The extradiol, aromatic ring-cleaving enzyme homoprotocatechuate 2,3-dioxygenase (HPCD) catalyzes a complex chain of reactions that involve second sphere residues of the active site. The importance of the second-sphere residue His200 was demonstrated in studies of HPCD variants, such as His200Cys (H200C), which revealed significant retardations of certain steps in the catalytic process as a result of the substitution, allowing novel reaction cycle intermediates to be trapped for spectroscopic characterization. As the H200C variant largely retains the wild-type active site structure and produces the correct ring-cleaved product, this variant presents a valuable target for mechanistic HPCD studies. Here, the high-spin FeII states of resting H200C and the H200C–homoprotocatechuate enzyme–substrate (ES) complex have been characterized with Mössbauer spectroscopy to assess the electronic structures of the active site in these states. The analysis reveals a high-spin FeII center in a low symmetry environment that is reflected in the values of the zero-field splitting (ZFS) (D ≈ – 8 cm–1, E/D ≈ 1/3 in ES), as well as the relative orientations of the principal axes of the 57Fe magnetic hyperfine (A) and electric field gradient (EFG) tensors relative to the ZFS tensor axes. A spin Hamiltonian analysis of the spectra for the ES complex indicates that the magnetization axis of the integer-spin S = 2 FeII system is nearly parallel to the symmetry axis, z, of the doubly occupied dxy ground orbital deduced from the EFG and A-values, an observation, which cannot be rationalized by DFT assisted crystal-field theory. In contrast, ORCA/CASSCF calculations for the ZFS tensor in combination with DFT calculations for the EFG- and A-tensors describe the experimental data remarkably well.

It was shown previously (J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2014, 136, 10846) that bubbling of O2 into a solution of FeII(BDPP) (H2BDPP = 2,6-bis[[(S)-2-(diphenylhydroxymethyl)-1-pyrrolidinyl]methyl]pyridine) in tetrahydrofuran at −80 °C generates a high-spin (SFe = 5/2) iron(III) superoxo adduct, 1. Mössbauer studies revealed that 1 is an exchange-coupled system, , where SR = 1/2 is the spin of the superoxo radical, of which the spectra were not well enough resolved to determine whether the coupling was ferromagnetic (S = 3 ground state) or antiferromagnetic (S = 2). The glass-forming 2-methyltetrahydrofuran solvent yields highly resolved Mössbauer spectra from which the following data have been extracted: (i) the ground state of 1 has S = 3 (J < 0); (ii) |J| > 15 cm–1; (iii) the zero-field-splitting parameters are D = −1.1 cm–1 and E/D = 0.02; (iv) the major component of the electric-field-gradient tensor is tilted ≈7° relative to the easy axis of magnetization determined by the MS = ±3 and ±2 doublets. The excited-state MS = ±2 doublet yields a narrow parallel-mode electron paramagnetic resonance signal at g = 8.03, which was used to probe the magnetic hyperfine splitting of 17O-enriched O2. A theoretical model that considers spin-dependent electron transfer for the cases where the doubly occupied π* orbital of the superoxo ligand is either “in” or “out” of the plane defined by the bent Fe–OO moiety correctly predicts that 1 has an S = 3 ground state, in contrast to the density functional theory calculations for 1, which give a ground state with both the wrong spin and orbital configuration. This failure has been traced to a basis set superposition error in the interactions between the superoxo moiety and the adjacent five-membered rings of the BDPP ligand and signals a fundamental problem in the quantum chemistry of O2 activation.

An unprecedentedly reactive iron species (2) has been generated by reaction of excess peracetic acid with a mononuclear iron complex [FeII(CF3SO3)2(PyNMe3)] (1) at cryogenic temperatures, and characterized spectroscopically. Compound 2 is kinetically competent for breaking strong C—H bonds of alkanes (BDE ≈ 100 kcal·mol–1) through a hydrogen-atom transfer mechanism, and the transformations proceed with stereoretention and regioselectively, responding to bond strength, as well as to steric and polar effects. Bimolecular reaction rates are at least an order of magnitude faster than those of the most reactive synthetic high-valent nonheme oxoiron species described to date. EPR studies in tandem with kinetic analysis show that the 490 nm chromophore of 2 is associated with two S = 1/2 species in rapid equilibrium. The minor component 2a (∼5% iron) has g-values at 2.20, 2.19, and 1.99 characteristic of a low-spin iron(III) center, and it is assigned as [FeIII(OOAc)(PyNMe3)]2+, also by comparison with the EPR parameters of the structurally characterized hydroxamate analogue [FeIII(tBuCON(H)O)(PyNMe3)]2+ (4). The major component 2b (∼40% iron, g-values = 2.07, 2.01, 1.95) has unusual EPR parameters, and it is proposed to be [FeV(O)(OAc)(PyNMe3)]2+, where the O—O bond in 2a has been broken. Consistent with this assignment, 2b undergoes exchange of its acetate ligand with CD3CO2D and very rapidly reacts with olefins to produce the corresponding cis-1,2-hydroxoacetate product. Therefore, this work constitutes the first example where a synthetic nonheme iron species responsible for stereospecific and site selective C—H hydroxylation is spectroscopically trapped, and its catalytic reactivity against C—H bonds can be directly interrogated by kinetic methods. The accumulated evidence indicates that 2 consists mainly of an extraordinarily reactive [FeV(O)(OAc)(PyNMe3)]2+ (2b) species capable of hydroxylating unactivated alkyl C—H bonds with stereoretention in a rapid and site-selective manner, and that exists in fast equilibrium with its [FeIII(OOAc)(PyNMe3)]2+ precursor.

Streptomyces venezuelae CmlI catalyzes the six-electron oxygenation of the arylamine precursor of chloramphenicol in a nonribosomal peptide synthetase (NRPS)-based pathway to yield the nitroaryl group of the antibiotic. Optical, EPR, and Mössbauer studies show that the enzyme contains a nonheme dinuclear iron cluster. Addition of O2 to the diferrous state of the cluster results in an exceptionally long-lived intermediate (t1/2 = 3 h at 4 °C) that is assigned as a peroxodiferric species (CmlI-peroxo) based upon the observation of an 18O2-sensitive resonance Raman (rR) vibration. CmlI-peroxo is spectroscopically distinct from the well characterized and commonly observed cis-μ-1,2-peroxo (μ-η1:η1) intermediates of nonheme diiron enzymes. Specifically, it exhibits a blue-shifted broad absorption band around 500 nm and a rR spectrum with a ν(O–O) that is at least 60 cm–1 lower in energy. Mössbauer studies of the peroxo state reveal a diferric cluster having iron sites with small quadrupole splittings and distinct isomer shifts (0.54 and 0.62 mm/s). Taken together, the spectroscopic comparisons clearly indicate that CmlI-peroxo does not have a μ-η1:η1-peroxo ligand; we propose that a μ-η1:η2-peroxo ligand accounts for its distinct spectroscopic properties. CmlI-peroxo reacts with a range of arylamine substrates by an apparent second-order process, indicating that CmlI-peroxo is the reactive species of the catalytic cycle. Efficient production of chloramphenicol from the free arylamine precursor suggests that CmlI catalyzes the ultimate step in the biosynthetic pathway and that the precursor is not bound to the NRPS during this step.

