Mononuclear Molybdenum Research Articles

Mechanistic Consequences of Chelate Ligand Stabilization on Nitrogen Fixation by Yandulov–Schrock-Type Complexes

The Yandulov–Schrock catalyst, a mononuclear molybdenum complex with a tetra-coordinate triamidoamine chelate ligand with hexa-iso-propyl-terphenyl groups at the amide nitrogen atoms, catalyzes the reduction of dinitrogen to ammonia. Its turnover number is very low, which may be attributed to the (partial) loss of the chelate ligand. Protonation of an amide nitrogen atom of the ligand and subsequent reduction leads to the formation of a labile amine ligand. We find that this equatorial amine group can detach from the molybdenum center of the Yandulov–Schrock complex with a comparatively small barrier. This decomposition reaction is in direct competition with reactions producing intermediates of the Chatt–Schrock cycle. Clamping the substituents on the amide nitrogen atoms by a calix[6]arene unit (replacing the hexa-iso-propyl-terphenyl groups) successfully suppresses the detachment of a generated equatorial amine group from the molybdenum center. We discuss dinitrogen reduction according to the Chatt–Schr...

Effect of the protein ligand in DMSO reductase studied by computational methods

The DMSO reductase family is the largest and most diverse family of mononuclear molybdenum oxygen-atom-transfer proteins. Their active sites contain a Mo ion coordinated to two molybdopterin ligands, one oxo group in the oxidised state, and one additional, often protein-derived ligand. We have used density-functional theory to evaluate how the fourth ligand (serine, cysteine, selenocysteine, OH−, O2–, SH−, or S2–) affects the geometries, reaction mechanism, reaction energies, and reduction potentials of intermediates in the DMSO reductase reaction. Our results show that there are only small changes in the geometries of the reactant and product states, except from the elongation of the MoX bond as the ionic radius of XO, S, Se increases. The five ligands with a single negative charge gave an identical two-step reaction mechanism, in which DMSO first binds to the reduced active site, after which the SO bond is cleaved, concomitantly with the transfer of two electrons from Mo in a rate-determining second transition state. The five models gave similar activation energies of 69–85kJ/mol, with SH− giving the lowest barrier. In contrast, the O2– and S2– ligands gave much higher activation energies (212 and 168kJ/mol) and differing mechanisms (a more symmetric intermediate for O2– and a one-step reaction without any intermediate for S2–). The high activation energies are caused by a less exothermic reaction energy, 13–25kJ/mol, and by a more stable reactant state owing to the strong MoO2– or MoS2– bonds.

Protonation and Sulfido versus Oxo Ligation Changes at the Molybdenum Cofactor in Xanthine Dehydrogenase (XDH) Variants Studied by X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy.

Enzymes of the xanthine oxidase family are among the best characterized mononuclear molybdenum enzymes. Open questions about their mechanism of transfer of an oxygen atom to the substrate remain. The enzymes share a molybdenum cofactor (Moco) with the metal ion binding a molybdopterin (MPT) molecule via its dithiolene function and terminal sulfur and oxygen groups. For xanthine dehydrogenase (XDH) from the bacterium Rhodobacter capsulatus, we used X-ray absorption spectroscopy to determine the Mo site structure, its changes in a pH range of 5-10, and the influence of amino acids (Glu730 and Gln179) close to Moco in wild-type (WT), Q179A, and E730A variants, complemented by enzyme kinetics and quantum chemical studies. Oxidized WT and Q179A revealed a similar Mo(VI) ion with each one MPT, Mo═O, Mo-O-, and Mo═S ligand, and a weak Mo-O(E730) bond at alkaline pH. Protonation of an oxo to a hydroxo (OH) ligand (pK ∼ 6.8) causes inhibition of XDH at acidic pH, whereas deprotonated xanthine (pK ∼ 8.8) is an inhibitor at alkaline pH. A similar acidic pK for the WT and Q179A variants, as well as the metrical parameters of the Mo site and density functional theory calculations, suggested protonation at the equatorial oxo group. The sulfido was replaced with an oxo ligand in the inactive E730A variant, further showing another oxo and one Mo-OH ligand at Mo, which are independent of pH. Our findings suggest a reaction mechanism for XDH in which an initial oxo rather than a hydroxo group and the sulfido ligand are essential for xanthine oxidation.

