticles on Electrocatalysts for the Reduction of Oxygen.

It is of great research interest to understand the nanostructures contributing to the activity observed in the reduction of oxygen by non-platinum group metal (PGM) electrocatalysts in acidic media. Iron- and nitrogen-containing carbon networks are often the most studied structures, among which single-atom iron-coordinated nitrogen (FeNx) moieties have often been proposed to be the structures leading to the high activity in these non-PGM electrocatalysts. Iron nanoparticles embedded within a carbon support are also formed under certain conditions as a result of the synthetic processes in making non-PGM electrocatalysts. In this study, we present a study to understand the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) activity of prepared iron- and nitrogen-containing non-PGM electrocatalysts obtained through the pyrolysis of metal-organic framework (MOF) precursors. We studied the structure-property relationship among nanostructures made from the MOF precursor ZIF-8 under different pyrolysis conditions. Density functional theory calculations were used to explain the effect of structural moieties on the ORR activity. Our results suggest that iron-coordinated C-N structures and iron nanoparticles act synergistically to catalyze the ORR.

Preparation of Nonprecious Metal Electrocatalysts for the Reduction of Oxygen Using a Low-Temperature Sacrificial Metal.

Non-platinum group metal (non-PGM) electrocatalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) are generally composed of iron, nitrogen, and carbon synthesized through high-temperature pyrolysis. Among the various types of precursors, metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), zeolitic imidazolate framework (ZIF)-8 in particular, have often been used in the synthesis. The pyrolysis of ZIF-8 precursor relies on the use of Zn as a sacrificial metal (SM), and the optimal processing temperatures often exceed 1000 °C to generate active non-PGM catalysts. The high pyrolysis temperature tends to result in heterogeneous active moieties ranging from Fe single atoms to nanoparticles. In this study, we present the synthesis of non-PGM catalysts using Cd as the sacrificial metal instead of Zn. By using Cd, we were able to generate active non-PGM electrocatalysts from the MOF precursors at a low pyrolysis temperature of 750 °C, which helps preserve the single atomic iron active sites.

Intermolecular Interactions and Intramolecular Couplings of Binuclear Porphyrin Models for Cytochrome c Oxidase.

Cytochrome c oxidase (CcO) has a binuclear active site composed of a high-spin heme group and a tris-histidine-ligated copper ion (CuB). By using two different porphyrin models derived by Gunter (H2TPyPP) and us (H2TImPP), we have isolated several mono- and binuclear complexes including one carbonyl and three chloride derivatives which are determined by 100 K single-crystal X-ray. Low-temperature (4 K) EPR and multitemperature (295-25 K) Mössbauer investigations on the products not only confirmed the spin states of the two metal ions (S = 5/2 Fe3+ and S = 1/2 Cu2+) but also revealed the intermolecular interactions and intramolecular couplings which are in accordance with the crystal structural features.

New Insights into the Ligand Nature of Carbene: Synthesis and Characterizations of Six-Coordinate Iron(II) Carbene Porphyrin Complexes.

Several six-coordinate iron(II) carbene tetra(pentafluorophenyl)porphyrin (TFPP) complexes, [Fe(TFPP)(CPh2)(1-EtIm)] (1-EtIm = 1-ethylimidazole) and [Fe(TFPP)(CPh2)(1,2-Me2Im)] (1,2-Me2Im = 1,2-dimethylimidazole), are isolated and studied by UV-vis, single-crystal X-ray, and Mössbauer spectroscopies. The single-crystal structural studies revealed noteworthy features including strong and "hard" axial carbene bonds (Fe-C) but "flexible" trans ligand bonds (Fe-NIm). The Mössbauer spectra of [Fe(TFPP)(CPh2)(1-EtIm)] and [Fe(TFPP)(CPh2)(1,2-Me2Im)] are obtained on solid-state samples between 25 and 295 K, which give very large Δ EQ values (1.8-1.9 mm/s), suggesting a weak effect of the trans imidazole ligands. Comparisons with diatomic carbon-donor ligands (CO, CS, and CN-) demonstrate considerably stronger π bonding of the :CPh2 carbene.

