Yuma Morimoto

Crystal structure of a metal ion-bound oxoiron( IV ) complex and implications for biological electron transfer

Critical biological electron-transfer processes involving high-valent oxometal chemistry occur widely, for example in haem proteins [oxoiron(IV); Fe(IV)(O)] and in photosystem II. Photosystem II involves Ca(2+) as well as high-valent oxomanganese cluster species. However, there is no example of an interaction between metal ions and oxoiron(IV) complexes. Here, we report new findings concerning the binding of the redox-inactive metal ions Ca(2+) and Sc(3+) to a non-haem oxoiron(IV) complex, [(TMC)Fe(IV)(O)](2+) (TMC = 1,4,8,11-tetramethyl-1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane). As determined by X-ray diffraction analysis, an oxo-Sc(3+) interaction leads to a structural distortion of the oxoiron(IV) moiety. More importantly, this interaction facilitates a two-electron reduction by ferrocene, whereas only a one-electron reduction process occurs without the metal ions. This control of redox behaviour provides valuable mechanistic insights into oxometal redox chemistry, and suggests a possible key role that an auxiliary Lewis acid metal ion could play in nature, as in photosystem II.

Dioxygen Activation by a Non-Heme Iron(II) Complex: Formation of an Iron(IV)−Oxo Complex via C−H Activation by a Putative Iron(III)−Superoxo Species

Iron(III)-superoxo intermediates are believed to play key roles in oxygenation reactions by non-heme iron enzymes. We now report that a non-heme iron(II) complex activates O(2) and generates its corresponding iron(IV)-oxo complex in the presence of substrates with weak C-H bonds (e.g., olefins and alkylaromatic compounds). We propose that a putative iron(III)-superoxo intermediate initiates the O(2)-activation chemistry by abstracting a H atom from the substrate, with subsequent generation of a high-valent iron(IV)-oxo intermediate from the resulting iron(III)-hydroperoxo species.

Metal Ion Effect on the Switch of Mechanism from Direct Oxygen Transfer to Metal Ion-Coupled Electron Transfer in the Sulfoxidation of Thioanisoles by a Non-Heme Iron(IV)−Oxo Complex

The mechanism of sulfoxidation of thioaniosoles by a non-heme iron(IV)-oxo complex is switched from direct oxygen transfer to metal ion-coupled electron transfer by the presence of Sc(3+). The switch in the sulfoxidation mechanism is dependent on the one-electron oxidation potentials of thioanisoles. The rate of sulfoxidation is accelerated as much as 10(2)-fold by the addition of Sc(3+).

Metal Ion-Coupled Electron Transfer of a Nonheme Oxoiron(IV) Complex: Remarkable Enhancement of Electron-Transfer Rates by Sc3+

Rates of electron transfer from a series of one-electron reductants to a nonheme oxoiron(IV) complex, [(N4Py)Fe(IV)(O)](2+), are enhanced as much as 10(8)-fold by addition of metal ions such as Sc(3+), Zn(2+), Mg(2+), and Ca(2+); the metal ion effect follows the Lewis acidity of metal ions. The one-electron reduction potential of [(N4Py)Fe(IV)(O)](2+) is shifted to a positive direction by 0.84 V in the presence of Sc(3+) ion (0.20 M).

Scandium ion-enhanced oxidative dimerization and N-demethylation of N,N-dimethylanilines by a non-heme iron(IV)-oxo complex.

