The possible role of proton-coupled electron transfer (PCET) in water oxidation by photosystem II.

All higher life forms use oxygen and respiration as their primary energy source. The oxygen comes from water by solar-energy conversion in photosynthetic membranes. In green plants, light absorption in photosystem II (PSII) drives electron-transfer activation of the oxygen-evolving complex (OEC). The mechanism of water oxidation by the OEC has long been a subject of great interest to biologists and chemists. With the availability of new molecular-level protein structures from X-ray crystallography and EXAFS, as well as the accumulated results from numerous experiments and theoretical studies, it is possible to suggest how water may be oxidized at the OEC. An integrated sequence of light-driven reactions that exploit coupled electron-proton transfer (EPT) could be the key to water oxidation. When these reactions are combined with long-range proton transfer (by sequential local proton transfers), it may be possible to view the OEC as an intricate structure that is "wired for protons".

Isolation and Characterization of the Osmium(V)-Imido Complex [OsV (Tp)(Cl)2 (NH)].

Trapped by a proton: In the formation of OsII -N2 -OsII dimers, an OsV ≡N complex has been invoked as a transient intermediate but not isolated. Herein conditions are reported that allow OsV ≡N species to be trapped either in acidic, aqueous solutions as a neutral osmium(V) imido complex (OsV =NH, see structure) or in non-aqueous solvents, with high concentrations of added reductant, by N- ion transfer before coupling can occur.

Green primaries: environmentally friendly energetic complexes.

Primary explosives are used in small quantities to generate a detonation wave when subjected to a flame, heat, impact, electric spark, or friction. Detonation of the primary explosive initiates the secondary booster or main-charge explosive or propellant. Long-term use of lead azide and lead styphnate as primary explosives has resulted in lead contamination at artillery and firing ranges and become a major health hazard and environmental problem for both military and civilian personnel. Devices using lead primary explosives are manufactured by the tens of millions every year in the United States from primers for bullets to detonators for mining. Although substantial synthetic efforts have long been focused on the search for greener primary explosives, this unresolved problem has become a "holy grail" of energetic materials research. Existing candidates suffer from instability or excessive sensitivity, or they possess toxic metals or perchlorate. We report here four previously undescribed green primary explosives based on complex metal dianions and environmentally benign cations, (cat)(2)[M(II)(NT)(4)(H(2)O)(2)] (where cat is NH(4)(+) or Na(+), M is Fe(2+) or Cu(2+), and NT(-) is 5-nitrotetrazolato-N(2)). They are safer to prepare, handle, and transport than lead compounds, have comparable initiation efficiencies to lead azide, and offer rapid reliable detonation comparable with lead styphnate. Remarkably, they possess all current requirements for green primary explosives and are suitable to replace lead primary explosives in detonators. More importantly, they can be synthesized more safely, do not pose health risks to personnel, and cause much less pollution to the environment.

Green primary explosives: 5-nitrotetrazolato-N2-ferrate hierarchies.

The sensitive explosives used in initiating devices like primers and detonators are called primary explosives. Successful detonations of secondary explosives are accomplished by suitable sources of initiation energy that is transmitted directly from the primaries or through secondary explosive boosters. Reliable initiating mechanisms are available in numerous forms of primers and detonators depending upon the nature of the secondary explosives. The technology of initiation devices used for military and civilian purposes continues to expand owing to variations in initiating method, chemical composition, quantity, sensitivity, explosive performance, and other necessary built-in mechanisms. Although the most widely used primaries contain toxic lead azide and lead styphnate, mixtures of thermally unstable primaries, like diazodinitrophenol and tetracene, or poisonous agents, like antimony sulfide and barium nitrate, are also used. Novel environmentally friendly primary explosives are expanded here to include cat[Fe(II)(NT)(3)(H(2)O)(3)], cat(2)[Fe(II)(NT)(4)(H(2)O)(2)], cat(3)[Fe(II)(NT)(5)(H(2)O)], and cat(4)[Fe(II)(NT)(6)] with cat = cation and NT(-) = 5-nitrotetrazolato-N(2). With available alkaline, alkaline earth, and organic cations as partners, four series of 5-nitrotetrazolato-N(2)-ferrate hierarchies have been prepared that provide a plethora of green primaries with diverse initiating sensitivity and explosive performance. They hold great promise for replacing not only toxic lead primaries but also thermally unstable primaries and poisonous agents. Strategies are also described for the systematic preparation of coordination complex green primaries based on appropriate selection of ligands, metals, and synthetic procedures. These strategies allow for maximum versatility in initiating sensitivity and explosive performance while retaining properties required for green primaries.