Synthesis and Structures of Mono‐ and Dinuclear Molybdenum Complexes with Reduced α‐Diimine Ligands

The mononuclear molybdenum complex [Mo(HL)2] (1), Mo–Mo single‐bond compound [HLClMo(µ‐Cl)3MoHLCl] [2; Mo–Mo 2.832(7) Å], and Mo≡Mo triple‐bond compounds [Mo2Cl2(µ‐HL)2] [3; Mo–Mo 2.194(6) Å] and [Mo2Cl2(µ‐Cl)(µ‐HL)Cl2Na(THF)3] [4; Mo–Mo 2.167(2) Å] have been synthesized by the reaction of HL {HL = [(2,6‐iPr2C6H3)NCH]2} with 0.5, 1, and 2 equiv. of MoCl5 and different amounts of Na metal. In the single‐bond compound 2, the α‐diimine ligand HL displays the normal chelating coordination mode. In contrast, the triple‐bond compounds 3 and 4 feature the less common bridging mode of α‐diimine ligands. Complexes 1–4 have been characterized by X‐ray diffraction, 1H and 13C NMR, IR spectroscopy, elemental analysis, and their electronic structures were studied by EPR and DFT computations.

Solid and solution chemistry of protonated and deprotonated mononuclear molybdenum(VI) citrates

Mononuclear molybdenum(VI) citrates with variable degrees of protonation, (NH4)2[MoO2(H2cit)2]·H2O (1), (NH4)3[MoO2(H2cit)(Hcit)]·H2O (2) and (NH4)5[MoO2(Hcit)(cit)]·2.5H2O (3) (H4cit = citric acid), have been well characterized, where the citrate ligands in 1–3 coordinate bidentate with Mo, while the free carboxylates form very strong hydrogen bonds with α-alkoxy and β-carboxylic acid groups. The chelation of α-alkoxy and α-carboxy groups in citrate are compared with that of FeMo-cofactor in NifV– Klebsiella pneumoniae nitrogenase. Solution 13C NMR spectra show that 1–3 dissociated partly in D2O. The equilibria are calculated based on 1H NMR spectra in solution.

Molybdenum(0) Dinitrogen Complexes Supported by Pentadentate Tetrapodal Phosphine Ligands: Structure, Synthesis, and Reactivity toward Acids.

The syntheses of two pentadentate tetrapodal phosphine (pentaPod(P)) ligands, P2(Ph)PP2(Ph) and P2(Me)PP2(Ph), are reported, which derive from the fusion of a tripod and a trident ligand. Reaction of the ligand P2(Ph)PP2(Ph) with [MoCl3(THF)3] followed by an amalgam reduction under N2 does not lead to well-defined products. The same reactions performed with the ligand P2(Me)PP2(Ph) afford the mononuclear molybdenum dinitrogen complex [MoN2(P2(Me)PP2(Ph))]. Because of the unprecedented topology of the pentaphosphine ligand, the Mo-P bond to the phosphine in the trans position to N2 is significantly shortened, explaining the very strong activation of the dinitrogen ligand (ν̃NN = 1929 cm(-1)). The reactivity of this complex toward acids is investigated.

Direct electrochemistry of nitrate reductase from the fungus Neurospora crassa

We report the first direct (unmediated) catalytic electrochemistry of a eukaryotic nitrate reductase (NR). NR from the filamentous fungus Neurospora crassa, is a member of the mononuclear molybdenum enzyme family and contains a Mo, heme and FAD cofactor which are involved in electron transfer from NAD(P)H to the (Mo) active site where reduction of nitrate to nitrite takes place. NR was adsorbed on an edge plane pyrolytic graphite (EPG) working electrode. Non-turnover redox responses were observed in the absence of nitrate from holo NR and three variants lacking the FAD, heme or Mo cofactor. The FAD response is due to dissociated cofactor in all cases. In the presence of nitrate, NR shows a pronounced cathodic catalytic wave with an apparent Michaelis constant (KM) of 39μM (pH7). The catalytic cathodic current increases with temperature from 5 to 35°C and an activation enthalpy of 26kJmol−1 was determined. In spite of dissociation of the FAD cofactor, catalytically activity is maintained.

ChemInform Abstract: YedY: A Mononuclear Molybdenum Enzyme with a Redox‐Active Ligand?

