Redox regulation of protein tyrosine phosphatase activity by hydroxyl radical

Substantial evidence suggests that transient production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) such as hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) is an important signaling event triggered by the activation of various cell surface receptors. Major targets of H₂O₂ include protein tyrosine phosphatases (PTPs). Oxidation of the active site Cys by H₂O₂ abrogates PTP catalytic activity, thereby potentially furnishing a mechanism to ensure optimal tyrosine phosphorylation in response to a variety of physiological stimuli. Unfortunately, H₂O₂ is poorly reactive in chemical terms and the second order rate constants for the H₂O₂-mediated PTP inactivation are ~ 10 M^− 1 s^− 1, which is too slow to be compatible with the transient signaling events occurring at the physiological concentrations of H₂O₂. We find that hydroxyl radical is produced from H₂O₂ solutions in the absence of metal chelating agent by the Fenton reaction. We show that the hydroxyl radical is capable of inactivating the PTPs and the inactivation is active site directed, through oxidation of the catalytic Cys to sulfenic acid, which can be reduced by low molecular weight thiols. We also show that hydroxyl radical is a kinetically more efficient oxidant than H₂O₂ for inactivating the PTPs. The second-order rate constants for the hydroxyl radical-mediated PTP inactivation are at least 2–3 orders of magnitude higher than those mediated by H₂O₂ under the same conditions. Thus, hydroxyl radical generated in vivo may serve as a more physiologically relevant oxidizing agent for PTP inactivation. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Chemistry and mechanism of phosphatases, diesterases and triesterases.     

Bicarbonate-catalyzed hydrogen peroxide oxidation of cysteine and related thiols

The effect of bicarbonate on the rates of the H₂O₂ oxidation of cysteine, gluthathione, and N-acetylcysteine to the corresponding disulfides was investigated. The relative oxidation rates at pH 8 for the different thiols are inversely related to the pK_a values of the thiol groups, and the reactive nucleophiles are identified as the thiolate anions or their kinetic equivalents. The second-order rate constants at 25 °C for the reaction of the thiolate anions with hydrogen peroxide are 17 ± 2 M⁻¹ s⁻¹ for all three substrates. In the presence of bicarbonate (>25 mM), the observed rate of thiolate oxidation is increased by a factor of two or more, and the catalysis is proposed to be associated with the formation of peroxymonocarbonate from the equilibrium reaction of hydrogen peroxide with bicarbonate (via CO₂). The calculated second-order rate constants for the direct reaction of the three thiolate anions with peroxymonocarbonate fall within the range of 900-2000 M⁻¹ s⁻¹. Further oxidation of disulfides by peroxymonocarbonate results in the formation of thiosulfonate and sulfonate products. These results strongly suggest that peroxymonocarbonate should be considered as a reactive oxygen species in aerobic metabolism with relevance in thiol oxidations.     

Hydrogen peroxide targets the cysteine at the active site and irreversibly inactivates creatine kinase

In our study, we showed that at a relatively low concentration, H₂O₂ can irreversibly inactivate the human brain type of creatine kinase (HBCK) and that HBCK is inactivated in an H₂O₂ concentration-dependent manner. HBCK is completely inactivated when incubated with 2 mM H₂O₂ for 1 h (pH 8.0, 25 °C). Inactivation of HBCK is a two-stage process with a fast stage (k₁ = 0.050 ± 0.002 min⁻¹) and a slow (k₂ = 0.022 ± 0.003 min⁻¹) stage. HBCK inactivation by H₂O₂ was affected by pH and therefore we determined the pH profile of HBCK inactivation by H₂O₂. H₂O₂-induced inactivation could not be recovered by reducing agents such as dl-dithiothreitol, N-acetyl-l-cysteine, and l-glutathione reduced. When HBCK was treated with DTNB, an enzyme substrate that reacts specifically with active site cysteines, the enzyme became resistant to H₂O₂. HBCK binding to Mg²⁺ATP and creatine can also prevent H₂O₂ inactivation. Intrinsic and 1-anilinonaphthalene-8-sulfonate-binding fluorescence data showed no tertiary structure changes after H₂O₂ treatment. The thiol group content of H₂O₂-treated HBCK was reduced by 13% (approximately 1 thiol group per HBCK dimer, theoretically). For further insight, we performed a simulation of HBCK and H₂O₂ docking that suggested the CYS283 residue could interact with H₂O₂. Considering these results and the asymmetrical structure of HBCK, we propose that H₂O₂ specifically targets the active site cysteine of HBCK to inactivate HBCK, but that substrate-bound HBCK is resistant to H₂O₂. Our findings suggest the existence of a previously unknown negative form of regulation of HBCK via reactive oxygen species.     