Iminic N-bound iminophosphorano versus nitrilic n-bound iminophosphorano Os(IV) complexes: a new double derivatization of the nitrido ligand.

The reactions between trans-[Os(IV)(tpy)(Cl)(2)(NCN)] (1) and PPh(3) and between trans-[Os(IV)(tpy)(Cl)(2)(NPPh(3))](+) (2) and CN(-) provide new examples of double derivatization of the nitrido ligand in an Os(VI)-nitrido complex (Os(VI)N). The nitrilic N-bound product from the first reaction, trans-[Os(II)(tpy)(Cl)(2)(NCNPPh(3))] (3), is the coordination isomer of the first iminic N-bound product from the second reaction, trans-[Os(II)(tpy)(Cl)(2)(N(CN)(PPh(3)))] (4). In CH(3)CN at 45 degrees C, 4 undergoes isomerrization to 3 followed by solvolysis and release of (N-cyano)iminophosphorane, NCNPPh(3). These reactions demonstrate new double derivatization reactions of the nitrido ligand in Os(VI)N with its implied synthetic utility.

Synthesis, characterization, and energetic properties of diazido heteroaromatic high-nitrogen C-N compound.

The synthesis, characterization, and energetic properties of diazido heteroaromatic high-nitrogen C-N compound, 3,6-diazido-1,2,4,5-tetrazine (DiAT), are reported. Its normalized heat of formation (NDeltaHf), experimentally determined using an additive method, is shown to be the highest positive NDeltaHf compared to all other organic molecules. The unexpected azido-tetrazolo tautomerizations and irreversible tetrazolo transformation of DiAT are remarkable compared to all other polyazido heteroaromatic high-nitrogen C-N compounds, for example, 2,4,6-triazido-1,3,5-triazine; 4,4',6,6'-tetra(azido)hydrazo-1,3,5-triazine; 4,4',6,6'-tetra(azido)azo-1,3,5-triazine; and 2,5,8-tri(azido)-1,3,4,6,7,9,9b-heptaazaphenalene (heptazine).

The remarkable reactivity of high oxidation state ruthenium and osmium polypyridyl complexes.

There is a remarkable redox chemistry of higher oxidation state M(IV)-M(VI) polypyridyl complexes of Ru and Os. They are accessible by proton loss and formation of oxo or nitrido ligands, examples being cis-[RuIV(bpy)2(py)(O)]2+ (RuIV=O2+, bpy=2,2'-bipyridine, and py=pyridine) and trans-[OsVI(tpy)(Cl)2(N)]+ (tpy=2,2':6',2' '-terpyridine). Metal-oxo or metal-nitrido multiple bonding stabilizes the higher oxidation states and greatly influences reactivity. O-atom transfer, hydride transfer, epoxidation, C-H insertion, and proton-coupled electron-transfer mechanisms have been identified in the oxidation of organics by RuIV=O2+. The Ru-O multiple bond inhibits electron transfer and promotes complex mechanisms. Both O atoms can be used for O-atom transfer by trans-[RuVI(tpy)(O)2(S)]2+ (S=CH3CN or H2O). Four-electron, four-proton oxidation of cis,cis-[(bpy)2(H2O)RuIII-O-RuIII(H2O)(bpy)2]4+ occurs to give cis,cis-[(bpy)2(O)RuV-O-RuV(O)(bpy)2]4+ which rapidly evolves O2. Oxidation of NH3 in trans-[OsII(tpy)(Cl)2(NH3)] gives trans-[OsVI(tpy)(Cl)2(N)]+ through a series of one-electron intermediates. It and related nitrido complexes undergo formal N- transfer analogous to O-atom transfer by RuIV=O2+. With secondary amines, the products are the hydrazido complexes, cis- and trans-[OsV(L3)(Cl)2(NNR2)]+ (L3=tpy or tpm and NR2-=morpholide, piperidide, or diethylamide). Reactions with aryl thiols and secondary phosphines give the analogous adducts cis- and trans-[OsIV(tpy)(Cl)2(NS(H)(C6H4Me))]+ and fac-[OsIV(Tp)(Cl)2(NP(H)(Et2))]. In dry CH3CN, all have an extensive multiple oxidation state chemistry based on couples from Os(VI/V) to Os(III/II). In acidic solution, the OsIV adducts are protonated, e.g., trans-[OsIV(tpy)(Cl)2(N(H)N(CH2)4O)]+, and undergo proton-coupled electron transfer to quinone to give OsV, e.g., trans-[OsV(tpy)(Cl)2(NN(CH2)4O)]+ and hydroquinone. These reactions occur with giant H/D kinetic isotope effects of up to 421 based on O-H, N-H, S-H, or P-H bonds. Reaction with azide ion has provided the first example of the terminal N4(2-) ligand in mer-[OsIV(bpy)(Cl)3(NalphaNbetaNgammaNdelta)]-. With CN-, the adduct mer-[OsIV(bpy)(Cl)3(NCN)]- has an extensive, reversible redox chemistry and undergoes NCN(2-) transfer to PPh3 and olefins. Coordination to Os also promotes ligand-based reactivity. The sulfoximido complex trans-[OsIV(tpy)(Cl)2(NS(O)-p-C6H4Me)] undergoes loss of O2 with added acid and O-atom transfer to trans-stilbene and PPh3. There is a reversible two-electron/two-proton, ligand-based acetonitrilo/imino couple in cis-[OsIV(tpy)(NCCH3)(Cl)(p-NSC6H4Me)]+. It undergoes reversible reactions with aldehydes and ketones to give the corresponding alcohols.