High-spin oxoiron(IV) species are often implicated in the mechanisms of nonheme iron oxygenases, their C–H bond cleaving properties being attributed to the quintet spin state. However, the few available synthetic S = 2 FeIV═O complexes supported by polydentate ligands do not cleave strong C–H bonds. Herein we report the characterization of a highly reactive S = 2 complex, [FeIV(O)(TQA)(NCMe)]2+ (2) (TQA = tris(2-quinolylmethyl)amine), which oxidizes both C–H and C═C bonds at −40 °C. The oxidation of cyclohexane by 2 occurs at a rate comparable to that of the oxidation of taurine by the TauD-J enzyme intermediate after adjustment for the different temperatures of measurement. Moreover, compared with other S = 2 complexes characterized to date, the spectroscopic properties of 2 most closely resemble those of TauD-J. Together these features make 2 the best electronic and functional model for TauD-J to date.

The apparent Sc3+ adduct of [FeIV(O)(TMC)]2+ (1, TMC = 1,4,8,11-tetramethyl-1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane) has been synthesized in amounts sufficient to allow its characterization by various spectroscopic techniques. Contrary to the earlier assignment of a +4 oxidation state for the iron center of 1, we establish that 1 has a high-spin iron(III) center based on its Mössbauer and EPR spectra and its quantitative reduction by 1 equiv of ferrocene to [FeII(TMC)]2+. Thus, 1 is best described as a ScIII–O–FeIII complex, in agreement with previous DFT calculations (Swart, M. Chem. Commun. 2013, 49, 6650.). These results shed light on the interaction of Lewis acids with high-valent metal-oxo species.

FeII(TMC)(OTf)2 reacts with 2-tBuSO2–C6H4IO to afford an oxoiron(IV) product, 2, distinct from the previously reported [FeIV(Oanti)(TMC)(NCMe)]2+. In MeCN, 2 has a blue-shifted near-IR band, a higher ν(Fe═O), a larger Mössbauer quadrupole splitting, and quite a distinct 1H NMR spectrum. Structural analysis of crystals grown from CH2Cl2 reveals a complex with the formulation of [FeIV(Osyn)(TMC)(OTf)](OTf) and the shortest FeIV═O bond [1.625(4) Å] found to date.

We report herein the first example of an oxoiron(IV) complex of an ethylene-bridged dialkylcyclam ligand, [FeIV(O)(Me2EBC)(NCMe)]2+ (2; Me2EBC = 4,11-dimethyl-1,4,8,11-tetraazabicyclo[6.6.2]hexadecane). Complex 2 has been characterized by UV–vis, 1H NMR, resonance Raman, Mössbauer, and X-ray absorption spectroscopy as well as electrospray ionization mass spectrometry, and its properties have been compared with those of the closely related [FeIV(O)(TMC)(NCMe)]2+ (3; TMC = 1,4,8,11-tetramethyl-1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane), the intensively studied prototypical oxoiron(IV) complex of the macrocyclic tetramethylcyclam ligand. Me2EBC has an N4 donor set nearly identical with that of TMC but possesses an ethylene bridge in place of the 1- and 8-methyl groups of TMC. As a consequence, Me2EBC is forced to deviate from the trans-I configuration typically found for FeIV(O)(TMC) complexes and instead adopts a folded cis-V stereochemistry that requires the MeCN ligand to coordinate cis to the FeIV═O unit in 2 rather than in the trans arrangement found in 3. However, switching from the trans geometry of 3 to the cis geometry of 2 did not significantly affect their ground-state electronic structures, although a decrease in ν(Fe═O) was observed for 2. Remarkably, despite having comparable FeIV/III reduction potentials, 2 was found to be significantly more reactive than 3 in both oxygen-atom-transfer (OAT) and hydrogen-atom-transfer (HAT) reactions. A careful analysis of density functional theory calculations on the HAT reactivity of 2 and 3 revealed the root cause to be the higher oxyl character of 2, leading to a stronger O---H bond specifically in the quintet transition state.

The extradiol-cleaving dioxygenase homoprotocatechuate 2,3-dioxygenase (HPCD) binds substrate homoprotocatechuate (HPCA) and O2 sequentially in adjacent ligand sites of the active site FeII. Kinetic and spectroscopic studies of HPCD have elucidated catalytic roles of several active site residues, including the crucial acid–base chemistry of His200. In the present study, reaction of the His200Cys (H200C) variant with native substrate HPCA resulted in a decrease in both kcat and the rate constants for the activation steps following O2 binding by >400 fold. The reaction proceeds to form the correct extradiol product. This slow reaction allowed a long-lived (t1/2 = 1.5 min) intermediate, H200C-HPCAInt1 (Int1), to be trapped. Mössbauer and parallel mode electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) studies show that Int1 contains an S1 = 5/2 FeIII center coupled to an SR = 1/2 radical to give a ground state with total spin S = 2 (J > 40 cm–1) in . Density functional theory (DFT) property calculations for structural models suggest that Int1 is a (HPCA semiquinone•)FeIII(OOH) complex, in which OOH is protonated at the distal O and the substrate hydroxyls are deprotonated. By combining Mössbauer and EPR data of Int1 with DFT calculations, the orientations of the principal axes of the 57Fe electric field gradient and the zero-field splitting tensors (D = 1.6 cm–1, E/D = 0.05) were determined. This information was used to predict hyperfine splittings from bound 17OOH. DFT reactivity analysis suggests that Int1 can evolve from a ferromagnetically coupled FeIII-superoxo precursor by an inner-sphere proton-coupled-electron-transfer process. Our spectroscopic and DFT results suggest that a ferric hydroperoxo species is capable of extradiol catalysis.

O2 bubbling into a THF solution of FeII(BDPP) (1) at −80 °C generates a reversible bright yellow adduct 2. Characterization by resonance Raman and Mössbauer spectroscopy provides complementary insights into the nature of 2. The former shows a resonance-enhanced vibration at 1125 cm–1, which can be assigned to the ν(O–O) of a bound superoxide, while the latter reveals the presence of a high-spin iron(III) center that is exchange-coupled to the superoxo ligand, like the FeIII–O2– pair found for the O2 adduct of 4-nitrocatechol-bound homoprotocatechuate 2,3-dioxygenase. Lastly, 2 oxidizes dihydroanthracene to anthracene, supporting the notion that FeIII–O2– species can carry out H atom abstraction from a C–H bond to initiate the 4-electron oxidation of substrates proposed for some nonheme iron enzymes.

Much progress has been made in designing heme and dinuclear nonheme iron enzymes. In contrast, engineering mononuclear nonheme iron enzymes is lagging, even though these enzymes belong to a large class that catalyzes quite diverse reactions. Herein we report spectroscopic and X-ray crystallographic studies of Fe(II)-M121E azurin (Az), by replacing the axial Met121 and Cu(II) in wild-type azurin (wtAz) with Glu and Fe(II), respectively. In contrast to the redox inactive Fe(II)-wtAz, the Fe(II)-M121EAz mutant can be readily oxidized by Na2IrCl6, and interestingly, the protein exhibits superoxide scavenging activity. Mössbauer and EPR spectroscopies, along with X-ray structural comparisons, revealed similarities and differences between Fe(II)-M121EAz, Fe(II)-wtAz, and superoxide reductase (SOR) and allowed design of the second generation mutant, Fe(II)-M121EM44KAz, that exhibits increased superoxide scavenging activity by 2 orders of magnitude. This finding demonstrates the importance of noncovalent secondary coordination sphere interactions in fine-tuning enzymatic activity.

