Sulfoxidation Of Thioanisole Research Articles

Metalloporphycene is an Attractive Cofactor for Hemoproteins

Abstract Porphycene, a constitutional isomer of porphyrin, is an attractive ligand, and its metal complexes have been investigated as alternative metal cofactors for hemoproteins such as myoglobin. Iron, cobalt and manganese complexes of porphycene are smoothly inserted into apomyoglobin after removal of native heme b, resulting in stable reconstituted proteins. Myoglobin reconstituted with iron porphycene exhibits extremely high O2 affinity compared to native myoglobin (nMb). In addition, the reconstituted protein also shows catalytic activity toward one-electron oxidation of phenol derivatives and sulfoxidation of thioanisole, although the natural function of nMb is O2 storage. Furthermore, myoglobin reconstituted with manganese porphycene can promote H2O2-dependent hydroxylation of inert alkane species as seen with cytochrome P450s. Myoglobin reconstituted with iron porphycene can act as a catalyst for abiological reactions such as cyclopropanation with ethyl diazoacetate. These results clearly indicate that replacement of heme with metalloporphycenes can dramatically alter the function of hemoproteins.

Hybrid Materials Based on Imidazo[4,5-b]porphyrins for Catalytic Oxidation of Sulfides

Heterogenized metalloporphyrin catalysts for oxidation reactions are extensively explored to improve chemical production. In this work, manganese meso-tetraarylporphyrins were immobilized on hydrated mesoporous titanium dioxide (SBET = 705 m2 g−1) through carboxylate or phosphonate anchoring groups separated from the macrocycle by the 2-arylimidazole linker fused across one of the pyrrolic rings of the macrocycle. The element composition of two mesoporous hybrid materials thus obtained were investigated and the integrity of the immobilized complexes was shown by different physicochemical methods. Finally, the catalytic efficiency of the more stable material Mn(TMPIP)/TiO2 with the phosphonate anchor was evaluated in the selective oxidation of sulfides to sulfoxides by molecular oxygen in the presence of isobutyraldehyde (IBA). The heterogenized complex has shown excellent catalytic activity exhibiting a turnover (TON) of ~1100 in a single catalytic run of the sulfoxidation of thioanisole. The catalyst was successfully reused in seven consecutive catalytic cycles.

Fe(II) complexes of pyridine-substituted thiosemicarbazone ligands as catalysts for oxidations with hydrogen peroxide.

The reaction of three [FeII(TSC)2] complexes, where TSC is a pyridine-substituted thiosemicarbazone of the HDpT or HBpT families, with H2O2 in acetonitrile solution does not result in the accumulation of the corresponding [FeIII(TSC)2]+ complexes. Instead, a mixture of diamagnetic low-spin FeII species is generated. According to the MS spectra, those species result from the sequential addition of up to five oxygen atoms to the complex. This capability for the addition of oxygen atoms suggested that oxygen atom transfer to external substrates may be possible, and these TSC complexes were tested in the oxidation of thioanisole and styrene with H2O2. As hypothesized, the complexes are active in both the oxidation of thioanisole to its sulfoxide and styrene to benzaldehyde, with time scales indicating the participation of the species containing added oxygen atoms. Interestingly, the free thiosemicarbazone ligands and the [Zn(Dp44mT)2] complex also catalyse the selective sulfoxidation of thioanisole, but they are ineffective in catalysing styrene oxidation to benzaldehyde. These findings open up new directions for the development of thiosemicarbazone-based metal catalysts for oxidation processes.

A Contrasting Effect of Acid in Electron Transfer, Oxygen Atom Transfer, and Hydrogen Atom Transfer Reactions of a Nickel(III) Complex.