Hydrogen-Bonding Effects in Five-Coordinate High-Spin Imidazole-Ligated Iron(II) Porphyrinates.

The influence of hydrogen binding to the N-H group of coordinated imidazole in high-spin iron(II) porphyrinates has been studied. The preparation and characterization of new complexes based on [Fe(TPP)(2-MeHIm)] (TPP is the dianion of tetraphenylporphyrin) are reported. The hydrogen bond acceptors are ethanol, tetramethylene sulfoxide, and 2-methylimidazole. The last acceptor, 2-MeHIm, was found in a crystalline complex with two [Fe(TPP)(2-MeHIm)] sites, only one of which has the 2-methylimidazole hydrogen bond acceptor. This latter complex has been studied by temperature-dependent Mössbauer spectroscopy. All new complexes have also been characterized by X-ray structure determinations. The Fe-NP and Fe-NIm bond lengths, and displacement of the Fe atom out of the porphyrin plane are similar to, but marginally different than, those in imidazole-ligated species with no hydrogen bond. All the structural and Mössbauer properties suggest that these new hydrogen-bonded species have the same electronic configuration as imidazole-ligated species with no hydrogen bond. These new studies continue to show that the effects of hydrogen bonding in five-coordinate high-spin iron(II) systems are subtle and challenging to understand.

Iron(II) Bis(imidazole) Derivatives of a Binuclear Porphyrin Model: Crystal Structures and Mössbauer Properties.

A new sterically hindered "picket fence-like" porphyrin with chelates for the second metal atom, H2TImPP (TImPP = meso-tetrakis[α,α,α,α-o-(5-imidazolecarboxylaminophenyl)]porphyrinato), is developed and used in the synthesis of four iron(II) bis(imidazole) derivatives, which are characterized by single crystal X-ray and other spectroscopies. The comprehensive studies on the crystal structures revealed noteworthy features including new axial ligand arrangements, deformed porphyrin planes, and strongly tilted pickets which can be rationalized by analysis of the intra- and intermolecular interactions. Solid-state Mössbauer experiments on [Fe(TImPP)(1-MeIm)2] were conducted at several temperatures from 295 to 25 K. The quadrupole splitting (ΔEQ) in the range of 1.01-1.03 mm/s confirmed the low-spin state of the iron.

Electronic Configuration and Ligand Nature of Five-Coordinate Iron Porphyrin Carbene Complexes: An Experimental Study.

The five-coordinate iron porphyrin carbene complexes [Fe(TPP) (CCl2)] (TPP = tetraphenylporphyrin), [Fe(TTP) (CCl2)] (TTP = tetratolylporphyrin) and [Fe(TFPP) (CPh2)] (TFPP = tetra(pentafluorophenyl)porphyrin), utilizing two types of carbene ligands (CCl2 and CPh2), have been investigated by single crystal X-ray, XANES (X-ray absorption near edge spectroscopy), Mössbauer, NMR and UV-vis spectroscopies. The XANES suggested the iron(II) oxidation state of the complexes. The multitemperature and high magnetic field Mössbauer experiments, which show very large quadrupole splittings (QS, ΔEQ), determined the S = 0 electronic configuration. More importantly, combined structural and Mössbauer studies, especially the comparison with the low spin iron(II) porphyrin complexes with strong diatomic ligands (CS, CO and CN-) revealed the covalent bond nature of the carbene ligands. A correlation between the iron isomer shifts (IS, δ) and the axial bond distances is established for the first time for these donor carbon ligands (:C-R).

Unique Axial Imidazole Geometries of Fully Halogenated Iron(II) Porphyrin Complexes: Crystal Structures and Mössbauer Spectroscopic Studies.

The synthesis and characterization of several electron-poor iron(II) porphyrin (FeTFPPBr8) complexes with axial imidazole ligands are reported. The single-crystal X-ray structures have been studied by a combination of crystal packing and Hirshfeld surface calculations, which explained the unusual axial-ligand geometries, e.g., the strong tilt of the Fe-NIm bonds and the imidazole planes. The six-coordinate [Fe(TFPPBr8)(1-MeIm)2] was studied by multiple-temperature solid-state Mössbauer spectroscopy, which suggested that it is a low-spin complex with δ ∼ 0.32-0.38 mm/s and ΔEQ ∼ 1.0 mm/s.