Colossal kinetic isotope effects in proton-coupled electron transfer.

The kinetics of reduction of benzoquinone (Q) to hydroquinone (H(2)Q) by the Os(IV) hydrazido (trans-[Os(IV)(tpy)(Cl)(2)(N(H)N(CH(2))(4)O)]-PF(6) = [1]PF(6), tpy = 2,2':6',2"-terpyridine), sulfilimido (trans-[Os(IV)-(tpy)(Cl)(2)(NS(H)-4-C(6)H(4)Me)]PF(6) = [2]PF(6)), and phosphoraniminato (trans-[Os(IV)(Tp)(Cl)(2)(NP(H)(Et)(2))] = [3], Tp(-) = tris(pyrazolyl)-borate) complexes have been studied in 1:1 (vol/vol) CH(3)CN/H(2)O and CH(3)CN/D(2)O (1.0 M in NH(4)PF(6)/KNO(3) at 25.0 +/- 0.1 degrees C). The reactions are first order in both [Q] and Os(IV) complex and occur by parallel pH-independent (k(1)) and pH-dependent (k(2)) pathways that can be separated by pH-dependent measurements. Saturation kinetics are observed for the acid-independent pathway, consistent with formation of a H-bonded intermediate (K(A)) followed by a redox step (k(red)). For the pH-independent pathway, k(1)(H(2)O)/k(1)(D(2)O) kinetic isotope effects are 455 +/- 8 for [1(+)], 198 +/- 6 for [2(+)], and 178 +/- 5 for [3]. These results provide an example of colossal kinetic isotope effects for proton-coupled electron transfer reactions involving nitrogen, sulfur, and phosphorus as proton-donor atoms.

Os(II)-nitrosyl and Os(II)-dinitrogen complexes from reactions between Os(VI)-nitrido and hydroxylamines and methoxylamines.

Reactions between the Os(VI)-nitrido salts (e.g., trans-[Os(VI)(tpy)(Cl)(2)(N)]PF(6) (tpy = 2,2':6',2"-terpyridine), cis-[Os(VI)(tpy)(Cl)(2)(N)]PF(6), and fac-[Os(VI)(tpm)(Cl)(2)(N)]PF(6) (tpm = tris(pyrazol-1-yl)methane)) and the hydroxylamines (e.g., H(2)NOH and MeHNOH) and the methoxylamines (e.g., H(2)NOMe and MeHNOMe) in dry MeOH at room temperature give three different types of products. They are Os(II)-dinitrogen (e.g., trans-, cis-, or fac-[Os(II)-N(2)]), Os(II)-nitrosyl [Os(II)-NO](+) (e.g., trans- or cis-[Os(II)-NO](+)), Os(IV)-hydroxyhydrazido (e.g., cis-[Os(IV)-N(H)N(Me)(OH)](+)), and Os(IV)-methoxyhydrazido (e.g., trans-/cis-[Os(IV)-N(H)N(H)(OMe)](+), and trans-/cis-[Os(IV)-N(H)N(Me)(OMe)](+)) adducts. The products depend in a subtle way on the electron content of the starting nitrido complexes, the nature of the hydroxylamines, the nature of the methoxylamines, and the reaction conditions. Their appearance can be rationalized by invoking the formation of a series of related Os(IV) adducts which are stable or decompose to give the final products by two different pathways. The first involves internal 2-electron transfer and extrusion of H(2)O, MeOH, or MeOMe to give [Os(II)-N(2)]. The second which gives [Os(II)-NO](+) appears to involve seven-coordinate Os(IV) intermediates based on the results of an (15)N-labeling study.