There have been many examples of the accelerating effects of acids in electron transfer (ET), oxygen atom transfer (OAT), and hydrogen atom transfer (HAT) reactions. Herein, we report a contrasting effect of acids in the ET, OAT, and HAT reactions of a nickel(III) complex, [NiIII(PaPy3*)]2+ (1) in acetone/CH3CN (v/v 19:1). 1 was synthesized by reacting [NiII(PaPy3*)]+ (2) with magic blue or iodosylbenzene in the absence or presence of triflic acid (HOTf), respectively. Sulfoxidation of thioanisole by 1 and H2O occurred in the presence of HOTf, and the reaction rate increased proportionally with increasing concentration of HOTf ([HOTf]). The rate of ET from diacetylferrocene to 1 also increased linearly with increasing [HOTf]. In contrast, HAT from 9,10-dihydroanthracene (DHA) to 1 slowed down with increasing [HOTf], exhibiting an inversely proportional relation to [HOTf]. The accelerating effect of HOTf in the ET and OAT reactions was ascribed to the binding of H+ to the PaPy3* ligand of 2; the one-electron reduction potential (Ered) of 1 was positively shifted with increasing [HOTf]. Such a positive shift in the Ered value resulted in accelerating the ET and OAT reactions that proceeded via the rate-determining ET step. On the other hand, the decelerating effect of HOTf on HAT from DHA to 1 resulted from the inhibition of proton transfer from DHA•+ to 2 due to the binding of H+ to the PaPy3* ligand of 2. The ET reactions of 1 in the absence and presence of HOTf were well analyzed in light of the Marcus theory of ET in comparison with the HAT reactions.

A Unique P450 Peroxygenase System Facilitated by a Dual-Functional Small Molecule: Concept, Application, and Perspective.

Cytochrome P450 monooxygenases (P450s) are promising versatile oxidative biocatalysts. However, the practical use of P450s in vitro is limited by their dependence on the co-enzyme NAD(P)H and the complex electron transport system. Using H2O2 simplifies the catalytic cycle of P450s; however, most P450s are inactive in the presence of H2O2. By mimicking the molecular structure and catalytic mechanism of natural peroxygenases and peroxidases, an artificial P450 peroxygenase system has been designed with the assistance of a dual-functional small molecule (DFSM). DFSMs, such as N-(ω-imidazolyl fatty acyl)-l-amino acids, use an acyl amino acid as an anchoring group to bind the enzyme, and the imidazolyl group at the other end functions as a general acid-base catalyst in the activation of H2O2. In combination with protein engineering, the DFSM-facilitated P450 peroxygenase system has been used in various oxidation reactions of non-native substrates, such as alkene epoxidation, thioanisole sulfoxidation, and alkanes and aromatic hydroxylation, which showed unique activities and selectivity. Moreover, the DFSM-facilitated P450 peroxygenase system can switch to the peroxidase mode by mechanism-guided protein engineering. In this short review, the design, mechanism, evolution, application, and perspective of these novel non-natural P450 peroxygenases for the oxidation of non-native substrates are discussed.

Evaluation of the protolytic equilibria and catalytic activity of sugar-based Schiff base ligands with VO2+ and MoO22+ cations in sulfoxidation and epoxidation reactions

Based on the two anomeric methyl 3-amino-2,3-dideoxy-d-arabino-hexopyranosides ten new sugar-modified Schiff base ligands have been synthesized after monocondensation reaction with five o-hydroxyaromatic aldehydes, i.e. salicylaldehyde and its five para-substituted derivatives. The acidity constants and acid-base equilibria processes in polar solution were calculated from data obtained after spectrophotometric titrations at room temperature. The first acidity constant is found to be associated with the deprotonation of an enamine nitrogen and the second constant correspond to the deprotonation of the phenolate oxygen. The contribution of the enol-imine and keto-enamine tautomeric forms and prototropic 1,5-rearrangement has been discussed with the help of the spectroscopic IR, UV–Vis and NMR techniques. Finally, in situ generated catalysts were carried out by mixing separately all synthesized sugar-based Schiff bases with VO(acac)2 or MoO2(acac)2, and have been tested in asymmetric sulfoxidation of thioanisole and the epoxidation of styrene, cyclohexene and S(−)-limonene using tert-butyl hydroperoxide (TBHP) as the terminal oxidant.

A Density Functional Theory Study on Comparing the Reactivity of [Mn(13-TMC)(OOH)]2+ and [Mn(13-TMC)(O2)]+ for the Sulfoxidation of Thioanisole: Elucidation of Substrate and Non-Redox Metal Ion Effects.