AbstractReview: 13 refs.

YedY: A Mononuclear Molybdenum Enzyme with a Redox-Active Ligand?

A recent electrochemical investigation suggests that the mononuclear molybdenum enzyme YdeY utilizes redox-active ligands during catalysis.

Mechanistic investigation of trimethylamine-N-oxide reduction catalysed by biomimetic molybdenum enzyme models.

In this paper, we report a theoretical investigation of the reduction reaction mechanism of Me3NO using molybdenum containing systems that are functional and structural analogues of trimethylamine N-oxide reductase mononuclear molybdenum enzyme. The reactivity of the monooxomolybdenum(IV) benzenedithiolato complex and its derivatives to carbamoyl (t-BuNHCO) and acylamino (t-BuCONH) substituents on the benzene rings in both cis and trans arrangements was explored. The calculated energy profiles describing the steps of two mechanisms of attack considered viable (named cis- and trans-attack) by the Me3NO substrate at cis and trans positions with respect to the oxo ligand show that the attack on cis is energetically more favourable than the attack on trans. Along the pathway for the cis-attack the first step of the reaction, that is rate-determining for all the studied compounds, is the approach of the substrate to the Mo centre in cis to the oxo ligand that causes a distortion of the initial square-pyramidal geometry of the complex. The reaction steps involved in the trans position attack were also explored. Calculations confirm that, as previously suggested, the introduction of ligands able to form intramolecular NH···S hydrogen bonds accelerates the reduction of the Me3NO substrate and contributes to the tuning of the reactivity of molybdoenzyme models.

Synthesis and catalytic reactivity of mononuclear substituted tetramethylcyclopentadienyl molybdenum carbonyl complexes

The reactions of five dinuclear carbonyl complexes [(η 5-C5Me4R)Mo(CO)3]2 [R = allyl, n Bu, t Bu, Ph, Bz] with I2 in chloroform solution gave the corresponding mononuclear substituted tetramethylcyclopentadienyl molybdenum carbonyl complexes [(η 5-C5Me4R)MoI(CO)3] [R = allyl (1), n Bu (2), t Bu (3), Ph (4), Bz (5)]. The molecular structures of complexes 2, 3 and 5 were determined by X-ray diffraction analysis. The results show that the substituent in the ring can directly affect the Mo–I bond distances; the more sterically hindered the substituent, the longer the Mo–I bond. Friedel–Crafts reactions of aromatic compounds with a variety of alkylation reagents catalyzed by the complexes showed that all of these mononuclear molybdenum carbonyl complexes have catalytic activity in Friedel–Crafts alkylation reactions. Indeed, compared with traditional catalysts, these mononuclear metal carbonyl complexes have obvious advantages such as higher activities, mild reaction conditions, high selectivity, simple post-processing, and environmentally friendly chemistry.

ChemInform Abstract: Bioinspired Functional Analogs of the Active Site of Molybdenum Enzymes: Intermediates and Mechanisms

AbstractReview: 157 refs.

Maturation of molybdoenzymes and its influence on the pathogenesis of non-typeable Haemophilus influenzae.

Mononuclear molybdenum enzymes of the dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) reductase family occur exclusively in prokaryotes, and a loss of some these enzymes has been linked to a loss of bacterial virulence in several cases. The MobA protein catalyzes the final step in the synthesis of the molybdenum guanine dinucleotide (MGD) cofactor that is exclusive to enzymes of the DMSO reductase family. MobA has been proposed as a potential target for control of virulence since its inhibition would affect the activities of all molybdoenzymes dependent upon MGD. Here, we have studied the phenotype of a mobA mutant of the host-adapted human pathogen Haemophilus influenzae. H. influenzae causes and contributes to a variety of acute and chronic diseases of the respiratory tract, and several enzymes of the DMSO reductase family are conserved and highly expressed in this bacterium. The mobA mutation caused a significant decrease in the activities of all Mo-enzymes present, and also resulted in a small defect in anaerobic growth. However, we did not detect a defect in in vitro biofilm formation nor in invasion and adherence to human epithelial cells in tissue culture compared to the wild-type. In a murine in vivo model, the mobA mutant showed only a mild attenuation compared to the wild-type. In summary, our data show that MobA is essential for the activities of molybdenum enzymes, but does not appear to affect the fitness of H. influenzae. These results suggest that MobA is unlikely to be a useful target for antimicrobials, at least for the purpose of treating H. influenzae infections.

