Hidetaka Nakai

A Functional [NiFe]Hydrogenase Mimic That Catalyzes Electron and Hydride Transfer from H2

Mimicking Hydrogenase Hydrogenase enzymes possess unusual bimetallic active sites that cleave H2. The enzymes make use of abundant metals (iron and sometimes nickel), in contrast to the often expensive synthetic catalysts that rely on rarer elements such as ruthenium or platinum. Ogo et al. (p. 682; see the Perspective by Armstrong) now report a bimetallic coordination compound of iron and nickel that can catalyze electron and hydride transfers from H2 in a manner analogous to the corresponding enzyme and characterize the structure of an intermediate with bound hydride. A bimetallic complex mimics a widely studied enzyme class of particular interest in renewable energy research. [Also see Perspective by Armstrong] Chemists have long sought to mimic enzymatic hydrogen activation with structurally simpler compounds. Here, we report a functional [NiFe]-based model of [NiFe]hydrogenase enzymes. This complex heterolytically activates hydrogen to form a hydride complex that is capable of reducing substrates by either hydride ion or electron transfer. Structural investigations were performed by a range of techniques, including x-ray diffraction and neutron scattering, resulting in crystal structures and the finding that the hydrido ligand is predominantly associated with the Fe center. The ligands hydridic character is manifested in its reactivity with strong acid to liberate H2.

Observation of the inverse trans influence (ITI) in a uranium(V) imide coordination complex: an experimental study and theoretical evaluation.

An inverse trans influence has been observed in a high-valent U(V) imide complex, [(((Ad)ArO)(3)N)U(NMes)]. A thorough theoretical evaluation has been employed in order to corroborate the ITI in this unusual complex. Computations on the target complex, [(((Ad)ArO)(3)N)U(NMes)], and the model complexes [(((Me)ArO)(3)N)U(NMes)] and [(NMe(3))(OMe(2))(OMe)(3)U(NPh)] are discussed along with synthetic details and supporting spectroscopic data. Additionally, the syntheses and full characterization data of the related U(V) trimethylsilylimide complex [(((Ad)ArO)(3)N)U(NTMS)] and U(IV) azide complex [(((Ad)ArO)(3)N)U(N(3))] are also presented for comparison.

[NiFe]Hydrogenase from Citrobacter sp. S‐77 Surpasses Platinum as an Electrode for H2 Oxidation Reaction

Reported herein is an electrode for dihydrogen (H2) oxidation, and it is based on [NiFe]Hydrogenase from Citrobacter sp. S-77 ([NiFe]S77). It has a 637 times higher mass activity than Pt (calculated based on 1 mg of [NiFe]S77 or Pt) at 50 mV in a hydrogen half-cell. The [NiFe]S77 electrode is also stable in air and, unlike Pt, can be recovered 100 % after poisoning by carbon monoxide. Following characterization of the [NiFe]S77 electrode, a fuel cell comprising a [NiFe]S77 anode and Pt cathode was constructed and shown to have a a higher power density than that achievable by Pt.

Photochromism of an organorhodium dithionite complex in the crystalline-state: molecular motion of pentamethylcyclopentadienyl ligands coupled to atom rearrangement in a dithionite ligand.

In the crystalline state, the rhodium dinuclear complex [(RhCp*)(2)(mu-CH(2))(2)(mu-O(2)SSO(2))] (1) with a photoresponsive dithionite group (mu-O(2)SSO(2)) and two pentamethylcyclopentadienyl ligands (Cp* = eta(5)-C(5)Me(5)) undergoes a 100% reversible unimolecular type T inverse photochromism upon interconversion to [(RhCp*)(2)(mu-CH(2))(2)(mu-O(2)SOSO)] (2). The photochromism can be followed directly by using stepwise crystal structure analysis (Angew. Chem., Int. Ed. 2006, 45, 6473). In this study, we found that the photoreaction of 1 was triggered by absorption of the 510 nm light (charge transfer band from sigma(S-S) to sigma*(S-S) and sigma*(Rh-Rh) orbitals assigned by DFT calculation) and included two important processes: kinetically controlled oxygen-atom transfer to produce four stereoisomers of 2 and thermodynamically controlled isomerization between the four stereoisomers of 2 to afford the most stable isomer. Although the formation rate of the four stereoisomer products was kinetically controlled and the population of the four stereoisomers produced in the system was thermodynamically controlled, both processes were regulated by the steric hindrance between the mu-O(2)SSO(2) or mu-O(2)SOSO ligand and the reaction cavity formed by the Cp* ligands. The cooperation of both processes achieved an intriguing stereospecific oxygen-atom rearrangement to produce only one stereoisomer of 2 at the final stage of the photoreaction at room temperature. We also determined the effect of the oxygen-atom rearrangement on the rotational motion of the two crystallographically independent Cp* ligands (parallel and perpendicular arrangement). Using variable-temperature (13)C CP/MAS NMR and quadrupolar echo solid-state (2)H NMR spectroscopies, before photoirradiation, the activation energies for the rotation of the parallel and perpendicular Cp* ligands in 1 were determined to be 33 +/- 3 and 7.8 +/- 1 kJ/mol, respectively, and after photoirradiation, in 2, they were much lower than those in 1 (21 +/- 2 and 4.7 +/- 0.5 kJ/mol, respectively). The large decrease in the activation energy for the parallel Cp* in 2 is attributed to the relaxation of molecular stress via a stereospecific oxygen-atom rearrangement, which suggests that the rotational motion of the Cp* ligands is coupled to the photochromism.