The reactivities of [Mn(13-TMC)(OOH)]2+ (1) and [Mn(13-TMC)(O2)]+ (2) in the sulfoxidation of thioanisole have been compared using density functional theory methods. The orientation of the 13-TMC ligand and substrate and non-redox metal ion effects have been considered to improve the oxidation efficiency of 1 and 2. In 1, the syn- and anti-orientation of the 13-TMC ligand do not change the coordination of the Mn ion. In contrast, the orientation of the 13-TMC ligand regulates the geometry of 2, wherein the syn-13-TMC ligand exhibits the MnIII-peroxo (2hs and 2ls) species, while the anti-13-TMC shows the MnII-superoxo (2'hs and 2'ls) species. However, the MnII-superoxo species are found to be less stable than the MnIII-peroxo complexes by around +26.6 kcal/mol. The ground state geometries of 1 and 2 with the syn-13-TMC ligand are found to be more stable in the high- (S = 2) spin states (1hs and 2hs) than the low- (S = 1) spin complexes (1ls and 2ls), by +15.6 and +25.5 kcal/mol, respectively. The computed mechanistic pathways clearly indicate that the sulfoxidation of thioanisole by 1hs is kinetically (by +16.6 to +46.1 kcal/mol) and thermodynamically (+14.4 to +56.1 kcal/mol) more preferred than 1ls, 2hs, and 2ls species. This is mainly due to the feasible heterolytic O1-O2 bond cleavage followed by the proton transfer step. In addition, the molecular electrostatic potential analysis indicates that the higher oxidation efficacy of 1hs than 2hs is due to the -OOH moiety. The reactivity of 1hs is further enhanced by incorporating electron donating substituents in thioanisole, wherein the p-NH2 thioanisole decreases the ΔG‡ of 1hs by 28%. Interestingly, the incorporation of non-redox metal ions (Mn+ = Sc3+, Y3+, Mg2+, and Zn2+) improves the reactivity of 2hs, wherein the non-redox metal ions tend to bind with the oxygen atoms of 2hs and subsequently shift the one-electron reduction potential (E0(red) vs SCE) toward the positive side. The positive shift in the E0(red) is more evident in 2hs-Y3+ that significantly decreases the ΔG‡ of 2hs by 58.7%, which is in fact lower than the ΔG‡ of 1hs by +2.0 kcal/mol. Hence, in the presence of Y3+, the reactivity of 2hs is comparable with 1hs in the sulfoxidation of thioanisole.

Stabilizing DNAzymes through Encapsulation in a Metal-Organic Framework.

DNAzymes are a promising class of bioinspired catalyst; however, their structural instability limits their potential. Herein, a method to stabilize DNAzymes by encapsulating them in a metal-organic framework (MOF) host is reported. This biomimetic mineralization process makes DNAzymes active under a wider range of conditions. The concept is demonstrated by encapsulating hemin-G-quadruplex (Hemin-G4) into zeolitic imidazolate framework-90 (ZIF-90), which indeed increases the DNAzyme's structural stability. The stabilized DNAzymes show activities in the presence of Exonuclease I, organic solvents, or high temperature. Owing to its elevated stability and heterogeneous nature, it is possible to perform catalysis under continuous-flow conditions, and the DNAzyme can be reactivated in situ by introducing K+ . Moreover, it is found that the encapsulated DNAzyme maintains its high enantiomer selectivity, demonstrated by the sulfoxidation of thioanisole to (S)-methyl phenyl sulfoxide. This concept of stabilizing DNAzymes expands their potential application in chemical industry.