Reactivity of [CpMo(CO)2]2 towards heterocyclic thiols: Synthesis, structure, and bonding in the sulfido-ligated cluster Cp3Mo3(μ-CO)2(μ-κ2-C7H4NS)(μ-S)(μ3-S)

The electronically unsaturated dimolybdenum complex [CpMo(CO)2]2 (1) reacts with the π-excessive heterocycle 2-mercapto-1-methylimidazole at 110°C to afford the mononuclear molybdenum complex CpMo(CO)2(κ2-C4H5N2S) (2) and the trimolybdenum cluster Cp3Mo3(μ-CO)2(μ-κ2-C4H5N2)(μ-S)(μ3-S) (3) in 22% and 20% yields, respectively. A similar reaction between 1 and the benzoannulated heterocycle 2-mercaptobenzothiazole furnishes CpMo(CO)2(κ2-C7H4NS2) (4) and Cp3Mo3(μ-CO)2(μ-κ2-C7H4NS)(μ-S)(μ3-S) (5) in 17% and 20% yields, respectively. Compounds 2 and 4 consist of a single molybdenum atom with two carbonyl groups, a cyclopentadienyl ligand, and a chelating heterocyclic thiolato ligand. The trimolybdenum clusters 3 and 5 consist of three cyclopentadienyl ligands, a metalated heterocyclic ligand, edge-bridging and face-capping sulfido ligands, and a pair of semi-bridging carbonyl ligands. All new compounds have been fully characterized in solution by IR and NMR spectroscopy, and the solid-state structures of 3 and 4 have been determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analyses. The bonding in cluster 3 has been computationally investigated by Density Functional Theory (DFT), and the data support a cluster that is electronically saturated with 48e and where both sulfido ligands function as 4e donor groups.

Incorporation of molybdenum in rubredoxin: models for mononuclear molybdenum enzymes.

Molybdenum is found in the active site of enzymes usually coordinated by one or two pyranopterin molecules. Here, we mimic an enzyme with a mononuclear molybdenum-bis pyranopterin center by incorporating molybdenum in rubredoxin. In the molybdenum-substituted rubredoxin, the metal ion is coordinated by four sulfurs from conserved cysteine residues of the apo-rubredoxin and two other exogenous ligands, oxygen and thiol, forming a Mo((VI))-(S-Cys)4(O)(X) complex, where X represents -OH or -SR. The rubredoxin molybdenum center is stabilized in a Mo(VI) oxidation state, but can be reduced to Mo(IV) via Mo(V) by dithionite, being a suitable model for the spectroscopic properties of resting and reduced forms of molybdenum-bis pyranopterin-containing enzymes. Preliminary experiments indicate that the molybdenum site built in rubredoxin can promote oxo transfer reactions, as exemplified with the oxidation of arsenite to arsenate.

Shifting the metallocentric molybdoenzyme paradigm: the importance of pyranopterin coordination.

In this review, we test the hypothesis that pyranopterin coordination plays a critical role in defining substrate reactivities in the four families of mononuclear molybdenum and tungsten enzymes (Mo/W-enzymes). Enzyme families containing a single pyranopterin dithiolene chelate have been demonstrated to have reactivity towards two (sulfite oxidase, SUOX-fold) and five (xanthine dehydrogenase, XDH-fold) types of substrate, whereas the major family of enzymes containing a bis-pyranopterin dithiolene chelate (dimethylsulfoxidereductase, DMSOR-fold) is reactive towards eight types of substrate. A second bis-pyranopterin enzyme (aldehyde oxidoreductase, AOR-fold) family catalyzes a single type of reaction. The diversity of reactions catalyzed by each family correlates with active site variability, and also with the number of pyranopterins and their coordination by the protein. In the case of the AOR-fold enzymes, inflexibility of pyranopterin coordination correlates with their limited substrate specificity (oxidation of aldehydes). In examples of the SUOX-fold and DMSOR-fold enzymes, we observe three types of histidine-containing charge-transfer relays that can: (1) connect the piperazine ring of the pyranopterin to the substrate-binding site (SUOX-fold enzymes); (2) provide inter-pyranopterin communication (DMSOR-fold enzymes); and (3) connect a pyran ring oxygen to deeply buried water molecules (the DMSOR-fold NarGHI-type nitrate reductases). Finally, sequence data mining reveals a number of bacterial species whose predicted proteomes contain large numbers (up to 64) of Mo/W-enzymes, with the DMSOR-fold enzymes being dominant. These analyses also reveal an inverse correlation between Mo/W-enzyme content and pathogenicity.