Organometallic Catalysts for Use in a Fuel Cell

We report the successful increase in performance of a fuel cell based on organometallic catalysis. An organometallic [NiIIRuIV] peroxo complex functions as cathode catalyst and was designed following mechanistic consideration of the cell. It was confirmed that the organometallic [NiIIRuIV] peroxo catalyst could function in the fuel cell with a 240 % increase in power output over our previous systems. This organometallic catalyst can act in both solid and solution phases and allows observation of the mechanism, hence providing us further opportunity for future improvement.

The influence of compressive loading on growth of cartilage of the mandibular condyle in vitro.

The purpose of this study was to clarify the change in mandibular condyles under compressive loading. An organ-culture system of fetal rat mandibular condyles was used, and mechanical loading was generated by compressing the gas phase within a closed chamber. After the culture period, with compressive loading, type I collagen and fibronectin were observed in the lower half of the hypertrophic chondrocyte layer in the mandibular condyles; in contrast, without compressive loading, there was no such reaction. The size of the condyle was not increased by compressive loading. These results suggest that intermittent compressive loading could induce type I collagen and fibronectin production by chondrocytes.

Simple ligand effects switch a hydrogenase mimic between H 2 and O 2 activation

Herein, we report a [NiRu] biomimetic system for O(2)-tolerant [NiFe]hydrogenases and demonstrate that electron donation to the [NiRu] center can switch the system between the activation of H(2) and O(2) through simple ligand effects by using hexamethylbenzene and pentamethylcyclopentadienyl ligands, respectively. Furthermore, we present the synthesis and direct observations of a [NiRu]-peroxo species, which was formed by the oxygenation of a Ni-SIa model [NiRu] complex, that we propose as a biomimetic analogue of O(2)-bound species (OBS) of O(2)-tolerant [NiFe]hydrogenases. The [NiRu]-peroxo complex was fully characterized by X-ray analysis, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), mass spectrometry, and (1)H NMR spectroscopy. The OBS analogue was capable of oxidizing p-hydroquinone and sodium borohydride to turn back into the Ni-SIa model complex.

A High-Valent Iron(IV) Peroxo Core Derived from O2

Dioxygen-tolerant [NiFe] hydrogenases catalyze not only the conversion of H2 into 2 H(+) and 2 e(-) but also the reduction of O2 to H2O. Chemists have sought to mimic such bifunctional catalysts with structurally simpler compounds to facilitate analysis and improvement. Herein, we report a new [NiFe]-based catalyst for O2 reduction via an O2 adduct. Structural investigations reveal the first example of a side-on iron(IV) peroxo complex.

Model study of CO inhibition of [NiFe]hydrogenase

We propose a modified mechanism for the inhibition of [NiFe]hydrogenase ([NiFe]H(2)ase) by CO. We present a model study, using a NiRu H(2)ase mimic, that demonstrates that (i) CO completely inhibits the catalytic cycle of the model compound, (ii) CO prefers to coordinate to the Ru(II) center rather than taking an axial position on the Ni(II) center, and (iii) CO is unable to displace a hydrido ligand from the NiRu center. We combine these studies with a reevaluation of previous studies to propose that, under normal circumstances, CO inhibits [NiFe]H(2)ase by complexing to the Fe(II) center.

Photoreactivity of crystals of a rhodium dithionite complex with ethyltetramethylcyclopentadienyl ligands: crystal surface morphology changes and degradation.

A photoreactive rhodium dithionite complex [(RhCp(Et))(2)(μ-CH(2))(2)(μ-O(2)SSO(2))] (1(Et)) with Cp(Et) (η(5)-C(5)Me(4)Et) ligands was newly synthesized. Upon short-time irradiation with low intensity light, two kinds of stepwise surface morphology changes of the crystal 1(Et) were observed. Prolonged irradiation with high intensity light caused cracking and breaking down of the crystal.