Synthesis, spectroscopic characterization and catalytic activity of cis‐dioxidomolybdenum (VI) complexes with chiral tetradentate Schiff bases

New chiral mononuclear cis‐dioxidomolybdenum (VI) complexes, MoO2L1–MoO2L10, with tetradentate Schiff bases derived from various substituted salicylaldehydes and 1S,2S‐(+)‐2‐amino‐1‐(4‐nitrophenyl)‐1,3‐propanediol were synthesized. All complexes were characterized by elemental analysis, circular dichroism, electronic and IR spectroscopy. 1H NMR and also two‐dimensional (COSY, NOESY and gHSQC) NMR measurements made for MoO2L1–MoO2L10 complexes show that Schiff bases are coordinated to the MoO22+ cation, creating facial (fac) and meridional (mer) types of geometrical isomers. Moreover, catalytic activity studies were also performed for all complexes in asymmetric sulfoxidation of thioanisole and epoxidation of styrene, cyclohexene and two monoterpenes, i.e. S(−)‐limonene and (−)‐α‐pinene, using aqueous 30% H2O2 or tert‐butyl hydroperoxide as the oxygen source.

Cis-dioxidomolybdenum(VI) complexes with chiral tetradentate Schiff bases: Synthesis, spectroscopic characterization and catalytic activity in sulfoxidation and epoxidation

New chiral mononuclear cis-dioxidomolybdenum(VI) complexes, MoO2L1-MoO2L7, have been synthesized by the reaction of MoO2(acac)2 with tetradentate Schiff bases derived from various substituted salicylaldehydes and 1S,2S-(+)-2-amino-1-phenyl-1,3-propanediol. All complexes have been characterized by elemental analysis, circular dichroism, electronic and IR spectral studies. 1H NMR and also two-dimensional (COSY, NOESY and gHSQC) NMR measurements made for MoO2L1-MoO2L7 complexes show that Schiff bases are coordinated to MoO22+ cation creating facial (fac) and meridional (mer) types of geometrical isomers. Moreover, the catalytic activity studies have been also performed for all complexes in asymmetric sulfoxidation of thioanisole and epoxidation of styrene, cyclohexene and two monoterpenes, i.e. S(−)-limonene and (−)-α-pinene, using aqueous 30% H2O2 or tert-butyl hydroperoxide (TBHP) as the oxygen source.

Chiral cis-dioxidomolybdenum(VI) complexes with Schiff bases possessing two alkoxide groups: Synthesis, structure, spectroscopic studies and their catalytic activity in sulfoxidation and epoxidation

New chiral mononuclear cis-dioxidomolybdenum(VI) complexes, [MoO2(HL1-9)] and [MoO2(HL10)(CH3OH)], have been synthesized by the reaction of MoO2(acac)2 with tetradentate Schiff bases derived from various substituted salicylaldehydes and R(+)-3-amino-1,2-propanediol. All complexes have been characterized by elemental analysis, circular dichroism, electronic, IR and NMR (1H, 13C) spectroscopy. The molecular and crystal structure of [MoO2(HL10)(CH3OH)] elucidated by single-crystal X-ray diffraction revealed a six-coordinate distorted octahedral geometry and coordination of methanol molecule leaving one hydroxyl group uncoordinated. Surprisingly, NMR measurements made for [MoO2(HL1-9)] undoubtedly show that Schiff bases behave as dibasic tetradentate ONOO donor ligands and no solvent coordination has been observed. The catalytic activity studies have been also performed for all complexes in asymmetric sulfoxidation of thioanisole and epoxidation of styrene, cyclohexene and two monoterpenes, i.e. S(−)-limonene and (−)-α-pinene, using aqueous 30% H2O2 or tert-butyl hydroperoxide (TBHP) as the oxygen source.

Natural Variation in the ‘Control Loop’ of BVMOAFL210 and Its Influence on Regioselectivity and Sulfoxidation

Baeyer-Villiger monooxygenases (BVMOs) are flavin-dependent enzymes that primarily convert ketones to esters, but can also catalyze heteroatom oxidation. Several structural studies have highlighted the importance of the ‘control loop’ in BVMOs, which adopts different conformations during catalysis. Central to the ‘control loop’ is a conserved tryptophan that has been implicated in NADP(H) binding. BVMOAFL210 from Aspergillus flavus, however, contains a threonine in the equivalent position. Here, we report the structure of BVMOAFL210 in complex with NADP+ in both the ‘open’ and ‘closed’ conformations. In neither conformation does Thr513 contact the NADP+. Although mutagenesis of Thr513 did not significantly alter the substrate scope, changes in peroxyflavin stability and reaction rates were observed. Mutation of this position also brought about changes in the regio- and enantioselectivity of the enzyme. Moreover, lower rates of overoxidation during sulfoxidation of thioanisole were also observed.

