Solvent Quality Controls Macromolecular Structural Dynamics of a Dendrimeric Hydrogenase Model.

We report a spectroscopic investigation of the ultrafast dynamics of the second-generation poly(aryl ether) dendritic hydrogenase model using two-dimensional infrared (2D-IR) spectroscopy to probe the metal carbonyl vibrations of the dendrimer and a reference small molecule, [Fe(µ-S)(CO)3]2. We find that the structural dynamics of the dendrimer are reflected in a slow phase of the spectral diffusion, which is absent from [Fe(µ-S)(CO)3]2, and we relate the slow phase to the quality of the solvent for poly(aryl ether) dendrimers. We observe a solvent-dependent modulation of the initial phase of vibrational relaxation of the carbonyl groups, which we attribute to an inhibition of solvent assistance in the intramolecular vibrational redistribution process for the dendrimer. There is also a clear solvent dependence of the vibrational frequencies of both the dendrimer and [Fe(µ-S)(CO)3]2. Our data represent the first 2D-IR study of a dendritic complex and provide insight into the solvent dependence of molecular conformation in solution and the ultrafast dynamics of moderately sized, conformationally mobile compounds.

Oxidation-State-Dependent Vibrational Dynamics Probed with 2D-IR.

In an effort to examine the role of electronic structure and oxidation states in potentially modifying intramolecular vibrational dynamics and intermolecular solvation, we have used 2D-IR to study two distinct oxidation states of an organometallic complex. The complex, [1,1'-bis(diphenylphosphino)ferrocene]tetracarbonyl chromium (DPPFCr), consists of a catalytic diphenylphosphino ferrocene redox-active component as well as a Cr that can be switched from a Cr(0) to a Cr(I) oxidation state using a chemical oxidant in dichloromethane (DCM) solution. The DPPFCr(I) radical cation is sufficiently stable to investigate with 2D-IR spectroscopy, which provides dynamical information such as vibrational relaxation, intramolecular vibrational redistribution, as well as solvation dynamics manifested as spectral diffusion. Our measurements show that the primarily intramolecular dynamical processes-vibrational relaxation and redistribution-differ significantly between the two oxidation states, with faster relaxation in the oxidized DPPFCr(I) radical cation. The primarily intermolecular spectral diffusion dynamics, however, exhibit insignificant oxidation state dependence. We speculate that the low nucleophilicity (i.e., donicity) of the DCM solvent, which is chosen to facilitate the chemical oxidation, masks any potential changes in solvation dynamics accompanying the substantial decrease in the 2.5 D molecular dipole moment of DPPFCr(I) relative to DPPFCr(0) (7.5 D).

Dynamic Flexibility of Hydrogenase Active Site Models Studied with 2D-IR Spectroscopy.

Hydrogenase enzymes enable organisms to use H2 as an energy source, having evolved extremely efficient biological catalysts for the reversible oxidation of molecular hydrogen. Small-molecule mimics of these enzymes provide both simplified models of the catalysis reactions and potential artificial catalysts that might be used to facilitate a hydrogen economy. We have studied two diiron hydrogenase mimics, µ-pdt-[Fe(CO)3]2 and µ-edt-[Fe(CO)3]2 (pdt = propanedithiolate, edt = ethanedithiolate), in a series of alkane solvents and have observed significant ultrafast spectral dynamics using two-dimensional infrared (2D-IR) spectroscopy. Since solvent fluctuations in nonpolar alkanes do not lead to substantial electrostatic modulations in a solute's vibrational mode frequencies, we attribute the spectral diffusion dynamics to intramolecular flexibility. The intramolecular origin is supported by the absence of any measurable solvent viscosity dependence, indicating that the frequency fluctuations are not coupled to the solvent motional dynamics. Quantum chemical calculations reveal a pronounced coupling between the low-frequency torsional rotation of the carbonyl ligands and the terminal CO stretching vibrations. The flexibility of the CO ligands has been proposed to play a central role in the catalytic reaction mechanism, and our results highlight that the CO ligands are highly flexible on a picosecond time scale.

Chemical analysis of complex organic mixtures using reactive nanospray desorption electrospray ionization mass spectrometry.

Reactive nanospray desorption electrospray ionization (nano-DESI) combined with high-resolution mass spectrometry was utilized for the analysis of secondary organic aerosol produced through ozonolysis of limonene (LSOA). Previous studies have shown that LSOA constituents are multifunctional compounds containing at least one aldehyde or ketone groups. In this study, we used the selectivity of the Girard's reagent T (GT) toward carbonyl compounds to examine the utility of reactive nano-DESI for the analysis of complex organic mixtures. In these experiments, 1-100 µM GT solutions were used as the working solvents for reactive nano-DESI analysis. Abundant products from the single addition of GT to LSOA constituents were observed at GT concentrations in excess of 10 µM. We found that LSOA dimeric and trimeric compounds react with GT through a simple addition reaction resulting in formation of the carbinolamine derivative. In contrast, reactions of GT with monomeric species result in the formation of both the carbinolamine and the hydrazone derivatives. In addition, several monomers did not react with GT on the time scale of our experiment. These molecules were characterized by relatively high values of the double bond equivalent and low oxygen content. Furthermore, because addition of a charged GT tag to a neutral molecule eliminates the discrimination against the low proton affinity compounds in the ionization process, reactive nano-DESI analysis enables quantification of individual compounds in the complex mixture. For example, we were able to estimate for the first time the amounts of dimers and trimers in the LSOA mixture. Specifically, we found that the most abundant LSOA dimer was detected at the ~0.5 pg level and the total amount of dimers and trimers in the analyzed sample was ~11 pg. Our results indicate that reactive nano-DESI is a valuable approach for examining the presence of specific functional groups and for the quantification of compounds possessing these groups in complex mixtures.

Chemical characterization of crude petroleum using nanospray desorption electrospray ionization coupled with high-resolution mass spectrometry.

Nanospray desorption electrospray ionization (nano-DESI) combined with high-resolution mass spectrometry was used for the first time for the analysis of the polar constituents of liquid petroleum crude oil samples. The analysis was performed in both positive and negative ionization modes using three solvents, one of which (acetonitrile/toluene mixture) is commonly used in petroleomics studies while two other polar solvents (acetonitrile/water and methanol/water mixtures) are generally not compatible with petroleum characterization using mass spectrometry. The results demonstrate that nano-DESI analysis efficiently ionizes petroleum constituents soluble in a particular solvent. When acetonitrile/toluene is used as a solvent, nano-DESI generates electrospray-like spectra. In contrast, strikingly different spectra were obtained using acetonitrile/water and methanol/water. Comparison with the literature data indicates that these solvents selectively extract water-soluble constituents of the crude oil. Water-soluble compounds are predominantly observed as sodium adducts in nano-DESI spectra indicating that addition of sodium to the solvent may be a viable approach for efficient ionization of water-soluble crude oil constituents. Nano-DESI enables rapid screening of different classes of compounds in crude oil samples based on their solubility in solvents that are rarely used for petroleum characterization providing better coverage of the crude oil composition as compared to electrospray ionization (ESI). It also enables rapid characterization of water-soluble components of petroleum samples that is difficult to perform using traditional approaches.