skip to main content
US FlagAn official website of the United States government
dot gov icon
Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
https lock icon
Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock ( lock ) or https:// means you've safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.


Title: Not Limited to Iron: A Cobalt Heme–NO Model Facilitates N–N Coupling with External NO in the Presence of a Lewis Acid to Generate N 2 O
Abstract Some bacterial heme proteins catalyze the coupling of two NO molecules to generate N2O. We previously reported that a heme Fe–NO model engages in this N−N bond‐forming reaction with NO. We now demonstrate that (OEP)CoII(NO) similarly reacts with 1 equiv of NO in the presence of the Lewis acids BX3(X=F, C6F5) to generate N2O. DFT calculations support retention of the CoIIoxidation state for the experimentally observed adduct (OEP)CoII(NO⋅BF3), the presumed hyponitrite intermediate (P.+)CoII(ONNO⋅BF3), and the porphyrin π‐radical cation by‐product of this reaction, and that the π‐radical cation formation likely occurs at the hyponitrite stage. In contrast, the Fe analogue undergoes a ferrous‐to‐ferric oxidation state conversion during this reaction. Our work shows that cobalt hemes are chemically competent to engage in the NO‐to‐N2O conversion reaction.  more » « less
Award ID(s):
1900181 1566509 1726630
PAR ID:
10122757
Author(s) / Creator(s):
 ;  ;  ;  ;  
Publisher / Repository:
Wiley Blackwell (John Wiley & Sons)
Date Published:
Journal Name:
Angewandte Chemie International Edition
Volume:
58
Issue:
51
ISSN:
1433-7851
Page Range / eLocation ID:
p. 18598-18603
Format(s):
Medium: X
Sponsoring Org:
National Science Foundation
More Like this
  1. Abstract Some pathogens use heme‐containing nitric oxide reductases (NORs) to reduce NO to N2O as their defense mechanism to detoxify NO and reduce nitrosative stress. This reduction is also significant in the global N cycle. Our previous experimental work showed that Fe and Co porphyrin NO complexes can couple with external NO to form N2O when activated by the Lewis acid BF3. A key difference from conventional two‐electron enzymatic reaction is that one electron is sufficient. However, a complete understanding of the entire reaction pathways and the more favorable reactivity for Fe remains unknown. Here, we present a quantum chemical study to provide such information. Our results confirmed Fe's higher experimental reactivity, showing advantages in all steps of the reaction pathway: easier metal oxidation for NO reduction and N−O cleavage as well as a larger size to expedite the N/O coordination mode transition. The Co system, with a similar product energy as the enzyme, shows potential for further development in catalytic NO coupling. This work also offers the first evidence that this new one‐electron NO reduction is both kinetically competitive and thermodynamically more favorable than the native pathway, supporting future initiatives in optimizing NO reduction agents in biology, environment, and industry. 
    more » « less
  2. Abstract A new nonheme iron(II) complex, FeII(Me3TACN)((OSiPh2)2O) (1), is reported. Reaction of1with NO(g)gives a stable mononitrosyl complex Fe(NO)(Me3TACN)((OSiPh2)2O) (2), which was characterized by Mössbauer (δ=0.52 mm s−1, |ΔEQ|=0.80 mm s−1), EPR (S=3/2), resonance Raman (RR) and Fe K‐edge X‐ray absorption spectroscopies. The data show that2is an {FeNO}7complex with anS=3/2 spin ground state. The RR spectrum (λexc=458 nm) of2combined with isotopic labeling (15N,18O) reveals ν(N‐O)=1680 cm−1, which is highly activated, and is a nearly identical match to that seen for the reactive mononitrosyl intermediate in the nonheme iron enzyme FDPnor (ν(NO)=1681 cm−1). Complex2reacts rapidly with H2O in THF to produce the N‐N coupled product N2O, providing the first example of a mononuclear nonheme iron complex that is capable of converting NO to N2O in the absence of an exogenous reductant. 