Enantioselective Sulfoxidation of Thioanisole by Cascading a Choline Oxidase and a Peroxygenase in the Presence of Natural Deep Eutectic Solvents.

A bienzymatic cascade for selective sulfoxidation is presented. The evolved recombinant peroxygenase from Agrocybe aegeritra catalyses the enantioselective sulfoxidation of thioanisole whereas the choline oxidase from Arthrobacter nicotianae provides the H2 O2 necessary via reductive activation of ambient oxygen. The reactions are performed in choline chloride-based deep eutectic solvents serving as co-solvent and stoichiometric reductant at the same time. Very promising product concentrations (up to 15 mM enantiopure sulfoxide) and catalyst performances (turnover numbers of 150,000 and 2100 for the peroxygenase and oxidase, respectively) have been achieved.

Enhanced Activity and Substrate Specificity by Site-Directed Mutagenesis for the P450 119 Peroxygenase Catalyzed Sulfoxidation of Thioanisole.

P450 119 peroxygenase was found to catalyze the sulfoxidation of thioanisole and the sulfonation of sulfoxide in the presence of tert‐butyl hydroperoxide (TBHP) for the first time with turnover rates of 1549 min−1 and 196 min−1 respectively. Several mutants were designed to improve the peroxygenation activity and thioanisole specificity by site‐directed mutagenesis. The F153G/T213G mutant gave an increase of sulfoxide yield and a decrease of sulfone yield. Moreover the S148P/I161T/K199E/T214V mutant and the K199E mutant with acidic Glu residue contributed to improving the product ratio of sulfoxide to sulfone. Addition of short‐alkyl‐chain organic acids to the P450 119 peroxygenase‐catalyzed sulfur oxidation of thioanisole was investigated. Octanoic acid was found to induce a preferred sulfoxidation of thioanisole catalyzed by the F153G/T213G mutant to give approximately 2.4‐fold increase in turnover rate with a k cat value of 3687 min−1 relative to that of the wild‐type, and by the F153G mutant to give the R‐sulfoxide up to 30 % ee. The experimental control and the proposed mechanism for the P450 119 peroxygenase‐catalyzed sulfoxidation of thioanisole in the presence of octanoic acid suggested that octanoic acid could partially occupy the substrate pocket; meanwhile the F153G mutation could enhance the substrate specificity, which could lead to efficiently regulate the spatial orientation of thioanisole and facilitate the formation of Compound I. This is the most effective catalytic system for the P450 119 peroxygenase‐catalyzed sulfoxidation of thioanisole.

P450BM3-Catalyzed Oxidations Employing Dual Functional Small Molecules

A set of dual functional small molecules (DFSMs) containing different amino acids has been synthesized and employed together with three different variants of the cytochrome P450 monooxygenase P450BM3 from Bacillus megaterium in H2O2-dependent oxidation reactions. These DFSMs enhance P450BM3 activity with hydrogen peroxide as an oxidant, converting these enzymes into formal peroxygenases. This system has been employed for the catalytic epoxidation of styrene and in the sulfoxidation of thioanisole. Various P450BM3 variants have been evaluated in terms of activity and selectivity of the peroxygenase reactions.

A Stereoselective Tyrosinase Model Compound Derived from an m-Xylyl-l-histidine Ligand.