Suicide-Peroxide inactivation of microperoxidase-11: A kinetic study

The kinetics of microperoxidase-11 (MP-11) in the oxidation reaction of guaiacol (AH) by hydrogen peroxide was studied, taking into account the inactivation of enzyme during reaction by its suicide substrate, H₂O₂. Concentrations of substrates were so selected that: 1) the reaction was first-order in relation to benign substrate, AH and 2) high ratio of suicide substrate to the benign substrate, [H₂O₂]>>[AH]. Validation and reliability of the obtained kinetic equations were evaluated in various nonlinear and linear forms. Fitting of experimental data into the obtained integrated equation showed a close match between the kinetic model and the experimental results. Indeed, a similar mechanism to horseradish peroxidase was found for the suicide-peroxide inactivation of MP-11. Kinetic parameters of inactivation including the intact activity of MP-11, α_i, and the apparent inactivation rate constant, k_i, were obtained as 0.282 ± 0.006 min^{? 1} and 0.497 ± 0.013 min^{? 1} at [H₂O₂] = 1.0 mM, 27°C, phosphate buffer 5.0 mM, pH = 7.0. Results showed that inactivation of microperoxidase as a peroxidase model enzyme can occur even at low concentrations of hydrogen peroxide (0.4 mM).     

Biosensor based on the biocatalysis of microperoxidase-11 in nanocomposite material of multiwalled carbon nanotubes/room temperature ionic liquid for amperometric determination of hydrogen peroxide

A novel nanocomposite material of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and room temperature ionic liquid (RTIL) N-butylpyridinium hexafluorophosphate (BPPF₆) was explored and used to construct a novel microperoxidase-11 (MP-11) biosensor for the determination of hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂). Cyclic voltammetry (CV) and differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) were used to characterize the performance of the biosensor. Under the optimized experimental conditions, H₂O₂ could be detected in a linear calibration range of 0.5 to 7.0 × 10⁻⁷ mol L⁻¹ with a correlation coefficient of 0.9949 (n = 9) and a detection limit of 3.8 × 10⁻⁹ mol L⁻¹ at 3σ. The modified electrodes displayed excellent electrochemical response, high sensitivity, long-term stability, and good bioactivity and selectivity.     

Antifungal defenses of seagrasses from the Indian River Lagoon,Florida

We investigated the antifungal chemical defenses and physiological responses of five seagrasses collected from nearshore seagrass beds from the Indian River Lagoon, Florida, against a panel of co-occurring marine fungi isolated from nearby coastal communities. Whole plant tissues from Thalassia testudinum, Halodule wrightii and Syringodium filiforme prevented overgrowth by three of the seven fungi used in this study. Organic extracts from four of the five seagrasses inhibited the growth of at least one fungal strain. The extract from Ruppia maritima exhibited the highest antifungal activity, inhibiting the growth of three fungi including the pathogen Lindra thalassiae. Among the fungal panel, Fusarium sp. 2 was the most susceptible to seagrass extracts, whereas none of the extracts disrupted the growth of Dendryphiella salina and Fusarium sp. 3. Under laboratory conditions fungal inoculation elicited hydrogen peroxide production in all specimens within 25 min post-inoculation as measured with a redox sensitive dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate (DCFH-DA) assay. The concentration of H₂O₂ released into the immediate vicinity of infected seagrasses varied between 0.10 and 0.85 μmol g⁻¹ FW min⁻¹ depending on seagrass species and pathogen combination. Longer term incubation (days) of T. testudinum with homogenates of D. salina or L. thallasiae resulted in the induction of caspase activity, a known proteolytic activator of apoptotic and inflammatory activities. The application of micromolar concentrations of H₂O₂ to blades of T. testudinum induced caspase activity suggesting that fungal detection, H₂O₂ production, and caspase activation occur in a consecutive order. The seagrasses examined in this study appear to use a combined strategy to combat fungal infection, including microbial chemical defenses and signaling pathways observed in terrestrial plants.     

