H2O2 and (.)NO scavenging by Mycobacterium leprae truncated hemoglobin O

Kinetics of ferric Mycobacterium leprae truncated hemoglobin O (trHbOFe(III)) oxidation by H₂O₂ and of trHbOFe(IV)O reduction by NO and NO₂⁻ are reported. The value of the second-order rate constant for H₂O₂-mediated oxidation of trHbOFe(III) is 2.4 × 10³ M⁻¹ s⁻¹. The value of the second-order rate constant for NO-mediated reduction of trHbOFe(IV)O is 7.8 × 10⁶ M⁻¹ s⁻¹. The value of the first-order rate constant for trHbOFe(III)ONO decay to the resting form trHbOFe(III) is 2.1 × 10¹ s⁻¹. The value of the second-order rate constant for NO₂⁻-mediated reduction of trHbOFe(IV)O is 3.1 × 10³ M⁻¹ s⁻¹. As a whole, trHbOFe(IV)O, generated upon reaction with H₂O₂, catalyzes NO reduction to NO₂⁻. In turn, NO and NO₂⁻ act as antioxidants of trHbOFe(IV)O, which could be responsible for the oxidative damage of the mycobacterium. Therefore, Mycobacterium leprae trHbO could be involved in both H₂O₂ and NO scavenging, protecting from nitrosative and oxidative stress, and sustaining mycobacterial respiration.     

Alkoxy-substituted group 6 allenylidene complexes - Synthesis and properties

Bis(alkoxy)allenylidene complexes, [(CO)₅MCCC(OR′)OR], as well as mono(alkoxy)allenylidene complexes, [(CO)₅MCCC(OR′)Ph], of chromium and tungsten are accessible from propynones [HCCC(O)Ph] or propynoic acid esters [HCCC(O)OR; R = Et, (−)-menthyl, endo-bornyl] by the following reaction sequence: (a) deprotonation of the alkynes, (b) reaction with [(CO)₅M-THF] (M = Cr, W), and (c) alkylation of the resulting alkynyl metallate, [(CO)₅MCCC(O)R], with Meerwein salts. Vinylidene complexes, [(CO)₅MCC(R′)C(O)OR], are formed as a by-product by C_β-alkylation of the alkynyl metallate. Dimethylamine displaces one alkoxy substituent of the bis(alkoxy)allenylidene complexes to give dimethylamino(alkoxy)allenylidene complexes, [(CO)₅MCCC(OR)NMe₂]. The analogous reaction of dimethylamine with a mono(alkoxy)-substituted allenylidene complex affords the aminoallenylidene complex [(CO)₅CrCCC(NMe₂)Ph]. When the amine is used in large excess, the α,β-unsaturated aminocarbene complex [(CO)₅CrC(NMe₂)C(H)C(NMe₂)Ph] is additionally formed by addition of the amine across the C_αC_β-bond of the allenylidene ligand. The reaction of [(CO)₅MCCC(OEt)₂] with dimethyl ethylenediamine offers access to bis(amino)allenylidene complexes, in which C_γ is part of a five-membered heterocycle. Photolysis of bis(alkoxy)allenylidene complexes in the presence of triphenylphosphine yields tetracarbonyl- and tricarbonyl{bis(phosphine)}allenylidene complexes. Diethylaminopropyne inserts into the C_βC_γ bond of [(CO)₅MCCC(OEt)OMethyl] to give alkenylallenylidene complexes. Subsequent acid-catalyzed intramolecular cyclization affords a pyranylidene complex.     

Reactivity of alkynyl Pd(II) azido complexes toward organic isocyanides, isothiocyanates, and nitriles