The aim of mimicking enzyme activity represents an important motivation for the development of new catalysts. A challenging objective is the development of chiral complexes for bioinspired enantioselective oxidation reactions. Herein, we report a new chiral dinuclear copper(II) complex based on a m-xylyl-bis(histidine) ligand (mXHI) as a biomimetic catalyst for tyrosinase and catechol oxidase. The new ligand improves a previous system also containing two tridentate N3 units derived from l-histidine that were connected by a short, rigid ethanediamine bridge. In mXHI the bridge is provided by the more extended m-xylyl moiety. The dicopper(II) complex [Cu2(mXHI)]4+ was studied as a catalyst for stereoselective oxidations of enantiomeric couples of chiral catechols of biological interest (L/D-dopa, L/D-dopa methyl ester, and ( R/ S)-norepinephrine), showing excellent discrimination capability, particularly for the methyl esters of dopa enantiomers. The catechol oxidation was studied in acetate buffer as slightly acidic medium, and a role of acetate as bridging ligand between the two coppers, preorganizing the dinuclear center in a more catalytic efficient structure, could be established. The oxidation of β-naphthol and 3,5-ditertbutylphenol was studied as a model monophenolase reaction. The oxidation proceeds stoichiometrically, and the partial incorporation of 18O into β-naphthol when the reaction was performed using 18O2 suggests the existence of two competitive reaction pathways, a genuine monooxygenase mechanism and a radical pathway. However, the more challenging reaction on derivatives of l-/d-tyrosine did not lead to the desired monooxygenase product but only to products of radical oxidation. Complex [Cu2(mXHI)]4+ was also used for the catalytic sulfoxidation of thioanisole in the presence of hydroxylamine as cosubstrate, in a preliminary attempt to model the reaction of external monooxygenases. The reaction proceeds with 25 turnovers, but the enantiomeric excess of sulfoxide was modest.

Unified Mechanism of Oxygen Atom Transfer and Hydrogen Atom Transfer Reactions with a Triflic Acid-Bound Nonheme Manganese(IV)–Oxo Complex via Outer-Sphere Electron Transfer

Outer-sphere electron transfer from styrene, thioanisole, and toluene derivatives to a triflic acid (HOTf)-bound nonheme Mn(IV)-oxo complex, [(N4Py)MnIV(O)]2+-(HOTf)2 (N4Py = N, N-bis(2-pyridylmethyl)- N-bis(2-pyridyl)methylamine), has been shown to be the rate-determining step of different types of redox reactions such as epoxidation, sulfoxidation, and hydroxylation of styrene, thioanisole, and toluene derivatives, respectively, by [(N4Py)MnIV(O)]2+-(HOTf)2. The rate constants of HOTf-promoted epoxidation of all styrene derivatives with [(N4Py)MnIV(O)]2+ and electron transfer from electron donors to [(N4Py)MnV(O)]2+ exhibit a remarkably unified correlation with the driving force of outer-sphere electron transfer in light of the Marcus theory of electron transfer. The same electron-transfer driving force dependence is observed in the oxygen atom transfer from [(N4Py)MnIV(O)]2+-(HOTf)2 to thioanisole derivatives as well as in the hydrogen atom transfer from toluene derivatives to [(N4Py)MnIV(O)]2+-(HOTf)2. Thus, mechanisms of oxygen atom transfer (epoxidation and sulfoxidation) reactions of styrene and thioanisole derivatives and hydrogen atom transfer (hydroxylation) reactions of toluene derivatives by [(N4Py)MnIV(O)]2+-(HOTf)2 have been unified for the first time as the same reaction pathway via outer-sphere electron transfer, followed by the fast bond-forming step, which exhibits the singly unified electron-transfer driving force dependence of the rate constants as outer-sphere electron-transfer reactions. In the case of the epoxidation of cis-stilbene by [(N4Py)MnIV(O)]2+-(HOTf)2, the isomerization of cis-stilbene radical cation to trans-stilbene radical cation occurs after outer-sphere electron transfer from cis-stilbene to [(N4Py)MnIV(O)]2+-(HOTf)2 to yield trans-stilbene oxide selectively, which is also taken as evidence for the occurrence of electron transfer in the acid-catalyzed epoxidation.