Treatment of [FeII(L)](OTf)2 (4), (where L = 1,4,8-Me3cyclam-11-CH2C(O)NMe2) with iodosylbenzene yielded the corresponding S = 1 oxoiron(IV) complex [FeIV(O)(L)](OTf)2 (5) in nearly quantitative yield. The remarkably high stability of 5 (t1/2 ≈ 5 days at 25 °C) facilitated its characterization by X-ray crystallography and a raft of spectroscopic techniques. Treatment of 5 with strong base was found to generate a distinct, significantly less stable S = 1 oxoiron(IV) complex, 6 (t1/2 ∼ 1.5 h at 0 °C), which could be converted back to 5 by addition of a strong acid; these observations indicate that 5 and 6 represent a conjugate acid–base pair. That 6 can be formulated as [FeIV(O)(L–H)](OTf) was further supported by ESI mass spectrometry, spectroscopic and electrochemical studies, and DFT calculations. The close structural similarity of 5 and 6 provided a unique opportunity to probe the influence of the donor trans to the FeIVO unit upon its reactivity in H-atom transfer (HAT) and O-atom transfer (OAT), and 5 was found to display greater reactivity than 6 in both OAT and HAT. While the greater OAT reactivity of 5 is expected on the basis of its higher redox potential, its higher HAT reactivity does not follow the anti-electrophilic trend reported for a series of [FeIV(O)(TMC)(X)] complexes (TMC = tetramethylcyclam) and thus appears to be inconsistent with the two-state reactivity rationale that is the prevailing explanation for the relative facility of oxoiron(IV) complexes to undergo HAT.

We report that redox-inactive Sc3+ can trigger O2 activation by the FeII(TMC) center (TMC = tetramethylcyclam) to generate the corresponding oxoiron(IV) complex in the presence of BPh4– as an electron donor. To model a possible intermediate in the above reaction, we generated an unprecedented Sc3+ adduct of [FeIII(η2-O2)(TMC)]+ by an alternative route, which was found to have an Fe3+–(μ-η2:η2-peroxo)–Sc3+ core and to convert to the oxoiron(IV) complex. These results have important implications for the role a Lewis acid can play in facilitating O–O bond cleavage during the course of O2 activation at non-heme iron centers.

Previous efforts to model the diiron(IV) intermediate Q of soluble methane monooxygenase have led to the synthesis of a diiron(IV) TPA complex, 2, with an O=FeIV–O–FeIV–OH core that has two ferromagnetically coupled Sloc = 1 sites. Addition of base to 2 at −85 °C elicits its conjugate base 6 with a novel O═FeIV–O–FeIV═O core. In frozen solution, 6 exists in two forms, 6a and 6b, that we have characterized extensively using Mössbauer and parallel mode EPR spectroscopy. The conversion between 2 and 6 is quantitative, but the relative proportions of 6a and 6b are solvent dependent. 6a has two equivalent high-spin (Sloc = 2) sites, which are antiferromagnetically coupled; its quadrupole splitting (0.52 mm/s) and isomer shift (0.14 mm/s) match those of intermediate Q. DFT calculations suggest that 6a assumes an anti conformation with a dihedral O═Fe–Fe═O angle of 180°. Mössbauer and EPR analyses show that 6b is a diiron(IV) complex with ferromagnetically coupled Sloc = 1 and Sloc = 2 sites to give total spin St = 3. Analysis of the zero-field splittings and magnetic hyperfine tensors suggests that the dihedral O═Fe–Fe═O angle of 6b is ∼90°. DFT calculations indicate that this angle is enforced by hydrogen bonding to both terminal oxo groups from a shared water molecule. The water molecule preorganizes 6b, facilitating protonation of one oxo group to regenerate 2, a protonation step difficult to achieve for mononuclear FeIV═O complexes. Complex 6 represents an intriguing addition to the handful of diiron(IV) complexes that have been characterized.

During a single turnover of the hydroxylase component (MMOH) of soluble methane monooxygenase from Methylosinus trichosporium OB3b, several discrete intermediates are formed. The diiron cluster of MMOH is first reduced to the FeIIFeII state (Hred). O2 binds rapidly at a site away from the cluster to form the FeIIFeII intermediate O, which converts to an FeIIIFeIII-peroxo intermediate P and finally to the FeIVFeIV intermediate Q. Q binds and reacts with methane to yield methanol and water. The rate constants for these steps are increased by a regulatory protein, MMOB. Previously reported transient kinetic studies have suggested that an intermediate P* forms between O and P in which the g = 16 EPR signal characteristic of the reduced diiron cluster of Hred and O is lost. This was interpreted as signaling oxidation of the cluster, but a low level of accumulation of P* prevented further characterization. In this study, three methods for directly detecting and trapping P* are applied together to allow its spectroscopic and kinetic characterization. First, the MMOB mutant His33Ala is used to specifically slow the decay of P* without affecting its formation rate, leading to its nearly quantitative accumulation. Second, spectra-kinetic data collection is used to provide a sensitive measure of the formation and decay rate constants of intermediates as well as their optical spectra. Finally, the substrate furan is included to react with Q and quench its strong chromophore. The optical spectrum of P* closely mimics those of Hred and O, but it is distinctly different from that of P. The reaction cycle rate constants allowed prediction of the times for maximal accumulation of the intermediates. Mössbauer spectra of rapid freeze-quench samples at these times show that the intermediates are formed at almost exactly the predicted levels. The Mössbauer spectra show that the diiron cluster of P*, quite unexpectedly, is in the FeIIFeII state. Thus, the loss of the g = 16 EPR signal results from a change in the electronic structure of the FeIIFeII center rather than oxidation. The similarity of the optical and Mössbauer spectra of Hred, O, and P* suggests that only subtle changes occur in the electronic and physical structure of the diiron cluster as P* forms. Nevertheless, the changes that do occur are necessary for O2 to be activated for hydrocarbon oxidation.

To obtain structural and spectroscopic models for the diiron(II,III) centers in the active sites of diiron enzymes, the (μ-alkoxo)(μ-carboxylato)diiron(II,III) complexes [FeIIFeIII(N-Et-HPTB)(O2CPh)(NCCH3)2](ClO4)3 (1) and [FeIIFeIII(N-Et-HPTB)(O2CPh)(Cl)(HOCH3)](ClO4)2 (2) (N-Et-HPTB = N,N,N′,N′-tetrakis(2-(1-ethyl-benzimidazolylmethyl))-2-hydroxy-1,3-diaminopropane) have been prepared and characterized by X-ray crystallography, UV–visible absorption, EPR, and Mössbauer spectroscopies. Fe1–Fe2 separations are 3.60 and 3.63 Å, and Fe1–O1–Fe2 bond angles are 128.0° and 129.4° for 1 and 2, respectively. Mössbauer and EPR studies of 1 show that the FeIII (SA = 5/2) and FeII (SB = 2) sites are antiferromagnetically coupled to yield a ground state with S = 1/2 (g= 1.75, 1.88, 1.96); Mössbauer analysis of solid 1 yields J = 22.5 ± 2 cm–1 for the exchange coupling constant ( = JSA·SB convention). In addition to the S = 1/2 ground-state spectrum of 1, the EPR signal for the S = 3/2 excited state of the spin ladder can also be observed, the first time such a signal has been detected for an antiferromagnetically coupled diiron(II,III) complex. The anisotropy of the 57Fe magnetic hyperfine interactions at the FeIII site is larger than normally observed in mononuclear complexes and arises from admixing S > 1/2 excited states into the S = 1/2 ground state by zero-field splittings at the two Fe sites. Analysis of the “D/J” mixing has allowed us to extract the zero-field splitting parameters, local g values, and magnetic hyperfine structural parameters for the individual Fe sites. The methodology developed and followed in this analysis is presented in detail. The spin Hamiltonian parameters of 1 are related to the molecular structure with the help of DFT calculations. Contrary to what was assumed in previous studies, our analysis demonstrates that the deviations of the g values from the free electron value (g = 2) for the antiferromagnetically coupled diiron(II,III) core in complex 1 are predominantly determined by the anisotropy of the effective g values of the ferrous ion and only to a lesser extent by the admixture of excited states into ground-state ZFS terms (D/J mixing). The results for 1 are discussed in the context of the data available for diiron(II,III) clusters in proteins and synthetic diiron(II,III) complexes.