The novel non-heme vanadium bromoperoxidase from marine algae: Phosphate inactivation

Summary Vanadium bromoperoxidase is a naturally occurring vanadium-containing enzyme isolated from marine algae. V-BrPO catalyzes the oxidation of halides by hydrogen peroxide which can result in the halogenation of organic substrates. Bromoperoxidase activity is measured by the halogenation of monochlorodimedone (2-chloro-5,5-dimethyl-1,3-dimedone, MCD). In the absence of an organic substrate, V-BrPO catalyzes the halide-assisted disproportionation of hydrogen peroxide yielding dioxygen. The dioxygen formed is in the singlet excited state (¹O₂). V-BrPO is quite stable to thermal denaturation and denaturation by certain organic solvents which makes V-BrPO an excellent candidate for industrial applications. The stability of V-BrPO in the presence of strong oxidants and in the presence of phosphate is reported. Incubation of V-BrPO in phosphate buffer (1–100 mM at pH 6; 2–10 mM at pH 5) inactivates the enzyme. The inactivity can be fully restored by the addition of vanadate if excess phosphate is removed. The inactivation of V-BrPO by phosphate can be prevented by the presence of H₂O₂ (4–40 mM). We are currently investigating the mechanism of V-BrPO inactivation by phosphate. V-BrPO was not inactivated by HOCl (1 mM) nor H₂O₂. In addition V-BrPO was not inactivated under turnover conditions of 1 mM H₂O₂ with 0.1–1 M Cl^– at pH 5 nor 2 mM H₂O₂ with 0.1 M Br^–.     

Chemiluminescent determination of H2O2 using 4-(1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)phenol as an enhancer based on the immobilization of horseradish peroxidase onto magnetic beads

This article describes the employment of a novel p-phenol derivative, 4-(1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)phenol (TRP), as a highly potent signal enhancer of the luminol-hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂)-horseradish peroxidase (HRP) chemiluminescence (CL) system. The CL reaction conditions were optimized, and the enhancement characteristics of TRP were compared with those of p-iodophenol (PIP). TRP produced a strong enhancement of the CL with the effect of prolonging the light emission. The developed system was then applied to the determination of H₂O₂ with immobilized HRP using magnetic beads as a solid support. The linear range for H₂O₂ was 2.0 × 10⁻⁶ to 1.0 × 10⁻³ M. The detection limit for H₂O₂ was 2.0 × 10⁻⁶ M. The proposed sensor was applied successfully to the determination of H₂O₂ in rainwater.     

The kinetics of the complex formation between iron(III)-ethylenediaminetetraacetate and hydrogen peroxide in aqueous solution

The kinetics of the formation of the purple complex [Fe^III(EDTA)O₂]³⁻, between Fe^III-EDTA and hydrogen peroxide was studied as a function of pH (8.22-11.44) and temperature (10-40 °C) in aqueous solutions using a stopped-flow method. The reaction was first-order with respect to both reactants. The observed second-order rate constants decrease with an increase in pH and appear to be related to deprotonation of Fe^III-EDTA ([Fe(EDTA)H₂O]⁻ ⇔ Fe(EDTA)OH]²⁻ + H⁺). The rate law for the formation of the complex was found to be d[Fe^IIIEDTAO₂]³⁻/dt=[(k₄[H⁺]/([H⁺] + K₁)][Fe^III-EDTA][H₂O₂], where k₄=8.15±0.05×10⁴ M⁻¹ s⁻¹ and pK₁=7.3. The steps involved in the formation of [Fe(EDTA)O₂]³⁻ are briefly discussed.     

The peroxidase and peroxynitrite reductase activity of human erythrocyte peroxiredoxin 2

Peroxiredoxin 2 (Prx2) is a 2-Cys peroxiredoxin extremely abundant in the erythrocyte. The peroxidase activity was studied in a steady-state approach yielding an apparent K_M of 2.4 μM for human thioredoxin and a very low K_M for H₂O₂ (?0.7 μM). Rate constants for the reaction of peroxidatic cysteine with the peroxide substrate, H₂O₂ or peroxynitrite, were determined by competition kinetics, k₂ = 1.0 × 10⁸ and 1.4 × 10⁷ M⁻¹ s⁻¹ at 25 °C and pH 7.4, respectively. Excess of both oxidants inactivated the enzyme by overoxidation and also tyrosine nitration and dityrosine were observed with peroxynitrite treatment. Prx2 associates into decamers (5 homodimers) and we estimated a dissociation constant K_d < 10⁻²³ M⁴ which confirms the enzyme exists as a decamer in vivo. Our kinetic results indicate Prx2 is a key antioxidant enzyme for the erythrocyte and reveal red blood cells as active oxidant scrubbers in the bloodstream.     