The cyanoimido ligand as an oxo analogue. Novel approaches to the preparations of cyano(imino)-aza-phosphorus(V) and N-cyanoaziridine.

The known Os(IV)-cyanoimido complexes, mer-Et4N[OsIV(bpy)(Cl)3(NalphaCNbeta)] (mer-[OsIV=N-CN]-) (bpy = 2,2'-bipyridine) and trans-[OsIV(tpy)(Cl)2(NalphaCNbeta)] (trans-[OsIV=N-CN]) (2,2':6',2' '-terpyridine), have formal electronic relationships with high oxidation state Ru and Os-oxo and -dioxo complexes. These include multiple bonding to the metal, the ability to undergo multiple electron transfer, and the availability of nonbonding electron pairs for donation. Thermodynamic, oxo-like behavior is observed for mer-[OsIV=N-CN]- in the pH-dependence of its Os(VI/V) to Os(III/II) redox couples in 1:1 (v/v) CH3CN:H2O. Oxo-like behavior is also observed in the reaction between mer-[OsVI(bpy)(Cl)3(NalphaCNbeta)]PF6 and benzyl alcohol to give mer-[OsIV(bpy)(Cl)3(NalphaCNbetaH2)]PF6 and benzaldehyde. The reaction is first order in each reactant with kbenzyl(CH3CN, 25.0 +/- 0.1 degrees C) = (8.6 +/- 0.2) x 102 M-1 s-1. Formal NCN degrees transfer, analogous to O-atom transfer, occurs in reactions with tertiary phosphine and hexenes. In CH3CN under N2, a rapid reaction occurs between trans-[OsIV=N-CN] and PPh3 (kPPh3(DMF, 25.0 +/- 0.1 degrees C) = 4.06 +/- 0.02 M-1 s-1) to form the nitrilic N-bound Os(II)-(N-cyano)iminophosphorano product, trans-[OsII(tpy)(Cl)2(NalphaCNbetaPPh3)] (trans-[OsII-NalphaC-Nbeta=PPh3]). It undergoes solvolysis at 45 degrees C after 24 h to give trans-[OsII(tpy)(Cl)2(NCCH3)] and (N-cyano)iminophosphorane (NalphaC-Nbeta=PPh3). The analogue to epoxidation, N-cyanoaziridination of cyclohexene and 1-hexene by mer-[OsIV=N-CN]- and trans-[OsIV=N-CN], occurs at Nbeta to give the Os(IV)-N-cyanoaziridino complexes, mer-Et4N[OsII(bpy)(Cl)3(NalphaCNbetaC6H10)] and trans-[OsII(tpy)(Cl)2(NalphaCNbetaC6H11)], respectively. Oxidation to mer-[OsV(bpy)(Cl)3(NalphaCNbeta)]- greatly accelerates N-cyanoaziridination of cyclohexene, which is followed by slow solvolysis to give mer-[OsIII(bpy)(Cl)3(NCCH3)] and N-cyanoaziridine (NC-NC6H10). The Os-(N-cyano)aziridino complexes are the first well-characterized examples of coordinated cyanoaziridines.

Formation and reactivity of the Os(IV)-azidoimido complex, PPN[Os(IV)(bpy)(Cl)(3)(N(4))].

Reactions between the Os(VI)-nitrido complexes, [OsVI(L2)(Cl)3(N)] (L2 = 2,2'-bipyridine (bpy) ([1]), 4,4'-dimethyl-2,2'-bipyridine (Me2bpy), 1,10-phenanthroline (phen), and 4,7-diphenyl-1,10-phenanthroline (Ph2phen)), and bis-(triphenylphosphoranylidene)ammonium azide (PPNN3) in dry CH3CN at 60 degrees C under N2 give the corresponding Os(IV)-azidoimido complexes, [OsIV(L2)(Cl)3(NN3)]- (L2 = bpy = [2]-, L2 = Me2bpy = [3]-, L2 = phen = [4]-, and L2 = Ph2phen = [5]-) as their PPN+ salts. The formulation of the N42- ligand has been substantiated by 15N-labeling, IR, and 15N NMR measurements. Hydroxylation of [2]- at Nalpha with O<--NMe3.3H2O occurs to give the Os(IV)-azidohydroxoamido complex, [OsIV(bpy)(Cl)3(N(OH)N3)] ([6]), which, when deprotonated, undergoes dinitrogen elimination to give the Os(II)-dinitrogen oxide complex, [OsII(bpy)(Cl)3(N2O)]- ([7]-). They are the first well-characterized examples of each kind of complex for Os.