Synthesis, characterization and crystal structure of a dioxomolybdenum(VI) complex derived from <i>N’</i>-(2-hydroxy-4-diethaylaminobenzylidene)-4-hydroxybenzohydrazide

Reaction of [MoO2(acac)2] (where acac = acetylacetonate) with N’-(2-hydroxy-4-diethaylaminobenzylidene)-4-hydroxybenzohydrazide (H2L) in methanol afforded a methanol-coordinated mononuclear molybdenum(VI) oxo complex, [MoO2L(MeOH)]. Crystal and molecular structure of the complex were determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction method. The complex was further characterized by elemental analysis and FT-IR spectra. Single crystal X-ray structural studies indicate that the hydrazone ligand coordinates to the MoO2 core through enolate oxygen, phenolate oxygen and azomethine nitrogen. The Mo atom in the complex is in octahedral coordination. Thermal stability of the complex has also been studied. KEY WORDS: Molybdenum complex, Hydrazone ligand, Crystal structure, X-ray diffraction, Thermal property Bull. Chem. Soc. Ethiop. 2014, 28(3), 409-414.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.4314/bcse.v28i3.10

Kinetics of substrate inhibition of periplasmic nitrate reductase

Periplasmic nitrate reductase catalyzes the reduction of nitrate into nitrite using a mononuclear molybdenum cofactor that has nearly the same structure in all enzymes of the DMSO reductase family. In previous electrochemical investigations, we found that the enzyme exists in several inactive states, some of which may have been previously isolated and mistaken for catalytic intermediates. In particular, the enzyme slowly and reversibly inactivates when exposed to high concentrations of nitrate. Here, we study the kinetics of substrate inhibition and its dependence on electrode potential and substrate concentration to learn about the properties of the active and inactive forms of the enzyme. We conclude that the substrate-inhibited enzyme never significantly accumulates in the EPR-active Mo(+V) state. This conclusion is relevant to spectroscopic investigations where attempts are made to trap a Mo(+V) catalytic intermediate using high concentrations of nitrate.

Molybdenum(VI)–oxodiperoxo complex containing an oxazine ligand: synthesis, X-ray studies, and catalytic activity

A new mononuclear molybdenum(VI)–oxodiperoxo complex [MoO(O2)2(phox)] with a simple bidentate ligand, 2-(2′-hydroxyphenyl)-5,6-dihydro-1,3-oxazine (Hphox), has been synthesized and characterized by X-ray structure analysis, elemental analysis, infrared, and 1H NMR spectroscopy. A triclinic space group P-1 was determined by X-ray crystallography from single-crystal data of this complex. The resulting complex functioned as a facile sulfide oxidation catalyst with urea hydrogen peroxide as terminal oxidant at room temperature. The catalyst showed efficient reactivity in oxidation of sulfides giving high yield and selectivity.

Two mononuclear molybdenum(VI) oxo complexes with tridentate hydrazone ligands: Synthesis, structures, and thermal stability

A reaction of [MoO2(acac)2] (where acac = acetylacetonate) with two hydrazone ligands in methanol yields two mononuclear molybdenum(VI) oxo complexes with the general formula [MoO2L(CH3OH)], where L = L1=(4-nitrophenoxy)acetic acid [1-(5-chloro-2-hydroxyphenyl)methylidene]hydrazide (H2L1) and L = L2=4-dimethylaminobenzoic acid [1-(2-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)methylidene]hydrazide (H2L2). The crystal and molecular structures of the complexes are determined by the single crystal X-ray diffraction method. All of the investigated compounds are further characterized by the elemental analysis, FT-IR spectra, and thermogravimetric analysies. Single crystal X-ray structural studies indicate that hydrazone ligands coordinate to MoO2 cores through enolate oxygen, phenolate oxygen, and azomethine nitrogen atoms. The Mo atoms in both complexes are in octahedral coordination.