Suicide inactivation of peroxidase from Chamaerops excelsa palm tree leaves

The concentration and time-dependences and the mechanism of the inactivation of Chamaerops excelsa peroxidase (CEP) by hydrogen peroxide were studied kinetically with four co-substrates (2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS), guaiacol, o-dianisidine and o-phenylenediamine). The turnover number (r) of H₂O₂ required to complete the inactivation of the enzyme varied for the different substrates, the enzyme most resistant to inactivation (r = 4844) with ABTS being the most useful substrate for biotechnological applications, opening a new avenue of enquiry with this peroxidase.     

Probing hydrogen peroxide oxidation kinetics of wild-type Synechocystis catalase-peroxidase (KatG) and selected variants

Catalase-peroxidases (KatGs) are unique bifunctional heme peroxidases that exhibit peroxidase and substantial catalase activities. Nevertheless, the reaction pathway of hydrogen peroxide dismutation, including the electronic structure of the redox intermediate that actually oxidizes H₂O₂, is not clearly defined. Several mutant proteins with diminished overall catalase but wild-type-like peroxidase activity have been described in the last years. However, understanding of decrease in overall catalatic activity needs discrimination between reduction and oxidation reactions of hydrogen peroxide. Here, by using sequential-mixing stopped-flow spectroscopy, we have investigated the kinetics of the transition of KatG compound I (produced by peroxoacetic acid) to its ferric state by trapping the latter as cyanide complex. Apparent bimolecular rate constants (pH 6.5, 20 °C) for wild-type KatG and the variants Trp122Phe (lacks KatG-typical distal adduct), Asp152Ser (controls substrate access to the heme cavity) and Glu253Gln (channel entrance) are reported to be 1.2 × 10⁴ M^− 1 s^− 1, 30 M^− 1 s^− 1, 3.4 × 10³ M^− 1 s^− 1, and 8.6 × 10³ M^− 1 s^− 1, respectively. These findings are discussed with respect to steady-state kinetic data and proposed reaction mechanism(s) for KatG. Assets and drawbacks of the presented method are discussed.     

Pre-steady state kinetic characterization of human peroxiredoxin 5: taking advantage of Trp84 fluorescence increase upon oxidation

Human peroxiredoxin 5 (PRDX5) catalyzes different peroxides reduction by enzymatic substitution mechanisms. Enzyme oxidation caused an increase in Trp84 fluorescence, allowing performing pre-steady state kinetic measurements. The technique was validated by comparing with data available from the literature or obtained herein by alternative approaches. PRDX5 reacted with organic hydroperoxides with rate constants in the 10⁶-10⁷ M⁻¹ s⁻¹ range, similar to peroxynitrite-mediated PRDX5 oxidation, whereas its reaction with hydrogen peroxide was slower (10⁵ M⁻¹ s⁻¹). The method allowed determining the kinetics of intramolecular disulfide formation as well as thioredoxin 2-mediated reduction. The reactivities of PRDXs with peroxides were surprisingly high considering thiol pK_a, indicating that other protein determinants are involved in PRDXs specialization. The order of reactivities between PRDX5 towards oxidizing substrates differ from other PRDXs studied, pointing to a selective action of PRDXs with respect to peroxide detoxification, helping to rationalize the multiple enzyme isoforms present even in the same cellular compartment.     