Identification of carbon-encapsulated iron nanoparticles as active species in non-precious metal oxygen reduction catalysts.

The widespread use of fuel cells is currently limited by the lack of efficient and cost-effective catalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction. Iron-based non-precious metal catalysts exhibit promising activity and stability, as an alternative to state-of-the-art platinum catalysts. However, the identity of the active species in non-precious metal catalysts remains elusive, impeding the development of new catalysts. Here we demonstrate the reversible deactivation and reactivation of an iron-based non-precious metal oxygen reduction catalyst achieved using high-temperature gas-phase chlorine and hydrogen treatments. In addition, we observe a decrease in catalyst heterogeneity following treatment with chlorine and hydrogen, using Mössbauer and X-ray absorption spectroscopy. Our study reveals that protected sites adjacent to iron nanoparticles are responsible for the observed activity and stability of the catalyst. These findings may allow for the design and synthesis of enhanced non-precious metal oxygen reduction catalysts with a higher density of active sites.

All high-spin (S = 2) iron(ii) hemes are NOT alike.

A common structural motif in heme proteins is a five-coordinate species in which the iron is coordinated by a histidyl residue. The widely distributed heme proteins with this motif are essential for the well being of humans and other organisms. We detail the differences in molecular structures and physical properties of high-spin iron(ii) porphyrin derivatives ligated by neutral imidazole, hydrogen bonded imidazole, and imidazolate or other anions. Two distinct (high spin) electronic states are observed that have differing d-orbital occupancies and discernibly different five-coordinate square-pyramidal coordination groups. The doubly occupied orbital in the imidazole species is a low symmetry orbital oblique to the heme plane whereas in the imidazolate species the doubly occupied orbital is a high symmetry orbital in the heme plane, i.e., the primary doubly-occupied d-orbital is different. Methods that can be used to classify a particular complex into one or the other state include X-ray structure determinations, high-field Mössbauer spectroscopy, vibrational spectroscopy, magnetic circular dichroism, and even-spin EPR spectroscopy. The possible functional significance of the ground state differences has not been established for heme proteins, but is likely found in the pathways for oxygen transport vs. oxygen utilization.

Synthesis and characterization of a modified "picket fence" porphyrin complex - stronger π bonding interactions between Fe(ii) and axial ligands.

A new, modified "picket fence" porphyrin is synthesized and its bis(imidazole)-ligated iron(ii) derivative [Fe(MbenTpivPP)(1-MeIm)(2)] is investigated. X-ray structure determinations demonstrate that [Fe(MbenTpivPP)(1-MeIm)(2)] has structural features of a near planar porphyrin plane, a relative perpendicular ligand orientation, and one unusually large absolute ligand orientation (φ). The combination of these features leads to a new type of species that is different from previously reported analogues. Further structural examination reveals a strong correlation between the mutual ligand orientations (θ) and the axial Fe-N(Im) bond distances, which is detailed for the first time. Mössbauer spectroscopic characterization shows that the low spin derivative has a quadrupole splitting of 0.99 mm s(-1) at 100 K.

Bis(cyano) Iron(III) Porphyrinates: What Is the Ground State?

The synthesis of six new bis(cyano) iron(III) porphyrinate derivatives is reported. The anionic porphyrin complexes utilized tetraphenylporphyrin, tetramesitylporphyrin, and tetratolylporphyrin as the porphyrin ligand. The potassium salts of Kryptofix-222 and 18-C-6 were used as the cations. These complexes have been characterized by X-ray structure analysis, solid-state Mössbauer spectroscopy, and EPR spectroscopy, both in frozen CH2Cl2 solution and in the microcrystalline state. These data show that these anionic complexes can exist in either the (dxz,dyz)(4)(dxy)(1) or the (dxy)(2)(dxz,dyz)(3) electronic configuration and some can clearly readily interconvert. This is a reflection that these two states can be very close in energy. In addition to the effects of varying the porphyrin ligand, subtle effects of the cyanide ligand environment in the solid state and in solution are sufficient to shift the balance between the two electronic states.