Oxidative dimerization of N,N-dimethylaniline (DMA) occurs with a nonheme iron(IV)-oxo complex, [Fe(IV)(O)(N4Py)](2+) (N4Py = N,N-bis(2-pyridylmethyl)-N-bis(2-pyridyl)methylamine), to yield the corresponding dimer, tetramethylbenzidine (TMB), in acetonitrile. The rate of the oxidative dimerization of DMA by [Fe(IV)(O)(N4Py)](2+) is markedly enhanced by the presence of scandium triflate, Sc(OTf)(3) (OTf = CF(3)SO(3)(-)), when TMB is further oxidized to the radical cation (TMB(•+)). In contrast, we have observed the oxidative N-demethylation with para-substituted DMA substrates, since the position of the C-C bond formation to yield the dimer is blocked. The rate of the oxidative N-demethylation of para-substituted DMA by [Fe(IV)(O)(N4Py)](2+) is also markedly enhanced by the presence of Sc(OTf)(3). In the case of para-substituted DMA derivatives with electron-donating substituents, radical cations of DMA derivatives are initially formed by Sc(3+) ion-coupled electron transfer from DMA derivatives to [Fe(IV)(O)(N4Py)](2+), giving demethylated products. Binding of Sc(3+) to [Fe(IV)(O)(N4Py)](2+) enhances the Sc(3+) ion-coupled electron transfer from DMA derivatives to [Fe(IV)(O)(N4Py)](2+), whereas binding of Sc(3+) to DMA derivatives retards the electron-transfer reaction. The complicated kinetics of the Sc(3+) ion-coupled electron transfer from DMA derivatives to [Fe(IV)(O)(N4Py)](2+) are analyzed by competition between binding of Sc(3+) to DMA derivatives and to [Fe(IV)(O)(N4Py)](2+). The binding constants of Sc(3+) to DMA derivatives increase with the increase of the electron-donating ability of the para-substituent. The rate constants of Sc(3+) ion-coupled electron transfer from DMA derivatives to [Fe(IV)(O)(N4Py)](2+), which are estimated from the binding constants of Sc(3+) to DMA derivatives, agree well with those predicted from the driving force dependence of the rate constants of Sc(3+) ion-coupled electron transfer from one-electron reductants to [Fe(IV)(O)(N4Py)](2+). Thus, oxidative dimerization of DMA and N-demethylation of para-substituted DMA derivatives proceed via Sc(3+) ion-coupled electron transfer from DMA derivatives to [Fe(IV)(O)(N4Py)](2+).

Direct Hydroxylation of Benzene to Phenol Using Hydrogen Peroxide Catalyzed by Nickel Complexes Supported by Pyridylalkylamine Ligands

Selective hydroxylation of benzene to phenol has been achieved using H2O2 in the presence of a catalytic amount of the nickel complex [Ni(II)(tepa)](2+) (2) (tepa = tris[2-(pyridin-2-yl)ethyl]amine) at 60 °C. The maximum yield of phenol was 21% based on benzene without the formation of quinone or diphenol. In an endurance test of the catalyst, complex 2 showed a turnover number (TON) of 749, which is the highest value reported to date for molecular catalysts in benzene hydroxylation with H2O2. When toluene was employed as a substrate instead of benzene, cresol was obtained as the major product with 90% selectivity. When H2(18)O2 was utilized as the oxidant, (18)O-labeled phenol was predominantly obtained. The reaction rate for fully deuterated benzene was nearly identical to that of benzene (kinetic isotope effect = 1.0). On the basis of these results, the reaction mechanism is discussed.

Mechanisms of metal ion-coupled electron transfer.

Redox inactive metal ions acting as Lewis acids can control electron transfer from electron donors (D) to electron acceptors (A) by binding to radical anions of electron acceptors which act as Lewis bases. Such electron transfer is defined as metal ion-coupled electron transfer (MCET). Mechanisms of metal ion-coupled electron transfer are classified mainly into two pathways, i.e., metal ion binding to electron acceptors followed by electron transfer (MB/ET) and electron transfer followed by metal ion binding to the resulting radical anions of electron acceptors (ET/MB). In the former case, electron transfer and the stronger binding of metal ions to the radical anions occur in a concerted manner. Examples are shown in each case to clarify the factors to control MCET reactions in both thermal and photoinduced electron-transfer reactions including back electron-transfer reactions.

