Electrophilic Aromatic Nitrosation. Isolation and X-ray Crystallography of the Metastable NO\u3csup\u3e+\u3c/sup\u3e Complex With Nitrosoarene

Isolation of the unstable 1∶1 complex of 4-nitrosoanisole with NO+PF6− allows its precise X-ray structural characterization. The charge-transfer crystal is formed via strong N⋯N coordination [the distance of 1.938(5) Å corresponding to a σ-bond order of ≈0.2] in the mean plane of the planar 4-nitrosoanisole donor. Thorough analysis of its molecular geometry in terms of valence resonance and MO schemes reveals a strong charge polarization with a local negative charge localized on the nitroso group and a local positive charge distributed over the adjacent p-methoxybenzyl moiety. Such a charge distribution accommodates the well-known passivation of nitrosoarenes to multiple nitrosation and explains the ease of demethylation of the complex. Comparison of a variety of nitroso- and nitroarene structures has shown that the nitrosoarene experiences a much stronger quinoidal distortion of the aromatic ring as compared with the latter. This indicates a stronger electron-withdrawing effect of the nitroso group relative to that of the nitro group. The weakened aromatic resonance in the nitrosoarenes could be responsible for the observed slower rate and the measurable isotope effect in electrophilic nitrosation as opposed to nitration

Preparation of a Semiquinonate-Bridged Diiron(II) Complex and Elucidation of its Geometric and Electronic Structures

The synthesis and crystal structure of a diiron(II) complex containing a bridging semiquinonate radical are presented. The unique electronic structure of this S = 7/2 complex is examined with spectroscopic (absorption, EPR, resonance Raman) and computational methods

Photoinduced Coupling of Acetylenes and Quinone in the Solid State as Preorganized Donor−Acceptor Pairs

Crystalline electron donor−acceptor (EDA) complexes of various diarylacetylenes (DA) and dichlorobenzoquinone (DB) are isolated and structurally characterized by X-ray crystallography. Deliberate excitation of either the DB acceptor at λDB = 355 nm or the 1:2 [DA, 2DB] complex at λCT = 532 nm in the solid state leads to [2 + 2] cycloaddition and identical (isomeric) mixtures of the quinone methide products. Time-resolved (ps) diffuse reflectance spectroscopy identifies the ion-radical pair [DA•+, DB•-] as the reactive intermediate derived by photoinduced electron transfer in both photochemical procedures. The effects of crystal-lattice control on the subsequent ion-radical pair dynamics are discussed in comparison with the same photocouplings of acetylenes and quinone previously carried out in solution

Synthesis and Spectroscopic Characterization of High-Spin Mononuclear Iron(II) \u3cem\u3ep\u3c/em\u3e-Semiquinonate Complexes

Two mononuclear iron(II) p-semiquinonate (pSQ) complexes have been generated via one-electron reduction of precursor complexes containing a substituted 1,4-naphthoquinone ligand. Detailed spectroscopic and computational analysis confirmed the presence of a coordinated pSQ radical ferromagnetically coupled to the high-spin FeII center. The complexes are intended to model electronic interactions between (semi)quinone and iron cofactors in biology

A Cu\u3csub\u3e4\u3c/sub\u3eS Model for the Nitrous Oxide Reductase Active Sites Supported Only by Nitrogen Ligands

To model the (His)7Cu4Sn (n = 1 or 2) active sites of nitrous oxide reductase, the first Cu4(μ4-S) cluster supported only by nitrogen donors has been prepared using amidinate supporting ligands. Structural, magnetic, spectroscopic, and computational characterization is reported. Electrochemical data indicates that the 2-hole model complex can be reduced reversibly to the 1-hole state and irreversibly to the fully reduced state

Structural, Spectroscopic, and Electrochemical Properties of Nonheme Fe(II)-Hydroquinonate Complexes: Synthetic Models of Hydroquinone Dioxygenases

