O-atom exchange between H2O and CO2 mediated by a bis(dithiolene)tungsten complex.

ABSTRACT

Inspired by the CO(2)-reductatse activity of tungsten-dependent formate dehydrogenases (W-FDHs), a reduced W-FDH model, [W(IV)(OH)(S(2)C(2)Ph(2))(2)](-), was prepared in situ through hydrolysis of [W(IV)(OPh)(S(2)C(2)Ph(2))(2)](-) (1) and its reactivity with CO(2) was investigated. The reaction between [W(IV)(OH)(S(2)C(2)Ph(2))(2)](-) and CO(2) at room temperature leads to the formation of [W(IV)(O)(S(2)C(2)Ph(2))(2)](2-) (2), which slowly oxidizes to [W(V)(O)(S(2)C(2)Ph(2))(2)](-) (3). Isotopic labeling experiments reveal that the O atom in CO(2) incorporates into 3. This implies that there is carbonic anhydrase like activity, in which carbonation and decarboxylation are mediated by a bis(dithiolene)tungsten complex.