Oxovanadium(V) complexes with tripodal bisphenolate and monophenolate ligands: Syntheses, structures and catalytic activities

The reactions between [VO(acac)2] (acac– = acetylacetonate) and the tripodal amino bisphenols 6,6′-(((2-morpholinoethyl)azanediyl)bis(methylene))bis(2,4-di-tert-butylphenol) (H2L1) and 6,6′-(((thiophen-2-ylmethyl)azanediyl)bis(methylene))bis(2,4-di-tert-butylphenol) (H2L2) as well as the tetradentate amino phenol 2,2′-((3,5-di-tert-butyl-2-hydroxybenzyl)azanediyl)bis(ethan-1-ol) (H3L3) afford the complexes [VO(L1)(OMe)] (1), [VO(L2)(acac)] (2) and [VO(L3)] (3), correspondingly. Complexes 1 and 3 can also be prepared using VOSO4·xH2O or [VO(OPr)3] as vanadium precursors. When [VO(acac)2] or VOSO4·xH2O is used, mononuclear oxovanadium(V) complexes are formed upon oxidation of the metal precursor. Single crystal X-ray structure analysis show that complexes 1 and 2 have distorted octahedral coordination spheres, in which the amino bisphenolate coordinates in a tetradentate or tridentate manner, respectively, and the coordination spheres are completed by methoxy or acetylacetonato ligands. Complex 3 has a slightly distorted trigonal bipyramidal geometry with an NO4 coordination environment. All three complexes can catalyze epoxidation of cis-cyclooctene at 50 °C with tert-butyl hydroperoxide (TBHP) or H2O2 as an oxygen source, and sulfoxidation of thioanisole or methyl-p-tolylsulfide proceeds at 25 °C using the same oxidants.

New salan and salen vanadium complexes: Syntheses and application in sulfoxidation catalysis

New diamine bis-phenol compounds of salan- (HOPh’CHNH(CH2)2NHCHPh’OH, Ph’ = 2,4-(CMe2Ph)C6H2, H2L1) and salen-type (HOPh’’CHN(CHPh)2NCHPh’’OH, Ph’’ = 2,4-tBuC6H2, H2L2 and HOPh’’CHN(1,1′-2-binaphthyl)NCHPh’’OH, Ph’’ = 2,4-tBuC6H2, H2L3), as well as their oxido vanadium derivatives are described. VO(OiPr)3 was used as starting material for the preparation of [VO(OiPr)(L1)], 1, [VO(OiPr)(L2)], 3, and (μ-O){[VO(OiPr)(μ-O)(L3)VO]}2, 5. An intramolecular redox process involving the reduction of V(V) to V(IV) converts 3 into [VO(L2)], 4. The reactions of 1 and 5 with Me3SiCl give [VOCl(L1)], 2, and [VOCl(L3)], 6, respectively. All complexes were tested as catalysts for the sulfoxidation of thioanisole using H2O2 as oxidant. In general, the compounds display high activity and selectivity, although salan-type complexes (1 and 2) perform better. Comparison of complexes 5 and 6 shows that the monomeric species is more active and selective. Well-defined complexes, 5 and 6, display better catalytic performance than systems using 1:1.5 [VO(acac)2] and H2L3.

Dual-Functional Small Molecules for Generating an Efficient Cytochrome P450BM3 Peroxygenase.

We report a unique strategy for the development of a H2 O2 -dependent cytochrome P450BM3 system, which catalyzes the monooxygenation of non-native substrates with the assistance of dual-functional small molecules (DFSMs), such as N-(ω-imidazolyl fatty acyl)-l-amino acids. The acyl amino acid group of DFSM is responsible for bounding to enzyme as an anchoring group, while the imidazolyl group plays the role of general acid-base catalyst in the activation of H2 O2 . This system affords the best peroxygenase activity for the epoxidation of styrene, sulfoxidation of thioanisole, and hydroxylation of ethylbenzene among those P450-H2 O2 system previously reported. This work provides the first example of the activation of the normally H2 O2 -inert P450s through the introduction of an exogenous small molecule. This approach improves the potential use of P450s in organic synthesis as it avoids the expensive consumption of the reduced nicotinamide cofactor NAD(P)H and its dependent electron transport system. This introduces a promising approach for exploiting enzyme activity and function based on direct chemical intervention in the catalytic process.