Oxygenation of a diiron(II) complex, [FeII2(μ-OH)2(BnBQA)2(NCMe)2]2+ [2, where BnBQA is N-benzyl-N,N-bis(2-quinolinylmethyl)amine], results in the formation of a metastable peroxodiferric intermediate, 3. The treatment of 3 with strong acid affords its conjugate acid, 4, in which the (μ-oxo)(μ-1,2-peroxo)diiron(III) core of 3 is protonated at the oxo bridge. The core structures of 3 and 4 are characterized in detail by UV–vis, Mössbauer, resonance Raman, and X-ray absorption spectroscopies. Complex 4 is shorter-lived than 3 and decays to generate in ∼20% yield of a diiron(III/IV) species 5, which can be identified by electron paramagnetic resonance and Mössbauer spectroscopies. This reaction sequence demonstrates for the first time that protonation of the oxo bridge of a (μ-oxo)(μ-1,2-peroxo)diiron(III) complex leads to cleavage of the peroxo O–O bond and formation of a high-valent diiron complex, thereby mimicking the steps involved in the formation of intermediate X in the activation cycle of ribonucleotide reductase.

Homoprotocatechuate (HPCA; 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetate or 4-carboxymethyl catechol) and O2 bind in adjacent ligand sites of the active site FeII of homoprotocatechuate 2,3-dioxygenase (FeHPCD). We have proposed that electron transfer from the chelated aromatic substrate through the FeII to O2 gives both substrates radical character. This would promote reaction between the substrates to form an alkylperoxo intermediate as the first step in aromatic ring cleavage. Several active site amino acids are thought to promote these reactions through acid/base chemistry, hydrogen bonding, and electrostatic interactions. Here the role of Tyr257 is explored by using the Tyr257Phe (Y257F) variant, which decreases kcat by about 75%. The crystal structure of the FeHPCD-HPCA complex has shown that Tyr257 hydrogen bonds to the deprotonated C2-hydroxyl of HPCA. Stopped-flow studies show that at least two reaction intermediates, termed Y257FInt1HPCA and Y257FInt2HPCA, accumulate during the Y257F-HPCA + O2 reaction prior to formation of the ring-cleaved product. Y257FInt1HPCA is colorless and is formed as O2 binds reversibly to the HPCA–enzyme complex. Y257FInt2HPCA forms spontaneously from Y257FInt1HPCA and displays a chromophore at 425 nm (ε425 = 10 500 M–1 cm–1). Mössbauer spectra of the intermediates trapped by rapid freeze quench show that both intermediates contain FeII. The lack of a chromophore characteristic of a quinone or semiquinone form of HPCA, the presence of FeII, and the low O2 affinity suggest that Y257FInt1HPCA is an HPCA-FeII-O2 complex with little electron delocalization onto the O2. In contrast, the intense spectrum of Y257FInt2HPCA suggests the intermediate is most likely an HPCA quinone-FeII-(hydro)peroxo species. Steady-state and transient kinetic analyses show that steps of the catalytic cycle are slowed by as much as 100-fold by the mutation. These effects can be rationalized by a failure of Y257F to facilitate the observed distortion of the bound HPCA that is proposed to promote transfer of one electron to O2.

Oxoiron(V) species are postulated to be involved in the mechanisms of the arene cis-dihydroxylating Rieske dioxygenases and of bioinspired nonheme iron catalysts for alkane hydroxylation, olefin cis-dihydroxylation, and water oxidation. In an effort to obtain a synthetic oxoiron(V) complex, we report herein the one-electron oxidation of the S = 1 complex [FeIV(O)(TMC)(NCCH3)]2+ (1, where TMC is tetramethylcyclam) by treatment with tert -butyl hydroperoxide and strong base in acetonitrile to generate a metastable complex 2 at -44 °C, which has been characterized by UV-visible, resonance Raman, Mössbauer, and EPR methods. The defining spectroscopic characteristic of 2 is the unusual x/y anisotropy observed for the 57Fe and 17O A tensors associated with the high-valent Fe═O unit and for the 14N A tensor of a ligand derived from acetonitrile. As shown by detailed density functional theory (DFT) calculations, the unusual x/y anisotropy observed can only arise from an iron center with substantially different spin populations in the dxz and dyz orbitals, which cannot correspond to an FeIV═O unit but is fully consistent with an FeV center, like that found for [FeV(O)(TAML)]- (where TAML is tetraamido macrocyclic ligand), the only well-characterized oxoiron(V) complex reported. Mass spectral analysis shows that the generation of 2 entails the addition of an oxygen atom to 1 and the loss of one positive charge. Taken together, the spectroscopic data and DFT calculations support the formulation of 2 as an iron(V) complex having axial oxo and acetylimido ligands, namely [FeV(O)(TMC)(NC(O)CH3)]+.

We have generated a high-spin FeIII–OOH complex supported by tetramethylcyclam via protonation of its conjugate base and characterized it in detail using various spectroscopic methods. This FeIII–OOH species can be converted quantitatively to an FeIV═O complex via O–O bond cleavage; this is the first example of such a conversion. This conversion is promoted by two factors: the strong FeIII–OOH bond, which inhibits Fe–O bond lysis, and the addition of protons, which facilitates O–O bond cleavage. This example provides a synthetic precedent for how O–O bond cleavage of high-spin FeIII–peroxo intermediates of non-heme iron enzymes may be promoted.

The trigonal-bipyramidal high-spin (S = 2) oxoiron(IV) complex [FeIV(O)(TMG2dien)(CH3CN)]2+ (7) was synthesized and spectroscopically characterized. Substitution of the CH3CN ligand by anions, demonstrated here for X = N3– and Cl–, yielded additional S = 2 oxoiron(IV) complexes of general formulation [FeIV(O)(TMG2dien)(X)]+ (7-X). The reduced steric bulk of 7 relative to the published S = 2 complex [FeIV(O)(TMG3tren)]2+ (2) was reflected by enhanced rates of intermolecular substrate oxidation.

