A fused polycyclic compound containing phenothiazine and diazapyrene skeletons with weak D-A interactions.

A small fused polycyclic molecule containing a phenothiazine and diazapyrene skeleton as the donor and acceptor, respectively, has a redox potential similar to those of the corresponding donor and acceptor molecules, indicating that the inherent electronic properties of the donor and acceptor were retained due to weak orbital interactions.

Mechanistic Study for the Reaction of B12 Complexes with m-Chloroperbenzoic Acid in Catalytic Alkane Oxidations.

The oxidation of alkanes with m-chloroperbenzoic acid (mCPBA) catalyzed by the B12 derivative, heptamethyl cobyrinate, was investigated under several conditions. During the oxidation of cyclohexane, heptamethyl cobyrinate works as a catalyst to form cyclohexanol and cyclohexanone at a 0.67 alcohol to ketone ratio under aerobic conditions in 1 h. The reaction rate shows a first-order dependence on the [catalyst] and [mCPBA] while being independent of [cyclohexane]; Vobs = k2[catalyst][mCPBA]. The kinetic deuterium isotope effect was determined to be 1.86, suggesting that substrate hydrogen atom abstraction is not dominantly involved in the rate-determining step. By the reaction of mCPBA and heptamethyl cobyrinate at low temperature, the corresponding cobalt(III)acylperoxido complex was formed which was identified by UV-vis, IR, ESR, and ESI-MS studies. A theoretical study suggested the homolysis of the O-O bond in the acylperoxido complex to form Co(III)-oxyl (Co-O•) and the m-chlorobenzoyloxyl radical. Radical trapping experiments using N-tert-butyl-α-phenylnitrone and CCl3Br, product analysis of various alkane oxidations, and computer analysis of the free energy for radical abstraction from cyclohexane by Co(III)-oxyl suggested that both Co(III)-oxyl and the m-chlorobenzoyloxyl radical could act as hydrogen-atom transfer reactants for the cyclohexane oxidation.

Condensed Phenoxazine Dimer and Its Radical Cation.

A condensed phenoxazine dimer was synthesized and characterized. X-ray crystallographic analysis of the dimer shows a double-butterfly structure, in which the nitrogen atoms are located above and below the molecular plane. A radical cation salt of the dimer was obtained using tris(4-bromophenyl)aminium hexafluoroantimonate as the oxidant. The salt is air-stable in solid and solution states. The cation structure was evaluated by X-ray crystallographic analysis, showing that the phenoxazine units were converted to a planar structure upon oxidation.

Inhibition of Ligand Binding Ability of Three Porphyrins by an Organic Effector.

A stimulus-responsive receptor 1 was designed and prepared to control the ligand-binding ability of three active sites, two zinc tetraphenylporphyrin units (P1) and one zinc diethynyldiphenylporphyrin unit (P2), with one effector molecule 2. Bulky hexarylbenzene units were incorporated as shielding panels in the middle of the flexible side arms of 1. Spectroscopic titrations indicated that a stable supramolecular complex 1⋅2 (K1⋅2 =6.7×106 m-1 ) was produced by the cooperative formation of multiple hydrogen and coordination bonds. As a result, the binding of a ligand to P1 was inhibited by 2 in a competitive manner. Additionally, the formation of 1⋅2 brought about conformational restriction of the side arms to cover both faces of P2 with the shielding panels. The binding constant of 4-phenylpyridine with P2 in 1⋅2 decreased to 8.9 % of that in 1. Namely, the ligand-binding ability of P2 was inhibited according to an allosteric mechanism.

Synthesis and Properties of Nitrogen-Containing Pyrenes.

We developed a short-step synthesis of 2,4,10-triazapyrenes involving two sequential C-H substitutions: Pd-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions via C-H arylation followed by intramolecular Cu-catalyzed C-H functionalization. This method was successfully applied to the preparation of 4,10-diaza-, 1,4,10-triaza-, and 1,3,4,10-tetraazapyrenes. Crystal structure analysis of 5,9-di(4-methylphenyl)-2,4,10-triazapyrene showed that planar triazapyrene cores have π-stack packing. Incorporating nitrogen atoms into the pyrene framework bathochromically shifted the lowest energy onsets of the absorption bands and increased the first reduction potentials. The nitrogen-containing pyrenes showed fluorescence with a weaker intensity (Φf = 0.041-0.12) than that of the parent pyrene. The number and position of nitrogen atoms influenced the extent of these effects.

Ligand-Binding Ability of a Porphyrin Core in a Dendrimer with Rigid Branched Terminal Components.