Using the tris(3,5-diphenylpyrazol-1-yl)borate (Ph2Tp) supporting ligand, a series of mono- and dinuclear ferrous complexes containing hydroquinonate (HQate) ligands have been prepared and structurally characterized with X-ray crystallography. The monoiron(II) complexes serve as faithful mimics of the substrate-bound form of hydroquinone dioxygenases (HQDOs) – a family of nonheme Fe enzymes that catalyze the oxidative cleavage of 1,4-dihydroxybenzene units. Reflecting the variety of HQDO substrates, the synthetic complexes feature both mono- and bidentate HQate ligands. The bidentate HQates cleanly provide five-coordinate, high-spin Fe(II) complexes with the general formula [Fe(Ph2Tp)(HLX)] (1X), where HLX is a HQate(1-) ligand substituted at the 2-position with a benzimidazolyl (1A), acetyl (1B and 1C), or methoxy (1D) group. In contrast, the monodentate ligand 2,6-dimethylhydroquinone (H2LF) exhibited a greater tendency to bridge between two Fe(II) centers, resulting in formation of [Fe2(Ph2Tp)2(μ-LF)(MeCN)]·[2F(MeCN)]. However, addition of one equivalent of “free” pyrazole (Ph2pz) ligand provided the mononuclear complex, [Fe(Ph2Tp)(HLF)(Ph2pz)]·[1F(Ph2pz)], which is stabilized by an intramolecular hydrogen bond between the HLF and Ph2pz donors. Complex 1F(Ph2pz) represents the first crystallographically-characterized example of a monoiron complex bound to an untethered HQate ligand. The geometric and electronic structures of the Fe/HQate complexes were further probed with spectroscopic (UV-vis absorption, 1H NMR) and electrochemical methods. Cyclic voltammograms of complexes in the 1X series revealed an Fe-based oxidation between 0 and −300 mV (vs. Fc+/0), in addition to irreversible oxidation(s) of the HQate ligand at higher potentials. The one-electron oxidized species (1Xoxox) were examined with UV-vis absorption and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopies

Reactivity of tri(2-furyl)phosphine (Pfu\u3csub\u3e3\u3c/sub\u3e) with [Mn\u3csub\u3e2\u3c/sub\u3e(CO)\u3csub\u3e10–\u3cem\u3en\u3c/em\u3e\u3c/sub\u3e(NCMe)\u3csub\u3e\u3cem\u3en\u3c/em\u3e\u3c/sub\u3e] (\u3cem\u3en\u3c/em\u3e = 0–2): X-ray Structure of \u3cem\u3emer\u3c/em\u3e-[Mn(CO)\u3csub\u3e3\u3c/sub\u3e(η\u3csup\u3e1\u3c/sup\u3e-C\u3csub\u3e4\u3c/sub\u3eH\u3csub\u3e3\u3c/sub\u3eO)(Pfu\u3csub\u3e3\u3c/sub\u3e)\u3csub\u3e2\u3c/sub\u3e]

In the search for new examples of systems that self-assemble into cyclic metal–organic architectures, the six isomers of X,Y′-bis(di(1H-pyrazolyl)methane)-1,1′-biphenyl, LXY, and their silver(I) trifluoromethanesulfonate complexes were prepared. Five of the six silver complexes gave crystals suitable for single crystal X-ray diffraction, with only the microcrystalline derivative of 2,3′-bis(di(1H-pyrazolyl)methane)-1,1′-biphenyl, L23, proving to be unsuitable for this analysis. Of the structurally characterized silver(I) complexes, that with L22 showed an unusual trans-spanning chelating coordination mode to silver. At the same time the ligand was also bound to a second silver center giving rise to a cyclic supramolecular isomer with a 22-membered metallacycle. The complex of L34 also gave a cyclic dication but with a remarkable 28-membered metallacycle ring. The remaining three derivatives were polymeric. The results of this study underscore that a 120° angle between dipyrazolylmethyl moieties across aromatic spacers will give rise to a cyclic dication but this is not an exclusive requirement for the formation of cyclic architectures. Also, the supramolecular structures of complexes are assembled via a variety of noncovalent interactions involving the di(pyrazolyl)methyl cation most notably by weak hydrogen bonding interactions involving the methine hydrogen and an oxygen atom of the triflate anion

Localized Products of futile cycle/ lrmp Promote Centrosome-Nucleus Attachment in the Zebrafish Zygote

SummaryBackgroundThe centrosome has a well-established role as a microtubule organizer during mitosis and cytokinesis. In addition, it facilitates the union of parental haploid genomes following fertilization by nucleating a microtubule aster along which the female pronucleus migrates toward the male pronucleus. Stable associations between the sperm aster and the pronuclei are essential during this directed movement.ResultsOur studies reveal that the zebrafish gene futile cycle (fue) is required in the zygote for male pronucleus-centrosome attachment and female pronuclear migration. We show that fue encodes a novel, maternally-provided long form of lymphoid-restricted membrane protein (lrmp), a vertebrate-specific gene of unknown function. Both maternal lrmp messenger RNA (mRNA) and protein are highly localized in the zygote, in a largely overlapping pattern at nuclear membranes, centrosomes, and spindles. Truncated Lrmp-EGFP fusion proteins identified subcellular targeting signals in the C terminus of Lrmp; however, endogenous mRNA localization is likely important to ensure strict spatial expression of the protein. Localization of both Lrmp protein and lrmp RNA is defective in fue mutant embryos, indicating that correct targeting of lrmp gene products is dependent on Lrmp function.ConclusionsLrmp is a conserved vertebrate gene whose maternally inherited products are essential for nucleus-centrosome attachment and pronuclear congression during fertilization. Precise subcellular localization of lrmp products also suggests a requirement for strict spatiotemporal regulation of their function in the early embryo