Currently, there are only a handful of synthetic S = 2 oxoiron(IV) complexes. These serve as models for the high-spin (S = 2) oxoiron(IV) species that have been postulated, and confirmed in several cases, as key intermediates in the catalytic cycles of a variety of nonheme oxygen activating enzymes. The trigonal bipyramidal complex [FeIV(O)(TMG3tren)]2+ (1) was both the first S = 2 oxoiron(IV) model complex to be generated in high yield and the first to be crystallographically characterized. In this study, we demonstrate that the TMG3tren ligand is also capable of supporting a tricationic cyanoiron(IV) unit, [FeIV(CN)(TMG3tren)]3+ (4). This complex was generated by electrolytic oxidation of the high-spin (S = 2) iron(II) complex [FeII(CN)(TMG3tren)]+ (2), via the S = 5/2 complex [FeIII(CN)(TMG3tren)]2+ (3), the progress of which was conveniently monitored by using UV−vis spectroscopy to follow the growth of bathochromically shifting ligand-to-metal charge transfer (LMCT) bands. A combination of X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS), Mössbauer and NMR spectroscopies was used to establish that 4 has a S = 0 iron(IV) center. Consistent with its diamagnetic iron(IV) ground state, extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) analysis of 4 indicated a significant contraction of the iron-donor atom bond lengths, relative to those of the crystallographically characterized complexes 2 and 3. Notably, 4 has an FeIV/III reduction potential of ∼1.4 V vs Fc+/o, the highest value yet observed for a monoiron complex. The relatively high stability of 4 (t1/2 in CD3CN solution containing 0.1 M KPF6 at 25 °C ≈ 15 min), as reflected by its high-yield accumulation via slow bulk electrolysis and amenability to 13C NMR at −40 °C, highlights the ability of the sterically protecting, highly basic peralkylguanidyl donors of the TMG3tren ligand to support highly charged high-valent complexes.

The all-ferrous, carbene-capped Fe4S4 cluster, synthesized by Deng and Holm (DH complex), has been studied with density functional theory (DFT). The geometry of the complex was optimized for several electronic configurations. The lowest energy was obtained for the broken-symmetry (BS) configuration derived from the ferromagnetic state by reversing the spin projection of one of the high spin (Si = 2) irons. The optimized geometry of the latter configuration contains one unique and three equivalent iron sites, which are both structurally and electronically clearly distinguishable. For example, a distinctive feature of the unique iron site is the diagonal Fe···S distance, which is 0.3 Å longer than for the equivalent irons. The calculated 57Fe hyperfine parameters show the same 1:3 pattern as observed in the Mössbauer spectra and are in good agreement with experiment. BS analysis of the exchange interactions in the optimized geometry for the 1:3, MS = 4, BS configuration confirms the prediction of an earlier study that the unique site is coupled to the three equivalent ones by strong antiferromagnetic exchange (J > 0 in J ∑j<4Ŝ4·Ŝj) and that the latter are mutually coupled by ferromagnetic exchange (J′ < 0 in J′ ∑i<j<4Ŝi·Ŝj). In combination, these exchange couplings stabilize an S = 4 ground state in which the composite spin of the three equivalent sites (S123 = 6) is antiparallel to the spin (S4 = 2) of the unique site. Thus, DFT analysis supports the idea that the unprecedented high value of the spin of the DH complex and, by analogy, of the all-ferrous cluster of the Fe-protein of nitrogenase, results from a remarkably strong dependence of the exchange interactions on cluster core geometry. The structure dependence of the exchange-coupling constants in the FeII-(μ3-S)2-FeII moieties of the all-ferrous clusters is compared with the magneto-structural correlations observed in the data for dinuclear copper complexes. Finally, we discuss two all-ferric clusters in the light of the results for the all-ferrous cluster.

Substrates homoprotocatechuate (HPCA) and O2 bind to the FeII of homoprotocatechuate 2,3-dioxygenase (FeHPCD) in adjacent coordination sites. Transfer of an electron(s) from HPCA to O2 via the iron is proposed to activate the substrates for reaction with each other to initiate aromatic ring cleavage. Here, rapid-freeze-quench methods are used to trap and spectroscopically characterize intermediates in the reactions of the HPCA complexes of FeHPCD and the variant His200Asn (FeHPCD–HPCA and H200N–HPCA, respectively) with O2. A blue intermediate forms within 20 ms of mixing of O2 with H200N–HPCA (H200NInt1HPCA). Parallel mode electron paramagnetic resonance and Mössbauer spectroscopies show that this intermediate contains high-spin FeIII (S = 5/2) antiferromagnetically coupled to a radical (SR = 1/2) to yield an S = 2 state. Together, optical and Mössbauer spectra of the intermediate support assignment of the radical as an HPCA semiquinone, implying that oxygen is bound as a (hydro)peroxo ligand. H200NInt1HPCA decays over the next 2 s, possibly through an FeII intermediate (H200NInt2HPCA), to yield the product and the resting FeII enzyme. Reaction of FeHPCD–HPCA with O2 results in rapid formation of a colorless FeII intermediate (FeHPCDInt1HPCA). This species decays within 1 s to yield the product and the resting enzyme. The absence of a chromophore from a semiquinone or evidence of a spin-coupled species in FeHPCDInt1HPCA suggests it is an intermediate occurring after O2 activation and attack. The similar Mössbauer parameters for FeHPCDInt1HPCA and H200NInt2HPCA suggest these are similar intermediates. The results show that transfer of an electron from the substrate to the O2 via the iron does occur, leading to aromatic ring cleavage.

In the absence of base, the reaction of [FeII(TMCS)]PF6 (1, TMCS = 1-(2-mercaptoethyl)-4,8,11-trimethyl-1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane) with peracid in methanol at −20 °C did not yield the oxoiron(IV) complex (2, [FeIV(O)(TMCS)]PF6), as previously observed in the presence of strong base (KOtBu). Instead, the addition of 1 equiv of peracid resulted in 50% consumption of 1. The addition of a second equivalent of peracid resulted in the complete consumption of 1 and the formation of a new species 3, as monitored by UV−vis, ESI-MS, and Mössbauer spectroscopies. ESI-MS showed 3 to be formulated as [FeII(TMCS) + 2O]+, while EXAFS analysis suggested that 3 was an O-bound iron(II)−sulfinate complex (Fe−O = 1.95 Å, Fe−S = 3.26 Å). The addition of a third equivalent of peracid resulted in the formation of yet another compound, 4, which showed electronic absorption properties typical of an oxoiron(IV) species. Mössbauer spectroscopy confirmed 4 to be a novel iron(IV) compound, different from 2, and EXAFS (Fe═O = 1.64 Å) and resonance Raman (νFe═O = 831 cm−1) showed that indeed an oxoiron(IV) unit had been generated in 4. Furthermore, both infrared and Raman spectroscopy gave indications that 4 contains a metal-bound sulfinate moiety (νs(SO2) ≈ 1000 cm −1, νas(SO2) ≈ 1150 cm −1). Investigations into the reactivity of 1 and 2 toward H+ and oxygen atom transfer reagents have led to a mechanism for sulfur oxidation in which 2 could form even in the absence of base but is rapidly protonated to yield an oxoiron(IV) species with an uncoordinated thiol moiety that acts as both oxidant and substrate in the conversion of 2 to 3.