A dendrimer with rigid branched terminal components was prepared by a copper-catalyzed Hüisgen 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reaction. A zinc 5,15-diethynyl-10,20-bis(3,5-di- tert-butylphenyl)porphyrin unit was incorporated at the core of the dendrimer as a receptor site for an added pyridyl ligand. The appearance of an absorption band characteristic of the planar conformer of conjugated chains in the terminal components suggested that the dendrimer adopts a folded higher order structure in dichloromethane at 25 °C. The binding constant between the zinc porphyrin core and a pyridyl ligand was evaluated by means of UV-vis absorption titration and compared with that of a suitable reference compound. The incorporation of the zinc porphyrin core into the folded dendrimer led to considerable suppression of its ligand-binding ability.

Total Synthesis of (-)-Lepadiformine A Utilizing Hg(OTf)2-Catalyzed Cycloisomerization Reaction.

A cytotoxic marine alkaloid (-)-lepadiformine A (1) possesses a unique structure characterized by the trans-1-azadecalin AB ring system fused with the AC spiro-cyclic ring. In this research, we found that a cycloisomerization reaction from amino ynone 2 to a 1-azaspiro[4.5]decane skeleton 3, corresponding to the AC ring system of 1, is promoted by Hg(OTf)(2). Thus, we have accomplished the efficient total synthesis of (-)-lepadiformine A in 28% overall yield by featuring the novel Hg(OTf)(2)-catalyzed cycloisomerization.

Biomimetic epoxide-opening cascades of oxasqualenoids triggered by hydrolysis of the terminal epoxide.

The biomimetic epoxide-opening cascades from squalene polyepoxides 4-6 to triterpene polyethers (oxasqualenoids) teurilene (1), glabrescol (2), and omaezakianol (3), respectively, were reproduced in a single event by chemical reaction. These cascades proceeded through the 5-exo tandem cyclization triggered by Brønsted acid-catalyzed hydrolysis of the terminal epoxide, mimicking the direct hydrolysis mechanism of epoxide hydrolases.

Diastereoselective synthesis of the indeno-tetrahydropyridine core bearing a diaryl-substituted stereogenic quaternary carbon center of haouamine B.

The characteristic indeno-tetrahydropyridine core of cytotoxic haouamine B (2) was efficiently synthesized featuring the diastereoselective construction of a diaryl-substituted stereogenic quaternary center by an intramolecular Pd-catalyzed α-C-arylation and subsequent direct conversion of the vinylogous imide function into the C2-C25 double bond by TsNHNH(2).

Ligand effects on Ni(II)-catalysed alkane-hydroxylation with m-CPBA.

Nickel(ii) complexes supported by a series of pyridylalkylamine ligands [tris(2-pyridylmethyl)amine (TPA; complexes and ), tris[2-(2-pyridyl)ethyl]amine (TEPA; complexes and ), 6-[N,N-bis(2-pyridylmethyl)aminomethyl]-2,4-di-tert-butylphenol ((Dtbp)Pym2H; complexes and ), 6-[N,N-bis[2-(2-pyridyl)ethyl]aminomethyl]-2,4-di-tert-butylphenol ((Dtbp)Pye2H; complexes and ), N-benzyl-bis(2-pyridylmethyl)amine ((Bz)Pym2; complex ) and N-benzyl-bis[2-(2-pyridyl)ethyl]amine ((Bz)Pye2; complex )] have been synthesized and structurally characterized by X-ray crystallographic analysis [coordinating counter anion (co-ligand) of complexes n (n = 1-6) is AcO(-) and that of complexes n (n = 1-4) is NO(3)(-)]. All complexes, except , were obtained as a mononuclear nickel(ii) complex exhibiting a distorted octahedral geometry, whereas complex was isolated as a dinuclear nickel(ii) complex bridged by two nitrate anions. Catalytic activity of the nickel(ii) complexes were examined in the oxidation of cyclohexane with m-CPBA as an oxidant. In all cases, the oxygenation reaction proceeded catalytically to give cyclohexanol as the major product together with cyclohexanone as the minor product. The complexes containing the pyridylmethylamine (Pym) metal-binding group (, , ) showed higher turnover number (TON) than those containing the pyridylethylamine (Pye) metal-binding group (, , ), whereas the alcohol/ketone (A/K) selectivity was much higher with the latter (Pye system) than the former (Pym system). On the other hand, the existence of the NO(3)(-) co-ligand (, and ) caused a lag phase in the early stage of the catalytic reaction. Electronic and steric effects of the supporting ligands as well as the chemical behavior of the co-ligands on the catalytic activity of the nickel(ii) complexes have been discussed on the basis of their X-ray structures.

