Abstract
In this article we minutely discuss the so-called “oxidative” mechanism of mononuclear form of dinitrosyl iron complexes (M-DNICs) formations proposed by the author. M-DNICs are proposed to be formed from their building material—neutral NO molecules, Fe2+ ions and anionic non-thiol (L−) and thiol (RS−) ligands based on the disproportionation reaction of NO molecules binding with divalent ion irons in pairs. Then a protonated form of nitroxyl anion (NO−) appearing in the reaction is released from this group and a neutral NO molecule is included instead. As a result, M-DNICs are produced. Their resonance structure is described as [(L−)2Fe2+(NO)(NO+)], in which nitrosyl ligands are represented by NO molecules and nitrosonium cations in equal proportions. Binding of hydroxyl ions with the latter causes conversion of these cations into nitrite anions at neutral pH values and therefore transformation of DNICs into the corresponding high-spin mononitrosyl iron complexes (MNICs) with the resonance structure described as [(L−)2Fe2+(NO)]. In case of replacing L− by thiol-containing ligands, which are characterized by high π-donor activity, electron density transferred from sulfur atoms to iron-dinitrosyl groups neutralizes the positive charge on nitrosonium cations, which prevents their hydrolysis, ensuring relatively a high stability of the corresponding M-DNICs with the resonance structure [(RS−)2Fe2+ (NO, NO+)]. Therefore, M-DNICs with thiol-containing ligands, as well as their binuclear analogs (B-DNICs, respective resonance structure [(RS−)2Fe2+2 (NO, NO+)2]), can serve donors of both NO and NO+. Experiments with solutions of B-DNICs with glutathione or N-acetyl-L-cysteine (B-DNIC-GSH or B-DNIC-NAC) showed that these complexes release both NO and NO+ in case of decomposition in the presence of acid or after oxidation of thiol-containing ligands in them. The level of released NO was measured via optical absorption intensity of NO in the gaseous phase, while the number of released nitrosonium cations was determined based on their inclusion in S-nitrosothiols or their conversion into nitrite anions. Biomedical research showed the ability of DNICs with thiol-containing ligands to be donors of NO and NO+ and produce various biological effects on living organisms. At the same time, NO molecules released from DNICs usually have a positive and regulatory effect on organisms, while nitrosonium cations have a negative and cytotoxic effect.
Highlights
L− by thiol-containing ligands, which are characterized by high π-donor activity, electron density transferred from sulfur atoms to iron-dinitrosyl groups neutralizes the positive charge on nitrosonium cations, which prevents their hydrolysis, ensuring relatively a high stability of the corresponding
As we found out during our experiments that first mononitrosyl iron complexes (MNICs) and dinitrosyl iron complexes (DNICs) with thiol-containing ligands were formed in the reaction of divalent iron, NO and thiols, we have no reasons to assume that these complexes can arise during disproportionation of
The mechanism for formation of DNICs with various anionic (L) ligands we have proposed is based on the disproportionation reaction of two NO molecules binding with a divalent iron ion
Summary
We have collected a lot of experimental material showing that researchers have a new class of chemical compounds at their disposal—dinitrosyl iron complexes (DNICs) with thiol-containing ligands These compounds can serve the basis for designing medicines with a wide range therapeutic action relying on the fact that nitrogen monoxide (or nitric oxide, NO) is one of the main components of DNICs [1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20,21,22].
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