[FeIV(O)(TMG3tren)]2+ (1; TMG3tren = 1,1,1-tris{2-[N2-(1,1,3,3-tetramethylguanidino)]ethyl}amine) is a unique example of an isolable synthetic S = 2 oxoiron(IV) complex, which serves as a model for the high-valent oxoiron(IV) intermediates observed in nonheme iron enzymes. Congruent with DFT calculations predicting a more reactive S = 2 oxoiron(IV) center, 1 has a lifetime significantly shorter than those of related S = 1 oxoiron(IV) complexes. The self-decay of 1 exhibits strictly first-order kinetic behavior and is unaffected by solvent deuteration, suggesting an intramolecular process. This hypothesis was supported by ESI-MS analysis of the iron products and a significant retardation of self-decay upon use of a perdeuteromethyl TMG3tren isotopomer, d36-1 (KIE = 24 at 25 °C). The greatly enhanced thermal stability of d36-1 allowed growth of diffraction quality crystals for which a high-resolution crystal structure was obtained. This structure showed an Fe═O unit (r = 1.661(2) Å) in the intended trigonal bipyramidal geometry enforced by the sterically bulky tetramethylguanidinyl donors of the tetradentate tripodal TMG3tren ligand. The close proximity of the methyl substituents to the oxoiron unit yielded three symmetrically oriented short C−D···O nonbonded contacts (2.38−2.49 Å), an arrangement that facilitated self-decay by rate-determining intramolecular hydrogen atom abstraction and subsequent formation of a ligand-hydroxylated iron(III) product. EPR and Mössbauer quantification of the various iron products, referenced against those obtained from reaction of 1 with 1,4-cyclohexadiene, allowed formulation of a detailed mechanism for the self-decay process. The solution of this first crystal structure of a high-spin (S = 2) oxoiron(IV) center represents a fundamental step on the path toward a full understanding of these pivotal biological intermediates.

Previously we have characterized two high-valent complexes [LFeIV(μ-O)2FeIIIL], 1, and [LFeIV(O)(μ-O)(OH) FeIVL], 4. Addition of hydroxide or fluoride to 1 produces two new complexes, 1-OH and 1-F. Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) and Mössbauer studies show that both complexes have an S = 1/2 ground state which results from antiferromagnetic coupling of the spins of a high-spin (Sa = 5/2) FeIII and a high-spin (Sb = 2) FeIV site. 1-OH can also be obtained by a 1-electron reduction of 4, which has been shown to have an FeIV═O site. Radiolytic reduction of 4 at 77 K yields a Mössbauer spectrum identical to that observed for 1-OH, showing that the latter contains an FeIV═O. Interestingly, the FeIV═O moiety has Sb = 1 in 4 and Sb = 2 in 1-OH and 1-F. From the temperature dependence of the S = 1/2 signal we have determined the exchange coupling constant J (ℋ = JŜa·Ŝb convention) to be 90 ± 20 cm−1 for both 1-OH and 1-F. Broken-symmetry density functional theory (DFT) calculations yield J = 135 cm−1 for 1-OH and J = 104 cm−1 for 1-F, in good agreement with the experiments. DFT analysis shows that the Sb = 1 → Sb = 2 transition of the FeIV═O site upon reduction of the FeIV−OH site to high-spin FeIII is driven primarily by the strong antiferromagnetic exchange in the (Sa = 5/2, Sb = 2) couple.

The synthesis and crystallographic characterization of a new family of M(μ-CN)Ln complexes are reported. Two structural series have been prepared by reacting in water rare earth nitrates (LnIII = La, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Dy, Ho) with K3[M(CN)6] (MIII = Fe, Co) in the presence of hexamethylenetetramine (hmt). The first series consists of six isomorphous heterobinuclear complexes, [(CN)5M-CN-Ln(H2O)8]·2hmt ([FeLa] 1, [FePr] 2, [FeNd] 3, [FeSm] 4, [FeEu] 5, [FeGd] 6), while the second series consists of four isostructural ionic complexes, [M(CN)6][Ln(H2O)8]·hmt ([FeDy] 7, [FeHo] 8, [CoEu] 9, [CoGd] 10). The hexamethylenetetramine molecules contribute to the stabilization of the crystals by participating in an extended network of hydrogen bond interactions. In both series the aqua ligands are hydrogen bonded to the nitrogen atoms from both the terminal CN− groups and the hmt molecules. The [FeGd] complex has been analyzed with 57Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy and magnetic susceptibility measurements. We have also analyzed the [FeLa] complex, in which the paramagnetic GdIII is replaced by diamagnetic LaIII, with 57Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy, electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR), and magnetic susceptibility measurements, to obtain information about the low-spin FeIII site that is not accessible in the presence of a paramagnetic ion at the complementary site. For the same reason, the [CoGd] complex, containing diamagnetic CoIII, was studied with EPR and magnetic susceptibility measurements, which confirmed the S = 7/2 spin of GdIII. Prior knowledge about the paramagnetic sites in [FeGd] allows a detailed analysis of the exchange interactions between them. In particular, the question of whether the exchange interaction in [FeGd] is isotropic or anisotropic has been addressed. Standard variable-temperature magnetic susceptibility measurements provide only the value for a linear combination of Jx, Jy, and Jz but contain no information about the values of the individual exchange parameters Jx, Jy, and Jz. In contrast, the spin-Hamiltonian analysis of the variable-field, variable-temperature Mössbauer spectra reveals an exquisite sensitivity on the anisotropic exchange parameters. Analysis of these dependencies in conjunction with adopting the g-values obtained for [FeLa], yielded the values Jx = +0.11 cm−1, Jy = +0.33 cm−1, and Jz = +1.20 cm−1 (Ŝ1·J·Ŝ2 convention). The consistency of these results with magnetic susceptibility data is analyzed. The exchange anisotropy is rooted in the spatial anisotropy of the low-spin FeIII ion. The condition for anisotropic exchange is the presence of low-lying orbital excited states at the ferric site that (i) effectively interact through spin−orbit coupling with the orbital ground state and (ii) have an exchange parameter with the Gd site with a value different from that for the ground state. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations, without spin−orbit coupling, reveal that the unpaired electron of the t2g5 ground configuration of the FeIII ion occupies the xy orbital, that is, the orbital along the plane perpendicular to the Fe···Gd vector. The exchange-coupling constants for this orbital, jxy, and for the other t2g orbitals, jyz and jxz, have been determined using a theoretical model that relates them to the anisotropic exchange parameters and the g-values of FeIII. The resulting values, jyz = −5.7 cm−1, jxz = −4.9 cm−1, and jxy = +0.3 cm−1 are quite different. The origin of the difference is briefly discussed.

It is well established that the cysteinate-coordinated [Fe4S4] cluster of the iron protein of nitrogenase from Azotobacter vinelandii (Av2) can attain the all-ferrous core oxidation state. Mössbauer and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) studies have shown that the all-ferrous cluster has a ground-state spin S = 4 and an effective 3:1 site symmetry in the spin structure and 57Fe quadrupole interactions. Recently, Deng and Holm reported the synthesis of [Fe4S4(Pri2NHCMe2)4],2 (1; Pri2NHCMe2 = 1,3-diisopropyl-4,5-dimethylimidazol-2-ylidene) and showed that the all-ferrous carbene-coordinated cluster is amenable to physicochemical studies. Mössbauer and EPR studies of 1, reported here, reveal that the electronic structure of this complex is strikingly similar to that of the protein-bound cluster, suggesting that the ground-state spin and the 3:1 site ratio are consequences of spontaneous distortions of the cluster core. To gain insight into the origin of the peculiar ground state of the all-ferrous clusters in 1 and Av2, we have studied a theoretical model that is based on a Heisenberg−Dirac−van Vleck Hamiltonian whose exchange-coupling constants are a function of the Fe−Fe distances. By combining the exchange energies with the elastic deformation energies in the harmonic approximation, we obtain for a T2 distortion a minimum with spin S = 4 and a C3v core structure in which one iron is unique and three irons are equivalent. This minimum has all of the spectroscopic and structural characteristics of the all-ferrous clusters of 1 and Av2. Our analysis maps the unique spectroscopic iron site to a specific site in the X-ray structure of the [Fe4S4]0 core both in complex 1 and in Av2.