Modeling the mononuclear, dinuclear, and trinuclear copper(I) reaction centers of copper proteins using pyridylalkylamine ligands connected to 1,3,5-triethylbenzene spacer.

The structure and O2-reactivity of copper(I) complexes supported by novel ligands, Pye2 (1,3,5-triethyl-2,4-bis((N-benzyl-N-(2-(pyridin-2-yl)ethyl)-)aminomethyl)benzene), Pye3 (1,3,5-triethyl-2,4,6-tris((N-benzyl-N-(2-(pyridin-2-yl)ethyl))aminomethyl)benzene), MePym2 (1,3,5-triethyl-2,4-bis((N-benzyl-N-(6-methylpyridin-2-ylmethyl))aminomethyl)benzene), and MePym3 (1,3,5-triethyl-2,4,6-tris((N-benzyl-N-(6-methylpyridin-2-ylmethyl))aminomethyl)benzene) have been examined. The ligands are designed to construct mono-, di-, and trinuclear copper(I) complexes by connecting two or three pyridylalkylamine metal-binding sites to a 1,3,5-triethylbenzene spacer. Thus, the reaction of the ligands with [CuI(CH3CN)4]X (X = PF6, CF3SO3) or CuICl gave the expected mononuclear copper(I) complexes [CuI(Pye2)(CF3SO3)] (1) and [CuI(Pye3)](CF3SO3) (2), dinuclear copper(I) complex [CuI2(MePym2)(Cl)]CuICl2 (3), and trinuclear copper(I) complex [CuI3(MePym3)(CH3CN)3](CF3SO3)3 (4), the structures of which were determined by X-ray crystallographic analysis. The mononuclear copper(I) complexes, 1 and 2, exhibit a distorted three-coordinate T-shape structure and a trigonal planar structure, respectively, which are very close to the coordination geometry of the CuA site of PHM (peptidylglycine alpha-hydroxylating monooxygenase) and the CuB site of CcO (cytochrome c oxidase). Notably, 1 and 2 showed a significantly high oxidation potential (990 mV vs SCE), thus showing virtually no reactivity toward O2. On the other hand, the metal centers of the dinuclear and trinuclear copper(I) complexes, 3 and 4, exhibit a distorted trigonal planar geometry and a trigonal pyramidal geometry, respectively. In contrast to the mononuclear copper(I) complexes, these dinuclear and trinuclear copper(I) complexes reacted with O2 to induce an aromatic ligand hydroxylation reaction involving an NIH-shift of one of the ethyl substituents on the benzene spacer. The NIH-shift of the alkyl substituent on the aromatic ring is strong evidence of the electrophilic aromatic substitution mechanism, although the active oxygen intermediate could not be directly detected during the course of the reaction. The biological relevance of the copper(I) complexes is also discussed on the basis of structure and O2-reactivity.

Structure and O2-reactivity of copper(I) complexes supported by pyridylalkylamine ligands.

The structure and O2-reactivity of a series of copper(I) complexes supported by the pyridylalkylamine ligands are summarized, and the ligand effects such as the chelate ring size effect (five- vs. six-membered ring), the denticity effect (tetradentate vs. tridentate vs. didentate), the steric effect of 6-methylpyridine and the steric and/or electronic effects of N-alkyl substituents are discussed in detail.

NiII(TPA) as an efficient catalyst for alkane hydroxylation with m-CPBA.

A simple Ni(II)(TPA) complex [TPA = tris(2-pyridylmethyl)amine] has been demonstrated to act as an efficient turnover catalyst for alkane hydroxylation with m-CPBA (m-chloroperbenzoic acid), in which contribution of a NiO(+) (nickel-oxo) type active oxygen species is suggested.

Significant enhancement of monooxygenase activity of oxygen carrier protein hemocyanin by urea.

Oxygenation of a series of p-substituted phenols to the corresponding catechols (phenolase activity) by the (mu-eta2:eta2-peroxo)dicopper(II) species of Octopus hemocyanin has been directly examined for the first time by using a UV-vis spectroscopic method in a 0.5 M borate buffer solution containing 8 M urea under anaerobic conditions. Preliminary kinetic studies have indicated that the reaction involves an electrophilic aromatic substitution mechanism as in the case of phenolase reaction of tyrosinase. The oxygenation of phenols by hemocyanin also proceeded catalytically when the reaction was carried out under aerobic conditions.

A functional model for pMMO (particulate methane monooxygenase): Hydroxylation of alkanes with H2O2 catalyzed by beta-diketiminatocopper(II) complexes.