A One-Hole Cu\u3csub\u3e4\u3c/sub\u3eS Cluster with N\u3csub\u3e2\u3c/sub\u3eO Reductase Activity: A Structural and Functional Model for Cu\u3csub\u3eZ\u3c/sub\u3e

During bacterial denitrification, two-electron reduction of N2O occurs at a [Cu4(μ4-S)] catalytic site (CuZ*) embedded within the nitrous oxide reductase (N2OR) enzyme. In this Communication, an amidinate-supported [Cu4(μ4-S)] model cluster in its one-hole (S = 1/2) redox state is thoroughly characterized. Along with its two-hole redox partner and fully reduced clusters reported previously, the new species completes the two-electron redox series of [Cu4(μ4-S)] model complexes with catalytically relevant oxidation states for the first time. More importantly, N2O is reduced by the one-hole cluster to produce N2 and the two-hole cluster, thereby completing a closed cycle for N2O reduction. Not only is the title complex thus the best structural model for CuZ* to date, but it also serves as a functional CuZ* mimic

P–C and C–H Bond Cleavages of dppm in the Thermal Reaction of [Ru\u3csub\u3e3\u3c/sub\u3e(CO)\u3csub\u3e10\u3c/sub\u3e(μ-dppm)] with Benzothiophene: X-ray structures of [Ru\u3csub\u3e6\u3c/sub\u3e(μ-CO)(CO)\u3csub\u3e13\u3c/sub\u3e{μ\u3csub\u3e4\u3c/sub\u3e-PhP(C\u3csub\u3e6\u3c/sub\u3eH\u3csub\u3e4\u3c/sub\u3e)PPh}(μ\u3csub\u3e6\u3c/sub\u3e-C)] and [Ru\u3csub\u3e4\u3c/sub\u3e(CO)\u3csub\u3e9\u3c/sub\u3e(μ\u3csub\u3e3\u3c/sub\u3e-η\u3csup\u3e2\u3c/sup\u3e-PhPCH\u3csub\u3e2\u3c/sub\u3ePPh\u3csub\u3e2\u3c/sub\u3e)(μ\u3csub\u3e4\u3c/sub\u3e-η\u3csup\u3e6\u3c/sup\u3e:η\u3csup\u3e1\u3c/sup\u3e:η\u3csup\u3e1\u3c/sup\u3e-C\u3csub\u3e6\u3c/sub\u3eH\u3csub\u3e4\u3c/sub\u3e)(μ-H)]

The thermal reaction of [Ru3(CO)10(μ-dppm)] (1) with benzothiophene in refluxing toluene gives a complex mixture of products. These include the known compounds [Ru2(CO)6{μ-CH2PPh(C6H4)PPh}] (2), [Ru2(CO)6{μ-C6H4PPh(CH2)PPh}] (3), [Ru3(CO)9{μ3-η3-(Ph)PCH2P(Ph)C6H4}] (4) and [Ru3(CO)10{μ-η2-PPh(CH2)(C6H4)PPh}] (6), as well as the new clusters [Ru6(μ-CO)(CO)13{μ3-η2-PhP(C6H4)PPh}(μ6-C)] (5) and [Ru4(CO)9(μ3-η2-PhPCH2PPh2)(μ4-η6:η1:η1-C6H4)(μ-H)] (7). The solid-state molecular structures of 5 and 7 were confirmed by single crystal X-ray analyses. Compound 5 consists of interesting example of a hexaruthenium interstitial carbido cluster having a tetradentate diphosphine ligand derived from the activation of P–C and C–H bonds of the dppm ligand in 1. The tetranuclear compound 7 consists of a unique example of a non-planar spiked triangular metal fragment of ruthenium [Ru(1), Ru(2) and Ru(3)] unit with Ru(4) being bonded to Ru(1). The μ4-η1:η6:η1-benzyne ligand in this compound represents a previously uncharacterized bonding mode for benzyne. Compounds 5 and 7 do not contain any benzothiophene-derived ligand. The reaction of 4 with benzothiophene gives 2, 3, 5 and 6. Thermolysis of 1 in refluxing toluene gives 2, 3 and 4; none of 5 and 7 is detected in reaction mixture