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1. Quinol-containing ligands enable high superoxide dismutase activity by modulating coordination number, charge, oxidation states and stability of manganese complexes throughout redox cycling

   https://doi.org/10.1039/D1SC02465E  

   Senft, Laura ; Moore, Jamonica L. ; Franke, Alicja ; Fisher, Katherine R. ; Scheitler, Andreas ; Zahl, Achim ; Puchta, Ralph ; Fehn, Dominik ; Ison, Sidney ; Sader, Safaa ; et al ( January 2021 , Chemical Science)

   null (Ed.)

   Reactivity assays previously suggested that two quinol-containing MRI contrast agent sensors for H 2 O 2 , [Mn( H2qp1 )(MeCN)] 2+ and [Mn( H4qp2 )Br 2 ], could also catalytically degrade superoxide. Subsequently, [Zn( H2qp1 )(OTf)] + was found to use the redox activity of the H2qp1 ligand to catalyze the conversion of O 2 ˙ − to O 2 and H 2 O 2 , raising the possibility that the organic ligand, rather than the metal, could serve as the redox partner for O 2 ˙ − in the manganese chemistry. Here, we use stopped-flow kinetics and cryospray-ionization mass spectrometry (CSI-MS) analysis of the direct reactions between the manganese-containing contrast agents and O 2 ˙ − to confirm the activity and elucidate the catalytic mechanism. The obtained data are consistent with the operation of multiple parallel catalytic cycles, with both the quinol groups and manganese cycling through different oxidation states during the reactions with superoxide. The choice of ligand impacts the overall charges of the intermediates and allows us to visualize complementary sets of intermediates within the catalytic cycles using CSI-MS. With the diquinolic H4qp2 , we detect Mn( iii )-superoxo intermediates with both reduced and oxidized forms of the ligand, a Mn( iii )-hydroperoxo compound, and what is formally a Mn( iv )-oxo species with the monoquinolate/mono- para -quinone form of H4qp2 . With the monoquinolic H2qp1 , we observe a Mn( ii )-superoxo ↔ Mn( iii )-peroxo intermediate with the oxidized para -quinone form of the ligand. The observation of these species suggests inner-sphere mechanisms for O 2 ˙ − oxidation and reduction that include both the ligand and manganese as redox partners. The higher positive charges of the complexes with the reduced and oxidized forms of H2qp1 compared to those with related forms of H4qp2 result in higher catalytic activity ( k cat ∼ 10 8 M −1 s −1 at pH 7.4) that rivals those of the most active superoxide dismutase (SOD) mimics. The manganese complex with H2qp1 is markedly more stable in water than other highly active non-porphyrin-based and even some Mn( ii ) porphyrin-based SOD mimics. 

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2. Methane Over‐Oxidation by Extra‐Framework Copper‐Oxo Active Sites of Copper‐Exchanged Zeolites: Crucial Role of Traps for the Separated Methyl Group

   https://doi.org/10.1002/cphc.202100103  

   Adeyiga, Olajumoke ; Odoh, Samuel O. ( April 2021 , ChemPhysChem)

   Copper‐exchanged zeolites are useful for stepwise conversion of methane to methanol at moderate temperatures. This process also generates some over‐oxidation products like CO and CO₂. However, mechanistic pathways for methane over‐oxidation by copper‐oxo active sites in these zeolites have not been previously described. Adequate understanding of methane over‐oxidation is useful for developing systems with higher methanol yields and selectivities. Here, we use density functional theory (DFT) to examine methane over‐oxidation by [Cu₃O₃]²⁺active sites in zeolite mordenite MOR. The methyl group formed after activation of a methane C−H bond can be stabilized at a μ‐oxo atom of the active site. This μ‐(O−CH₃) intermediate can undergo sequential hydrogen atom abstractions till eventual formation of a copper‐monocarbonyl species. Adsorbed formaldehyde, water and formates are also formed during this process. The overall mechanistic path is exothermic, and all intermediate steps are facile at 200 °C. Release of CO from the copper‐monocarbonyl costs only 3.4 kcal/mol. Thus, for high methanol selectivities, the methyl group from the first hydrogen atom abstraction stepmust bestabilizedawayfrom copper‐oxo active sites. Indeed, it must be quickly trapped at an unreactive site (short diffusion lengths) while avoiding copper‐oxo species (large paths between active sites). This stabilization of the methyl group away from the active sites is central to the high methanol selectivities obtained with stepwise methane‐to‐methanol conversion.

    

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3. DFT Analysis of Methane C−H Activation and Over‐Oxidation by [Cu 2 O] 2+ and [Cu 2 O 2 ] 2+ Sites in Zeolite Mordenite: Intra‐ versus Inter‐site Over‐Oxidation

   https://doi.org/10.1002/cphc.202100580  

   Panthi, Dipak ; Adeyiga, Olajumoke ; Odoh, Samuel O. ( October 2021 , ChemPhysChem)