Measurement of extreme hyperfine fields in two-coordinate high-spin Fe2+ complexes by Mössbauer spectroscopy: essentially free-ion magnetism in the solid state.

Mössbauer studies of three two-coordinate linear high-spin Fe(2+) compounds, namely, Fe{N(SiMe3)(Dipp)}2 (1) (Dipp = C6H3-2,6-(i)Pr2), Fe(OAr')2 (2) [Ar' = C6H3-2,6-(C6H3-2,6-(i)Pr2)2], and Fe{C(SiMe3)3}2 (3), are presented. The complexes were characterized by zero- and applied-field Mössbauer spectroscopy (1-3), as well as zero- and applied-field heat-capacity measurements (3). As 1-3 are rigorously linear, the distortion(s) that might normally be expected in view of the Jahn-Teller theorem need not necessarily apply. We find that the resulting very large unquenched orbital angular momentum leads to what we believe to be the largest observed internal magnetic field to date in a high-spin iron(II) compound, specifically +162 T in 1. The latter field is strongly polarized along the directions of the external field for both longitudinal and transverse field applications. For the longitudinal case, the applied field increases the overall hyperfine splitting consistent with a dominant orbital contribution to the effective internal field. By contrast, 2 has an internal field that is not as strongly polarized along a longitudinally applied field and is smaller in magnitude at ca. 116 T. Complex 3 behaves similarly to complex 1. They are sufficiently self-dilute (e.g., Fe···Fe distances of ca. 9-10 Å) to exhibit varying degrees of slow paramagnetic relaxation in zero field for the neat solid form. In the absence of EPR signals for 1-3, we show that heat-capacity measurements for one of the complexes (3) establish a geff value near 12, in agreement with the principal component of the ligand electric field gradient being coincident with the z axis.

Redesigning the blue copper azurin into a redox-active mononuclear nonheme iron protein: preparation and study of Fe(II)-M121E azurin.

Much progress has been made in designing heme and dinuclear nonheme iron enzymes. In contrast, engineering mononuclear nonheme iron enzymes is lagging, even though these enzymes belong to a large class that catalyzes quite diverse reactions. Herein we report spectroscopic and X-ray crystallographic studies of Fe(II)-M121E azurin (Az), by replacing the axial Met121 and Cu(II) in wild-type azurin (wtAz) with Glu and Fe(II), respectively. In contrast to the redox inactive Fe(II)-wtAz, the Fe(II)-M121EAz mutant can be readily oxidized by Na2IrCl6, and interestingly, the protein exhibits superoxide scavenging activity. Mössbauer and EPR spectroscopies, along with X-ray structural comparisons, revealed similarities and differences between Fe(II)-M121EAz, Fe(II)-wtAz, and superoxide reductase (SOR) and allowed design of the second generation mutant, Fe(II)-M121EM44KAz, that exhibits increased superoxide scavenging activity by 2 orders of magnitude. This finding demonstrates the importance of noncovalent secondary coordination sphere interactions in fine-tuning enzymatic activity.

Iron nitrosyl "natural" porphyrinates: does the porphyrin matter?

The synthesis and spectroscopic characterization of three five-coordinate nitrosyliron(II) complexes, [Fe(Porph)(NO)], are reported. These three nitrosyl derivatives, where Porph represents protoporphyrin IX dimethyl ester, mesoporphyrin IX dimethyl ester, or deuteroporphyrin IX dimethyl ester, display notable differences in their properties relative to the symmetrical synthetic porphyrins such as OEP and TPP. The N-O stretching frequencies are in the range of 1651-1660 cm(-1), frequencies that are lower than those of synthetic porphyrin derivatives. Mössbauer spectra obtained in both zero and applied magnetic field show that the quadrupole splitting values are slightly larger than those of known synthetic porphyrins. The electronic structures of these naturally occurring porphyrin derivatives are thus seen to be consistently different from those of the synthetic derivatives, the presumed consequence of the asymmetric peripheral substituent pattern. The molecular structure of [Fe(PPIX-DME)(NO)] has been determined by X-ray crystallography. Although disorder of the axial nitrosyl ligand limits the structural quality, this derivative appears to show the same subtle structural features as previously characterized five-coordinate nitrosyls.

