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Title: Spectroscopic Characterization of the Divalent Metal Docking Motif to Isolated Cyanobenzoate: Direct Observation of Tridentate Binding to ortho -Cyanobenzoate and Implications for the CN Response
Cryogenic infrared vibrational spectroscopy of D2-tagged cyanobenzoate (CBA) derivatives are obtained and analyzed to characterize the intrinsic spectroscopic responses of the -CO2‾ head group to its location on the ring in both the isolated anions and the cationic complexes with divalent metal ions, M2+ (M=Mg, Ca, Sr). The benzonitrile functionality establishes the different ring isomers (para, meta, ortho) according to the location of the carboxylate and provides an additional reporter on the molecular response to the proximal charge center. The aromatic carboxylates display slightly smaller shifts than those observed for a related aliphatic system upon metal ion complexation. Although the CBA anions display very similar band patterns for all three ring positions, upon complexation with metal ions, the ortho isomer yields dramatically different spectral responses in both the -CO2‾ moiety and the CN group. This behavior is traced to the emergence of a tridentate binding motif unique to the ortho isomer in which the metal ions bind to both the oxygen atoms of the carboxylate group and the N atom of the cyano group. In that configuration, the -CO2‾ moiety is oriented perpendicular to the phenyl ring, and the CN stretching fundamental is both strong and red-shifted relative to its behavior in the isolated neutral. The behaviors of the metal-bound ortho complexes occur in contrast to the usual blue shifts associated with “Lewis” type binding of metal ions end-on to -CN. The origins of these spectroscopic features are analyzed with the aid of electronic structure calculations, which also explore differences expected for complexation of monovalent cations to the ortho carboxylate. The resulting insights have implications for understanding the balance between electrostatic and steric interactions at metal binding sites in chemical and biological systems.  more » « less
Award ID(s):
1900119
NSF-PAR ID:
10476560
Author(s) / Creator(s):
; ; ; ; ;
Publisher / Repository:
ACS
Date Published:
Journal Name:
The Journal of Physical Chemistry A
Volume:
127
Issue:
6
ISSN:
1089-5639
Page Range / eLocation ID:
1413 to 1421
Subject(s) / Keyword(s):
Divalent metal ion binding cryogenic vibrational spectroscopy CN frequency Stark reporter
Format(s):
Medium: X
Sponsoring Org:
National Science Foundation
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