Two [FeII2(N-EtHPTB)(μ-O2X)]2+ complexes, where N-EtHPTB is the anion of N,N,N′N′-tetrakis(2-benzimidazolylmethyl)-2-hydroxy-1,3-diaminopropane and O2X is O2PPh2 (1·O2PPh2) or O2AsMe2 (1·O2AsMe2), have been synthesized. Their crystal structures both show interiron distances of 3.54 Å that arise from a (μ-alkoxo)diiron(II) core supported by an O2X bridge. These diiron(II) complexes react with O2 at low temperatures in MeCN (−40 °C) and CH2Cl2 (−60 °C) to form long-lived O2 adducts that are best described as (μ-η1:η1-peroxo)diiron(III) species (2·O2X) with νO−O ∼ 850 cm−1. Upon warming to −30 °C, 2·O2PPh2 converts irreversibly to a second (μ-η1:η1-peroxo)diiron(III) intermediate (3·O2PPh2) with νO−O ∼ 900 cm−1, a value which matches that reported for [Fe2(N-EtHPTB)(O2)(O2CPh)]2+ (3·O2CPh) (Dong et al. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1993, 115, 1851−1859). Mössbauer spectra of 2·O2PPh2 and 3·O2PPh2 indicate that the iron centers within each species are antiferromagnetically coupled with J ∼ 60 cm−1, while extended X-ray absorption fine structure analysis reveals interiron distances of 3.25 and 3.47 Å for 2·O2PPh2 and 3·O2PPh2, respectively. A similarly short interiron distance (3.27 Å) is found for 2·O2AsMe2. The shorter interiron distance associated with 2·O2PPh2 and 2·O2AsMe2 is proposed to derive from a triply bridged diiron(III) species with alkoxo (from N-EtHPTB), 1,2-peroxo, and 1,3-O2X bridges, while the longer distance associated with 3·O2PPh2 results from the shift of the O2PPh2 bridge to a terminal position on one iron. The differences in νO−O are also consistent with the different interiron distances. It is suggested that the O···O bite distance of the O2X moiety affects the thermal stability of 2·O2X, with the O2X having the largest bite distance (O2AsMe2) favoring the 2·O2X adduct and the O2X having the smallest bite distance (O2CPh) favoring the 3·O2X adduct. Interestingly, neither 3·O2AsMe2 nor the benzoate analog of 2·O2X (2·O2Bz) are observed.

Recently, we reported the characterization of the S = 1/2 complex [FeV(O)B*]−, where B* belongs to a family of tetraamido macrocyclic ligands (TAMLs) whose iron complexes activate peroxides for environmentally useful applications. The corresponding one-electron reduced species, [FeIV(O)B*]2− (2), has now been prepared in >95% yield in aqueous solution at pH > 12 by oxidation of [FeIII(H2O)B*]− (1), with tert-butyl hydroperoxide. At room temperature, the monomeric species 2 is in a reversible, pH-dependent equilibrium with dimeric species [B*FeIV−O−FeIVB*]2− (3), with a pKa near 10. In zero field, the Mössbauer spectrum of 2 exhibits a quadrupole doublet with ΔEQ = 3.95(3) mm/s and δ = −0.19(2) mm/s, parameters consistent with a S = 1 FeIV state. Studies in applied magnetic fields yielded the zero-field splitting parameter D = 24(3) cm−1 together with the magnetic hyperfine tensor A/gnβn = (−27, −27, +2) T. Fe K-edge EXAFS analysis of 2 shows a scatterer at 1.69 (2) Å, a distance consistent with a FeIV═O bond. DFT calculations for [FeIV(O)B*]2− reproduce the experimental data quite well. Further significant improvement was achieved by introducing hydrogen bonding of the axial oxygen with two solvent–water molecules. It is shown, using DFT, that the 57Fe hyperfine parameters of complex 2 give evidence for strong electron donation from B* to iron.

The iron(II) complex LFeCl2Li(THF)2 (L = β-diketiminate), 1, has been studied with variable-temperature, variable-field Mössbauer spectroscopy and parallel mode electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy in both solution and the solid state. In zero applied field the 4.2 K Mössbauer spectrum exhibits an isomer shift δ = 0.90 mm/s and quadrupole splitting ΔEQ = 2.4 mm/s, values that are typical for the high-spin (S = 2) state anticipated for the iron in 1. Spectra recorded in applied magnetic fields yield an anisotropic magnetic hyperfine tensor with Ax = +2.3 (+1.0) T, Ay = Az = −21.5 T (solution) and a nearly axial zero-field splitting of the spin quintet with D = Dx ≈ −14 cm−1 and rhombicity E/D ≈ 0.1. The small, positive value for Ax results from the presence of residual orbital angular momentum along x. The EPR analysis gives gx ≈ 2.4 (and gy ≈ gz ≈ 2.0) and reveals a split “MS = ± 2” ground doublet with a gap distributed around Δ = 0.42 cm−1. The Mössbauer spectra of 1 show unusual features that arise from the presence of orientation-dependent relaxation and a distribution in the magnetic hyperfine field along x. The origin of the distribution has been analyzed using crystal field theory. The analysis indicates that the distribution in the magnetic hyperfine field originates from a narrow distribution, σϕ ≈ 0.5°, in torsion angle ϕ between the FeN2 and FeCl2 planes, arising from minute inhomogeneities in the molecular environments.

Recently, the synthesis, crystallographic structure, and Mössbauer characterization of the first example of an [(FeIVTAML)2O]2− (TAML = tetra-amido microcyclic ligand) complex were reported. Here, we elucidate the prominent structural, electronic, and magnetic properties of this complex on the basis of density functional theory (DFT) calculations. While the torsion between the molecular halves is caused by hydrogen bonding between the TAML moieties, the bending of the Fe−O−Fe unit is an intrinsic property of the bridge. The values for the 57Fe isomer shift and quadrupole splitting obtained with DFT are in good agreement with experimental results and indicate that the irons have intermediate spin states (S1 = S2 = 1). The iron spins are coupled by strong antiferromagnetic exchange to yield a ground state with system spin S = 0. The Fe−O distances in the excited S > 0 states are significantly longer than in the ground state. Since the wave function of the ground state, in which the iron spins are antiferromagnetically coupled to give system spin S = 0, is a linear combination of Slater determinants that cannot be treated with existing DFT codes, the Fe−O distance for the S = 0 state has been estimated by extrapolation from the optimized geometries for the ferromagnetic state (S = 2) and the broken symmetry state to be 1.748 Å, in good agreement with the crystallographic distance 1.728 Å. To accommodate the spin-dependent reorganization energies, the conventional bilinear spin Hamiltonian has been extended with a biquadratic coupling term: Ĥex = c′ + j0Ŝ1·Ŝ2 + j1(Ŝ1·Ŝ2)2. A computational scheme is presented for estimating the exchange parameters, yielding the values j0 = 199 cm−1 and j1 = −61 cm−1 for [(FeIVB*)2O]2−. Two mechanisms for biquadratic exchange are discussed.