Spectroscopic and computational study of a nonheme iron nitrosyl center in a biosynthetic model of nitric oxide reductase.

A major barrier to understanding the mechanism of nitric oxide reductases (NORs) is the lack of a selective probe of NO binding to the nonheme FeB center. By replacing the heme in a biosynthetic model of NORs, which structurally and functionally mimics NORs, with isostructural ZnPP, the electronic structure and functional properties of the FeB nitrosyl complex was probed. This approach allowed observation of the first S=3/2 nonheme {FeNO}(7) complex in a protein-based model system of NOR. Detailed spectroscopic and computational studies show that the electronic state of the {FeNO}(7) complex is best described as a high spin ferrous iron (S=2) antiferromagnetically coupled to an NO radical (S=1/2) [Fe(2+)-NO(.)]. The radical nature of the FeB -bound NO would facilitate N-N bond formation by radical coupling with the heme-bound NO. This finding, therefore, supports the proposed trans mechanism of NO reduction by NORs.

Correlated ligand dynamics in oxyiron picket fence porphyrins: structural and Mössbauer investigations.

Disorder in the position of the dioxygen ligand is a well-known problem in dioxygen complexes and, in particular, those of picket fence porphyrin species. The dynamics of Fe-O2 rotation and tert-butyl motion in three different picket fence porphyrin derivatives has been studied by a combination of multitemperature X-ray structural studies and Mössbauer spectroscopy. Structural studies show that the motions of the dioxygen ligand also require motions of the protecting pickets of the ligand binding pocket. The two motions appear to be correlated, and the temperature-dependent change in the O2 occupancies cannot be governed by a simple Boltzmann distribution. The three [Fe(TpivPP)(RIm)(O2)] derivatives studied have RIm = 1-methyl-, 1-ethyl-, or 2-methylimidazole. In all three species there is a preferred orientation of the Fe-O2 moiety with respect to the trans imidazole ligand and the population of this orientation increases with decreasing temperature. In the 1-MeIm and 1-EtIm species the Fe-O2 unit is approximately perpendicular to the imidazole plane, whereas in the 2-MeHIm species the Fe-O2 unit is approximately parallel. This reflects the low energy required for rotation of the Fe-O2 unit and the small energy differences in populating the possible pocket quadrants. All dioxygen complexes have a crystallographically required 2-fold axis of symmetry that limits the accuracy of the determined Fe-O2 geometry. However, the 80 K structure of the 2-MeHIm derivative allowed for resolution of the two bonded oxygen atom positions and provided the best geometric description for the Fe-O2 unit. The values determined are Fe-O = 1.811(5) Å, Fe-O-O = 118.2(9)°, O-O = 1.281(12) Å, and an off-axis tilt of 6.2°. Demonstration of the off-axis tilt is a first. We present detailed temperature-dependent simulations of the Mössbauer spectra that model the changing value of the quadrupole splitting and line widths. Residuals to fits are poorer at higher temperature. We believe that this is consistent with the idea that population of the two conformers is related to the concomitant motions of both Fe-O2 rotations and motions of the protecting tert-butyl pickets.

Effect of the Ruffled Porphyrin Ring on Electronic Structures: Structure and Characterization of [Fe(TalkylP)(OClO3)] and [Fe(TPrP)(THF)2]ClO4 (alkyl = Ethyl, Et and n-Propyl, Pr).

We report the synthesis of Fe(TalkylP)(OClO3)] (alkyl = ethyl and propyl) and [Fe(TPrP)(THF)2]ClO4, which are characterized by UV-vis, EPR, X-ray crystallography, and solid-state magnetic susceptibilities. The macrocycles of all three complexes are ruffled, all of the structural features for [Fe(TEtP(OClO3)] and [Fe(TPrP)(OClO3)] are characteristic of the nearly pure S = 3/2 state, while the structural parameters for [Fe(TPrP)(THF)2]ClO4 feature a pure intermediate-spin (S = 3/2) state, which are all consistent with EPR and magnetic data. It is clear from these studies that the ruffled conformation plays a significant role in affecting the extent of S = 3/2 character.