The reaction of copper(II) complexes supported by a series of beta-diketiminate ligands ((R1,R2)L, [(Dipp)N-C(R(2))-C(R(1))-C(R(2))-N(Dipp)](-), Dipp=2,6-diisopropylphenyl; see ) and H(2)O(2) has been examined spectroscopically at a low temperature. The beta-diketiminatocopper(II) complexes with R(2)=H (no substituent on the beta-carbon) provided a copper-oxygen intermediate that exhibited the same spectroscopic features as those of the bis(mu-oxo)dicopper(III) complex generated by the reaction of corresponding beta-diketiminatocopper(I) complex and O(2). On the other hand, the beta-diketiminatocopper(II) complexes with methyl substituent on the beta-carbon (R(2)=Me) did not produce such an intermediate in the same reaction. The beta-diketiminatocopper(II) complexes carrying an electron-withdrawing substituent on the alpha-carbon (R(1)=NO(2) or CN) but no beta-substituent (R(2)=H) exhibited a high catalytic activity in the oxygenation reaction of alkanes with H(2)O(2). Mechanism of the catalytic oxygenation reaction as well as the substituent effects of the ligands on the copper(II)-H(2)O(2) reactivity is discussed.

Structure and photoluminescence property of two-dimensional coordination polymer complexes involving Cu(I)(6)X(6)(X = Cl, Br, I) hexagon prism cluster supported by a tripodal tripyridine ligand with 1,3,5-triethylbenzene spacer.

Treatment of cuprous halide (Cu(I)X, X = Cl, Br, and I) and a tripodal tripyridine ligand (L) consisting of a 1,3,5-triethylbenzene spacer gave a unique two-dimensional (2D) polymer sheet structure involving a rare Cu(I)(6)X(6) hexagon prism cluster unit, which exhibits intense fluorescence around 448-476 nm.

C-S bond formation reaction between a phenolate and disulfide-bridged dicopper(I) complexes.

A novel C-S bond formation reaction took place, when a lithium phenolate derivative was treated with a disulfide-bridged dicopper(I) complex or a bis(micro-thiolato)dicopper(II) complex under very mild conditions. The reaction has been suggested to proceed via a disulfide-bridged (micro-phenoxo)dicopper(I) complex as the common reaction intermediate. Copper(II) complexes of the modified ligands containing a thioether group (products of the C-S bond formation reaction) have been isolated and structurally characterized by X-ray analysis as model compounds of the active site of galactose oxidase. Mechanism of the C-S bond formation reaction is also discussed in relation to the biosynthetic mechanism of the organic cofactor Tyr-Cys of galactose oxidase.

Dicopper-dioxygen complex supported by asymmetric pentapyridine dinucleating ligand.

A dicopper(I) complex supported by a novel asymmetric pentapyridine dinucleating ligand, consisting of tetradentate and tridentate metal-binding sites, has been synthesized and characterized. The dicopper(I) complex reacted with molecular oxygen at a low temperature to give an unprecedented mu-peroxo dicopper(II) complex presumably having a mu-eta1:eta2 binding mode, the spectroscopic features and the reactivity of which have been explored in detail.

Supramolecular and coordination polymer complexes supported by a tripodal tripyridine ligand containing a 1,3,5-triethylbenzene spacer.

By By combining a tripodal tripyridine ligand containing a 1,3,5-triethylbenzene spacer (L) with several divalent transition-metal chlorides, we have selectively prepared a capsule-type supramolecular complex, [PdII3(L)2Cl6] x 2H2O, and one-dimensional (1D) coordination polymer complexes, ([CuII(L)Cl2] x C2H5OH)n, ([CoII3(L)2Cl6] x 2CH2Cl2)n, and ([ZnII3(L)2Cl6] x 2H2O)n, with a zigzag polymer chain, a linear polymer chain, and a ladder polymer chain structure, respectively. All the structures were established in detail by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis, and the factors inducing the structural differences among the complexes are discussed by taking account of the differences in coordination geometry (square planar vs tetrahedral) as well as metal-ligand binding strength in the complexes.

Formation and spectroscopic characterization of the dioxygen adduct of a heme-Cu complex possessing a cross-linked tyrosine-histidine mimic: modeling the active site of cytochrome c oxidase.

A binucleating porphyrin with covalently appended copper chelates having a cross-linked imidazole-phenol group as the novel active site model of cytochrome c oxidase has been prepared, and the dioxygen adduct of its iron(II)-copper(I) complex was spectroscopically characterized.