Rb2[B12(OH)12]·2H2O and Rb2[B12(OH)12]·2H2O2: Hydrate and perhydrolate of rubidium dodecahydroxo-closo-dodecaborate

The orthorhombically crystallizing salts Rb₂[B₁₂(OH)₁₂]·2H₂O (a = 1576.81(9), b = 813.08(5), c = 1245.32(7) pm) and Rb₂[B₁₂(OH)₁₂]·2H₂O₂ (a = 1616.54(9), b = 814.29(5), c = 1260.12(7) pm) could be prepared from Rb₂[B₁₂H₁₂] and hydrogen peroxide. Both crystal structures were determined by X-ray single crystal diffraction and refined in the space group Cmce. They are not isostructural to the other compounds containing icosahedral dodecahydroxo-closo-dodecaborate dianions [B₁₂(OH)₁₂]²⁻ and potassium, rubidium or cesium cations already known to literature, but both title compounds crystallize quasi-isotypically exhibiting Rb⁺ cations in 10-fold oxygen coordination. The hydrogen peroxide adduct (Rb₂[B₁₂(OH)₁₂]·2H₂O₂) is explosive on shock and heat, while the hydrate (Rb₂[B₁₂(OH)₁₂]·2H₂O) is not.     

Mechanisms of Saccharomyces Cerevisiae PMA1 H+-ATPase inactivation by Fe2+, H2O2 and Fenton reagents

Although considerably more oxidation-resistant than other P-type ATPases, the yeast PMA1 H⁺-ATPase of Saccharomyces cerevisiae SY4 secretory vesicles was inactivated by H₂O₂, Fe²⁺, Fe- and Cu-Fenton reagents. Inactivation by Fe²⁺ required the presence of oxygen and hence involved auto-oxidation of Fe²⁺ to Fe³⁺. The highest Fe^2- (100 μM) and H₂O₂ (100 mM) concentrations used produced about the same effect. Inactivation by the Fenton reagent depended more on Fe²⁺ content than on H₂O₂ concentration, occurred only when Fe²⁺ was added to the vesicles first and was only slightly reduced by scavengers (mannitol, Tris, NaN₃, DMSO) and by chelators (EDTA, EGTA, DTPA, BPDs, bipyridine, 1, 10-phenanthroline). Inactivation by Fe- and Cu- Fenton reagent was the same; the identical inactivation pattern found for both reagents under anaerobic conditions showed that both reagents act via OH^·. The lipid peroxidation blocker BHT prevented Fenton-induced rise in lipid peroxidation in both whole cells and in isolated membrane lipids but did not protect the H⁺-ATPase in secretory vesicles against inactivation. ATP partially protected the enzyme against peroxide and the Fenton reagent in a way resembling the protection it afforded against SH-specific agents. The results indicate that Fe²⁺ and the Fenton reagent act via metal-catalyzed oxidation at specific metal-binding sites, very probably SH-containing amino acid residues. Deferrioxamine, which prevents the redox cycling of Fe²⁺, blocked H⁺-ATPase inactivation by Fe²⁺ and the Fenton reagent but not that caused by H₂O₂, which therefore seems to involve a direct non-radical attack. Fe-Fenton reagent caused fragmentation of the H⁺-ATPase molecule, which, in Western blots, did not give rise to defined fragments bands but merely to smears.     

Formation of cholesterol ozonolysis products through an ozone-free mechanism mediated by the myeloperoxidase-H2O2-chloride system

The presence of the cholesterol ozonolysis products, 3β-hydroxy-5-oxo-5,6-secocholestan-6-al (atheronal-A) and its aldolization product 3β-hydroxy-5β-hydroxy-B-norcholestane-6β-carboxaldehyde (atheronal-B) in human atherosclerotic tissues was recently reported as evidence for the generation of ozone by activated human neutrophils. However, the mechanism for the formation of atheronals in atherosclerotic tissues is unknown. In this study, we found that atheronals were formed by the reaction of cholesterol with human myeloperoxidase (MPO) in the presence of its substrates H₂O₂ and Cl⁻. The omission of either H₂O₂ or Cl⁻ from the MPO-H₂O₂-Cl⁻ system resulted in a significant reduction in yields. The formation of atheronals by the MPO-H₂O₂-Cl⁻ system was inhibited by an inhibitor of MPO and scavengers of reactive oxygen species such as sodium azide, methionine, β-carotene, and vinylbenzoic acid. Our results suggest that MPO produces atheronals at least partly through an ozone-free mechanism, via the reaction of cholesterol with singlet oxygen generated from HOCl and H₂O₂.     