    more » « less
  3. Abstract The electrochemical reduction of nitrates (NO3) enables a pathway for the carbon neutral synthesis of ammonia (NH3), via the nitrate reduction reaction (NO3RR), which has been demonstrated at high selectivity. However, to make NH3synthesis cost‐competitive with current technologies, high NH3partial current densities (jNH3) must be achieved to reduce the levelized cost of NH3. Here, the high NO3RR activity of Fe‐based materials is leveraged to synthesize a novel active particle‐active support system with Fe2O3nanoparticles supported on atomically dispersed Fe–N–C. The optimized 3×Fe2O3/Fe–N–C catalyst demonstrates an ultrahigh NO3RR activity, reaching a maximum jNH3of 1.95 A cm−2at a Faradaic efficiency (FE) for NH3of 100% and an NH3yield rate over 9 mmol hr−1cm−2. Operando XANES and post‐mortem XPS reveal the importance of a pre‐reduction activation step, reducing the surface Fe2O3(Fe3+) to highly active Fe0sites, which are maintained during electrolysis. Durability studies demonstrate the robustness of both the Fe2O3particles and Fe–Nxsites at highly cathodic potentials, maintaining a current of −1.3 A cm−2over 24 hours. This work exhibits an effective and durable active particle‐active support system enhancing the performance of the NO3RR, enabling industrially relevant current densities and near 100% selectivity. 
    more » « less
  4. Abstract The search for more effective and highly selective C–H bond oxidation of accessible hydrocarbons and biomolecules is a greatly attractive research mission. The elucidating of mechanism and controlling factors will, undoubtedly, help to broaden scope of these synthetic protocols, and enable discovery of more efficient, environmentally benign, and highly practical new C–H oxidation reactions. Here, we reveal the stepwise intramolecular SN2 nucleophilic substitution mechanism with the rate-limiting C–O bond formation step for the Pd(II)-catalyzed C(sp3)–H lactonization in aromatic 2,6-dimethylbenzoic acid. We show that for this reaction, the direct C–O reductive elimination from both Pd(II) and Pd(IV) (oxidized by O2oxidant) intermediates is unfavorable. Critical factors controlling the outcome of this reaction are the presence of the η3-(π-benzylic)–Pd and K+–O(carboxylic) interactions. The controlling factors of the benzylic vs ortho site-selectivity of this reaction are the: (a) difference in the strains of the generated lactone rings; (b) difference in the strengths of the η3-(π-benzylic)–Pd and η2-(π-phenyl)–Pd interactions, and (c) more pronounced electrostatic interaction between the nucleophilic oxygen and K+cation in the ortho-C–H activation transition state. The presented data indicate the utmost importance of base, substrate, and ligand in the selective C(sp3)–H bond lactonization in the presence of C(sp2)–H. 
    more » « less
  5. Abstract Flavodiiron NO reductases (FNORs) are important enzymes in microbial pathogenesis, as they equip microbes with resistance to the human immune defense agent nitric oxide (NO). Despite many efforts, intermediates that would provide insight into how the non‐heme diiron active sites of FNORs reduce NO to N2O could not be identified. Computations predict that iron‐hyponitrite complexes are the key species, leading from NO to N2O. However, the coordination chemistry of non‐heme iron centers with hyponitrite is largely unknown. In this study, we report the reactivity of two non‐heme iron complexes with preformed hyponitrite. In the case of [Fe(TPA)(CH3CN)2](OTf)2, cleavage of hyponitrite and formation of an Fe2(NO)2diamond core is observed. With less Lewis‐acidic [Fe2(BMPA‐PhO)2(OTf)2] (2), reaction with Na2N2O2in polar aprotic solvent leads to the formation of a red complex,3. X‐ray crystallography shows that3is a tetranuclear iron‐hyponitrite complex, [{Fe2(BMPA‐PhO)2}2(μ‐N2O2)](OTf)2, with a unique hyponitrite binding mode. This species provided the unique opportunity to us to study the interaction of hyponitrite with non‐heme iron centers and the reactivity of the bound hyponitrite ligand. Here, either protonation or oxidation of3is found to induce N2O formation, supporting the hypothesis that hyponitrite is a viable intermediate in NO reduction. 
    more » « less