Mechanistic Borderline of One-Step Hydrogen Atom Transfer versus Stepwise Sc3+-Coupled Electron Transfer from Benzyl Alcohol Derivatives to a Non-Heme Iron(IV)-Oxo Complex

The rate of oxidation of 2,5-dimethoxybenzyl alcohol (2,5-(MeO)(2)C(6)H(3)CH(2)OH) by [Fe(IV)(O)(N4Py)](2+) (N4Py = N,N-bis(2-pyridylmethyl)-N-bis(2-pyridyl)methylamine) was enhanced significantly in the presence of Sc(OTf)(3) (OTf(-) = trifluoromethanesulfonate) in acetonitrile (e.g., 120-fold acceleration in the presence of Sc(3+)). Such a remarkable enhancement of the reactivity of [Fe(IV)(O)(N4Py)](2+) in the presence of Sc(3+) was accompanied by the disappearance of a kinetic deuterium isotope effect. The radical cation of 2,5-(MeO)(2)C(6)H(3)CH(2)OH was detected in the course of the reaction in the presence of Sc(3+). The dimerized alcohol and aldehyde were also produced in addition to the monomer aldehyde in the presence of Sc(3+). These results indicate that the reaction mechanism is changed from one-step hydrogen atom transfer (HAT) from 2,5-(MeO)(2)C(6)H(3)CH(2)OH to [Fe(IV)(O)(N4Py)](2+) in the absence of Sc(3+) to stepwise Sc(3+)-coupled electron transfer, followed by proton transfer in the presence of Sc(3+). In contrast, neither acceleration of the rate nor the disappearance of the kinetic deuterium isotope effect was observed in the oxidation of benzyl alcohol (C(6)H(5)CH(2)OH) by [Fe(IV)(O)(N4Py)](2+) in the presence of Sc(OTf)(3). Moreover, the rate constants determined in the oxidation of various benzyl alcohol derivatives by [Fe(IV)(O)(N4Py)](2+) in the presence of Sc(OTf)(3) (10 mM) were compared with those of Sc(3+)-coupled electron transfer from one-electron reductants to [Fe(IV)(O)(N4Py)](2+) at the same driving force of electron transfer. This comparison revealed that the borderline of the change in the mechanism from HAT to stepwise Sc(3+)-coupled electron transfer and proton transfer is dependent on the one-electron oxidation potential of benzyl alcohol derivatives (ca. 1.7 V vs SCE).

Generation, Characterization, and Reactivity of a CuII–Alkylperoxide/Anilino Radical Complex: Insight into the O–O Bond Cleavage Mechanism

The reaction of [Cu(I)(TIPT3tren) (CH3CN)]ClO4 (1) and cumene hydroperoxide (C6H5C(CH3)2OOH, ROOH) at -60 °C in CH2Cl2 gave a Cu(II)-alkylperoxide/anilino radical complex 2, the formation of which was confirmed by UV-vis, resonance Raman, EPR, and CSI-mass spectroscopy. The mechanism of formation of 2, as well as its reactivity, has been explored.

Effects of Proton Acceptors on Formation of a Non-Heme Iron(IV)− Oxo Complex via Proton-Coupled Electron Transfer

Rates of formation of a non-heme iron(IV)-oxo complex, [Fe(IV)(O)(N4Py)](2+) (N4Py = N,N-bis(2-pyridylmethyl)-N-bis(2-pyridyl)methylamine), via electron-transfer oxidation of [Fe(III)(OH)(N4Py)](2+) in acetonitrile (MeCN) containing H2O (0.56 M) were accelerated as much as 390-fold by addition of proton acceptors such as CF3COO(-), TsO(-) (p-MeC6H4SO3(-)), NsO(-) (o-NO2C6H4SO3(-)), DNsO(-) (2,4-(NO2)2C6H3SO3(-)), and TfO(-) (CF3SO3(-)). The acceleration effect of proton acceptors increases with increasing basicity of the proton acceptors. The one-electron oxidation potential of [Fe(III)(OH)(N4Py)](2+) was shifted from 1.24 to 0.96 V vs SCE in the presence of TsO(-) (10 mM). The electron-transfer oxidation of Fe(III)-OH complex was coupled with the deprotonation process by proton acceptors in which deuterium kinetic isotope effects were observed when H2O was replaced by D2O.