Synthesis, crystal structure, spectral properties and catalytic activity of hexakis(imidazole)manganese(II) bisindole-2-carboxylato bisneocuproine bisdimethyl sulfoxide solvates {[Mn(Im)6] · 2(2-IC) · 2(NC) · 2(DMSO)}

Synthesis, X-ray crystal structure and IR spectrum of {[Mn^II(Im)₆] · 2(2-IC) · 2(NC) · 2(DMSO)} (Im = imidazole, 2-HIC = indole-2-carboxylic acid, NC = 2,9-dimethyl-1,10-phenanthroline, DMSO = dimethyl sulfoxide) are reported. The manganese(II) ion has octahedral geometry with a MnN₆ core. The crystal structure is completed by two NC, two 2-IC⁻ and two DMSO solvate molecules. The individual cations are linked into chains running parallel to the a axis by four intermolecular hydrogen bonding involving two 2-IC⁻solvate. Moreover, these chains are connected by π-π stacking interactions which occur between neocuproine molecules related through inversion center. In IR spectroscopy, the compound spectrum is roughly similar to the imidazole one: (i) above 1800 cm⁻¹, the bands are broad, but when focussing on some of them a doublet structure can be found; (ii) below 1800 cm⁻¹, the bands are sharp and it is then possible to point out the modification of S-O band when this later is involved in bifurcated hydrogen bonding to a second solvate 2-IC⁻. The compound catalyses the disproportionation of H₂O₂; moreover an additional quantity of imidazole increases the reaction rate.     

Kinetic studies on the first dihydrogen aquacomplex, [Ru(H2)(H2O)5]: Formation under H2 pressure and catalytic H/D isotope exchange in water

The ruthenium(II) hexaaqua complex [Ru(H₂O)₆]²⁺ reacts with dihydrogen under pressure to give the η²-dihydrogen ruthenium(II) pentaaqua complex [Ru(H₂)(H₂O)₅]²⁺.The complex was characterized by ¹H, ²H and ¹⁷O NMR: δ_H = −7.65 ppm, J_HD = 31.2 Hz, δ_O = −80.4 ppm (trans to H₂) and δ_O = −177.4 ppm (cis to H₂).The H-H distance in coordinated dihydrogen was estimated to 0.889 Å from J_HD, which is close to the value obtained from DFT calculations (0.940 Å).Kinetic studies were performed by ¹H and ²H NMR as well as by UV-Vis spectroscopy, yielding the complex formation rate and equilibrium constants: k_f = (1.7 ± 0.2) × 10⁻³ kg mol⁻¹ s⁻¹ and K_eq = 4.0 ± 0.5 mol kg⁻¹.The complex formation rate with dihydrogen is close to values reported for other ligands and thus it is assumed that the reaction with dihydrogen follows the same mechanisn (I_d).In deuterated water, one can observe that [Ru(H₂)(H₂O)₅]²⁺ catalyses the hydrogen exchange between the solvent and the dissolved dihydrogen.A hydride is proposed as the intermediate for this exchange.Using isotope labeling, the rate constant for the hydrogen exchange on the η²-dihydrogen ligand was determined as k₁ = (0.24 ± 0.04) × 10⁻³ s⁻¹.The upper and lower limits of the pK_a of the coordinated dihydrogen ligand have been estimated:3 < pK_a < 14.     

A kinetic investigation of the oxidative addition reactions of the dimeric Bu4N[Ir2(μ-Dcbp)(cod)2] complex with iodomethane

The kinetic results of the oxidative addition of iodomethane to Bu₄N[Ir₂(μ-Dcbp)(cod)₂] (Dcbp = 3,5-dicarboxylatepyrazolate anion) show that oxidative addition can occur via a direct equilibrium pathway (K₁ = 88(22) acetone, 51(3) 1,2-dichloroethane, 55(4) dichloromethane, 52(12) acetonitrile and 43(5) M⁻¹ chloroform) or a solvent-assisted pathway (k₂, k₃). Oxidative addition occurs mainly along the direct pathway, which is a factor 10-40 faster than the solvent-assisted pathway. The observed solvent effect cannot be attributed to the donosity or polarity of the solvents. The fairly negative ΔS^≠ value (−110(7) J K⁻¹ mol⁻¹) and the positive ΔH^≠ value (+47(2) kJ mol⁻¹) for the oxidative addition step are indicative of an associative process.