For the catalytic cycle of soluble methane monooxygenase (sMMO), it has been proposed that cleavage of the O–O bond in the (μ-peroxo)diiron(III) intermediate P gives rise to the diiron(IV) intermediate Q with an Fe2(μ–O)2 diamond core, which oxidizes methane to methanol. As a model for this conversion, (μ–oxo) diiron(III) complex 1 ([FeIII2(μ–O)(μ–O2H3)(L)2]3+, L = tris(3,5-dimethyl-4-methoxypyridyl-2-methyl)amine) has been treated consecutively with one eq of H2O2 and one eq of HClO4 to form 3 ([FeIV2(μ–O)2(L)2]4+). In the course of this reaction a new species, 2, can be observed before the protonation step; 2 gives rise to a cationic peak cluster by ESI-MS at m/z 1,399, corresponding to the {[Fe2O3L2H](OTf)2}+ ion in which 1 oxygen atom derives from 1 and the other two originate from H2O2. Mössbauer studies of 2 reveal the presence of two distinct, exchange coupled iron(IV) centers, and EXAFS fits indicate a short Fe–O bond at 1.66 Å and an Fe–Fe distance of 3.32 Å. Taken together, the spectroscopic data point to an HO-FeIV-O-FeIV = O core for 2. Protonation of 2 results in the loss of H2O and the formation of 3. Isotope labeling experiments show that the [FeIV2(μ–O)2] core of 3 can incorporate both oxygen atoms from H2O2. The reactions described here serve as the only biomimetic precedent for the conversion of intermediates P to Q in the sMMO reaction cycle and shed light on how a peroxodiiron(III) unit can transform into an [FeIV2(μ–O)2] core.

Intermediate Q, the methane-oxidizing species of soluble methane monooxygenase, is proposed to have an [FeIV 2(μ-O)2] diamond core. In an effort to obtain a synthetic precedent for such a core, bulk electrolysis at 900 mV (versus Fc+/0) has been performed in MeCN at −40°C on a valence-delocalized [FeIIIFeIV(μ-O)2(Lb)2]3+ complex (1b) (E 1/2 = 760 mV versus Fc+/0). Oxidation of 1b results in the near-quantitative formation of a deep red complex, designated 2b, that exhibits a visible spectrum with λmax at 485 nm (9,800 M−1·cm−1) and 875 nm (2,200 M−1·cm−1). The 4.2 K Mössbauer spectrum of 2b exhibits a quadrupole doublet with δ = −0.04(1) mm·s−1 and ΔE Q = 2.09(2) mm·s−1, parameters typical of an iron(IV) center. The Mössbauer patterns observed in strong applied fields show that 2b is an antiferromagnetically coupled diiron(IV) center. Resonance Raman studies reveal the diagnostic vibration mode of the [Fe2(μ-O)2] core at 674 cm−1, downshifting 30 cm−1 upon 18O labeling. Extended x-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) analysis shows two O/N scatterers at 1.78 Å and an Fe scatterer at 2.73 Å. Based on the accumulated spectroscopic evidence, 2b thus can be formulated as [FeIV 2(μ-O)2(Lb)2]4+, the first synthetic complex with an [FeIV 2(μ-O)2] core. A comparison of 2b and its mononuclear analog [FeIV(O)(Lb)(NCMe)]2+ (4b) reveals that 4b is 100-fold more reactive than 2b in oxidizing weak CH bonds. This surprising observation may shed further light on how intermediate Q carries out the hydroxylation of methane.

Abstract

Thiolate-ligated oxoiron(IV) centers are postulated to be the key oxidants in the catalytic cycles of oxygen-activating cytochrome P450 and related enzymes. Despite considerable synthetic efforts, chemists have not succeeded in preparing an appropriate model complex. Here we report the synthesis and spectroscopic characterization of [Fe^IV(O)(TMCS)]⁺ where TMCS is a pentadentate ligand that provides a square pyramidal N₄(SR)_apical, where SR is thiolate, ligand environment about the iron center, which is similar to that of cytochrome P450. The rigidity of the ligand framework stabilizes the thiolate in an oxidizing environment. Reactivity studies suggest that thiolate coordination favors hydrogen-atom abstraction chemistry over oxygen-atom transfer pathways in the presence of reducing substrates.

The reaction of [FeII(tris(2-pyridylmethyl)amine, TPA)(NCCH3)2]2+ with 1 equiv. peracetic acid in CH3CN at −40°C results in the nearly quantitative formation of a pale green intermediate with λmax at 724 nm (ɛ ≈ 300 M−1⋅cm−1) formulated as [FeIV(O)(TPA)]2+ by a combination of spectroscopic techniques. Its electrospray mass spectrum shows a prominent feature at m/z 461, corresponding to the [FeIV(O)(TPA)(ClO4)]+ ion. The Mössbauer spectra recorded in zero field reveal a doublet with ΔEQ = 0.92(2) mm/s and δ = 0.01(2) mm/s; analysis of spectra obtained in strong magnetic fields yields parameters characteristic of S = 1 FeIVO complexes. The presence of an FeIVO unit is also indicated in its Fe K-edge x-ray absorption spectrum by an intense 1-s → 3-d transition and the requirement for an O/N scatterer at 1.67 Å to fit the extended x-ray absorption fine structure region. The [FeIV(O)(TPA)]2+ intermediate is stable at −40°C for several days but decays quantitatively on warming to [Fe2(μ-O)(μ-OAc)(TPA)2]3+. Addition of thioanisole or cyclooctene at −40°C results in the formation of thioanisole oxide (100% yield) or cyclooctene oxide (30% yield), respectively; thus [FeIV(O)(TPA)]2+ is an effective oxygen-atom transfer agent. It is proposed that the FeIVO species derives from O—O bond heterolysis of an unobserved FeII(TPA)-acyl peroxide complex. The characterization of [FeIV(O)(TPA)]2+ as having a reactive terminal FeIVO unit in a nonheme ligand environment lends credence to the proposed participation of analogous species in the oxygen activation mechanisms of many mononuclear nonheme iron enzymes.

Treatment of [FeII(L)](OTf)2 (4), (where L = 1,4,8-Me3cyclam-11-CH2C(O)NMe2) with iodosylbenzene yielded the corresponding S = 1 oxoiron(IV) complex [FeIV(O)(L)](OTf)2 (5) in nearly quantitative yield. The remarkably high stability of 5 (t1/2 ≈ 5 days at 25 °C) facilitated its characterization by X-ray crystallography and a raft of spectroscopic techniques. Treatment of 5 with strong base was found to generate a distinct, significantly less stable S = 1 oxoiron(IV) complex, 6 (t1/2 ∼ 1.5 h at 0 °C), which could be converted back to 5 by addition of a strong acid; these observations indicate that 5 and 6 represent a conjugate acid–base pair. That 6 can be formulated as [FeIV(O)(L–H)](OTf) was further supported by ESI mass spectrometry, spectroscopic and electrochemical studies, and DFT calculations. The close structural similarity of 5 and 6 provided a unique opportunity to probe the influence of the donor trans to the FeIVO unit upon its reactivity in H-atom transfer (HAT) and O-atom transfer (OAT), and 5 was found to display greater reactivity than 6 in both OAT and HAT. While the greater OAT reactivity of 5 is expected on the basis of its higher redox potential, its higher HAT reactivity does not follow the anti-electrophilic trend reported for a series of [FeIV(O)(TMC)(X)] complexes (TMC = tetramethylcyclam) and thus appears to be inconsistent with the two-state reactivity rationale that is the prevailing explanation for the relative facility of oxoiron(IV) complexes to undergo HAT.