   Methane over‐oxidation by copper‐exchanged zeolites prevents realization of high‐yield catalytic conversion. However, there has been little description of the mechanism for methane over‐oxidation at the copper active sites of these zeolites. Using density functional theory (DFT) computations, we reported that tricopper [Cu₃O₃]²⁺active sites can over‐oxidize methane. However, the role of [Cu₃O₃]²⁺sites in methane‐to‐methanol conversion remains under debate. Here, we examine methane over‐oxidation by dicopper [Cu₂O]²⁺and [Cu₂O₂]²⁺sites using DFT in zeolite mordenite (MOR). For [Cu₂O₂]²⁺, we considered the μ‐(η²:η²) peroxo‐, and bis(μ‐oxo) motifs. These sites were considered in the eight‐membered (8MR) ring of MOR. μ‐(η²:η²) peroxo sites are unstable relative to the bis(μ‐oxo) motif with a small interconversion barrier. Unlike [Cu₂O]²⁺which is active for methane C−H activation, [Cu₂O₂]²⁺has a very large methane C−H activation barrier in the 8MR. Stabilization of methanol and methyl at unreacted dicopper sites however leads to over‐oxidation via sequential hydrogen atom abstraction steps. For methanol, these are initiated by abstraction of the CH₃group, followed by OH and can proceed near 200 °C. Thus, for [Cu₂O]²⁺and [Cu₂O₂]²⁺species, over‐oxidation is an inter‐site process. We discuss the implications of these findings for methanol selectivity, especially in comparison to the intra‐site process for [Cu₃O₃]²⁺sites and the role of Brønsted acid sites.

    

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4. Heterometallic [Cu–O–M] 2+ active sites for methane C–H activation in zeolites: stability, reactivity, formation mechanism and relationship to other active sites

   https://doi.org/10.1039/d1cy00687h  

   Adeyiga, Olajumoke ; Panthi, Dipak ; Odoh, Samuel O. ( August 2021 , Catalysis Science & Technology)

   The formation and reactivities of [Cu–O–M] 2+ species (M = Ti–Cu, Zr–Mo and Ru–Ag) in metal-exchanged zeolites, as well as stabilities of these species towards autoreduction by O 2 elimination are investigated with density functional theory. These species were investigated in zeolite mordenite in search of insights into active site formation mechanisms, the relationship between stability and reactivity as well as discovery of heterometallic species useful for isothermal methane-to-methanol conversion (MMC). Several [Cu–O–M] 2+ species (M = Ti–Cr and Zr–Mo) are substantially more stable than [Cu 2 O] 2+ . Other [Cu–O–M] 2+ species, (M = Mn–Ni and Ru–Ag) have similar formation energies to [Cu 2 O] 2+ , to within ±10 kcal mol −1 . Interestingly, only [Cu–O–Ag] 2+ is more active for methane activation than [Cu 2 O] 2+ . [Cu–O–Ag] 2+ is however more susceptible to O 2 elimination. By considering the formation energies, autoreduction, cost and activity towards the methane C–H bond, we can only conclude that [Cu 2 O] 2+ is best suited for MMC. Formation of [Cu 2 O] 2+ is initiated by proton transfer from aquo ligands to the framework and proceeds mostly via dehydration steps. Its μ-oxo bridge is formed via water-assisted condensation of two hydroxo groups. To evaluate the relationship between [Cu 2 O] 2+ and other active sites, we also examined the formation energies of other species. The formation energies follow the trend: isolated [Cu–OH] + < paired [Cu–OH] + < [Cu 2 O] 2+ < [Cu 3 O 3 ] 2+ . Inclusion of Gibbs free-energy corrections indicates activation temperatures of 257, 307 and 327 and 331 °C for isolated [Cu–OH] + , paired [Cu–OH] + , [Cu 2 O] 2+ and [Cu 3 O 3 ] 2+ , respectively. The provocative nature of the lower-than-expected activation temperature for isolated [Cu–OH] + species is discussed. 

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5. Reaction mechanism and dynamics for C8-hydroxylation of 9-methylguanine radical cation by water molecules

   https://doi.org/10.1039/d1cp03884b  

   Zhou, Wenjing ; Liu, Jianbo ( November 2021 , Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics)

   In contrast to their spontaneous deprotonation in aqueous solution, reactions of guanine and guanosine radical cations with water in the gas phase are exclusively initiated by hydration of the radical cations as reported in recent work (Y. Sun et al. , Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys. , 2018, 20 , 27510). As gas-phase hydration reactions closely mimic the actual scenario for guanine radical cations in double-stranded DNA, exploration of subsequent reactions within their water complexes can provide an insight into the resulting oxidative damage to nucleosides. Herein guided-ion beam mass spectrometry experiment and direct dynamics trajectory simulations were carried out to examine prototype complexes of the 9-methylguanine radical cation with one and two water ligands ( i.e. , 9MG˙ + ·(H 2 O) 1–2 ) in the gas phase, wherein the complexes were activated by collisional activation in the experiment and by thermal excitation at high temperatures in the simulations. Guided by mass spectroscopic measurements, trajectory results and reaction potential energy surface, three reaction pathways were identified. The first two reaction pathways start with H-atom abstraction from water by the O6 and N7 atoms in 9MG˙ + and are referred to as HA O6 and HA N7 , respectively. The primary products of HA O6 and HA N7 reactions, including [9MG + H O6 ] + /[9MG + H N7 ] + and ˙OH, react further to either form [8OH-9MG + H O6 ]˙ + and [8OH-9MG + H N7 ]˙ + via C8-hydroxylation or form radical cations of 6- enol -guanine (6- enol -G˙ + ) and 7H-guanine (7HG˙ + ) via S N 2-type methanol elimination. The third reaction pathway corresponds to the formation of 8OH-9MG + by H elimination from the complex, referred to as HE. Among these product channels, [8OH-9MG + H N7 ]˙ + has the most favorable formation probability, especially in the presence of additional water molecules. This product may serve as a preceding structure to the 8-oxo-7,8-dihydroguanine lesion in DNA and has implications for health effects of radiation exposure and radiation therapy. 

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