Alkynyl Pd(II) azido complexes of the type [Pd(N₃)(CCR)L₂] (1-3) were obtained by reactions of aqueous NaN₃ with [Pd(Cl)(CCR)L₂] (R = Ph or C(O)OMe). Treating compounds 1-3 with organic isocyanides (R-NC) afforded novel complexes, trans-[Pd(CCPh)(NCNR)(PMe₃)₂] (R = 2,6-Me₂C₆H₃ (4) or 2,6-Et₂C₆H₃ (5)) and trans-[Pd(CCR)(CN₄-t-Bu)L₂] (6: L = PMe₃, R = Ph; 7: L = PEt₃, R = C(O)OMe; 8: L = PMe₃, R = C(O)OMe), which contain either a carbodiimido or a C-coordinated tetrazolato group. Reactions of compounds 1 and 2 with R-NCS (R = 2,6-Me₂C₆H₃ or CH₂CH₃) and 1,4-phenylene diisothiocyanate (C₆H₄(NCS)₂) smoothly proceeded to give tetrazole-thiolato complexes, trans-[Pd(CCPh)(SCN₄-R)L₂] (L = PMe₃, R = Et (9) or 2,6-Me₂C₆H₃ (10); L = PEt₃, R = 2,6-Me₂C₆H₃ (11)), and a phenylene-bridged dinuclear Pd(II) tetrazole-thiolato complex, [(PEt₃)₂(CCPh)Pd(SCN₄-(μ-C₆H₄)-SCN₄)Pd(CCPh)(PEt₃)₂] (12), respectively. Complexes 9-12 contain the Pd-S bond that is formed by the dipolar cycloaddition of the organic isothiocyanate to the Pd-azido bond. In contrast, the corresponding reactions of compounds 1and 2 with C₆F₅CN and Me₃SiCN (organic nitriles, R-CN) gave an N-coordinated Pd(II)-tetrazolato compound {trans-[Pd(CCPh)(N₄C-C₆F₅)(PMe₃)₂] (13)} and a mixture of Pd(II)-cyano complexes {trans-[Pd(CCPh)(CN)(PEt₃)₂] (14) and [Pd(CN)₂(PEt₃)₂] (15)}, respectively. Bis(phosphine) bis(cyano) complexes of Pd and Ni, [M(CN)₂L₂] (L = PEt₃, PMe₃; L₂ = DEPE), could be obtained independently by the reactions of [M(N₃)₂L₂] with excess Me₃SiCN in organic solvents.     

Characterization of the three major polymorphic forms and liquid state of tristearin by Raman spectroscopy

Raman spectroscopy was used to distinguish the differences in the molecular organization of the α, β′ and β polymorphs, as well as the liquid state, of tristearin with focus placed on the CO, CH and CC Raman-active stretching regions. The ester carbonyl stretching region permitted polymorphic discrimination due to significant differences in the number of modes, their relative frequencies and their full-widths at half-maximum. In the liquid state, the absence of obvious signatures in this region indicated that many local micro-environments likely exist about the ester carbonyl of molten tristearin. The ratio between the symmetrical and asymmetrical CH stretching modes was linearly correlated with the enthalpy of fusion for each polymorph. The CC stretching modes, which provided insight into the trans/gauche content, were polymorph independent, but changed significantly upon transition into the liquid state (p < 0.05). Overall, Raman spectroscopy allowed for the quick discrimination of tristearin polymorphs from a conformational and thermodynamic perspective.     

Novel stable five-coordinate diorgano cobalt(III) complexes: Formation, structure, and reaction with carbon monoxide

A series of new five-coordinate acyl vinyl cobalt(III) complexes Co{η¹-C(CCPh)CHPh}[C(O)CCO] L₂(L = PMe₃) (6-10) were prepared via formal insertion of diphenylbutadiyne into Co-H function of mer-octahedral hydrido-acyl(phenolato)-cobalt(III) complexes. The complexes are diamagnetic. One square pyramidal structure of complex 6 was confirmed by X-ray diffraction analysis. These complexes are stable in solid state. In solution, six-coordinate acyl vinyl carbonyl cobalt(III) complex 11 is approved through the reaction of complex 7 with CO and the structure of complex 11 was determined by X-ray method.     

Organometallic π-tweezers incorporating pyrazine- and pyridine-based bridging units

Pyrazine- and pyridine-based π-conjugated σ-donor molecules, such as 4,4′-bipyridine, 1,2-di(4-pyridyl)ethylene, 3,5-dipyridyl-1,2,4-triazole, N,N′-bis(4-pyridylmethylidene)benzene-1,4-diamine, 2,5-di(pyridylmethylidene)cyclopentanone, 2,6-di(4-pyridylmethylidene)cyclohexanone (LL, 2a-2g) can successfully be used to span heterobimetallic π-tweezer units of the type [{[Ti](μ-σ,π-CCSiMe₃)₂}M]⁺ ([Ti] = (η⁵-C₅H₄SiMe₃)₂Ti; M = Cu, Ag). The thus accessible di-cationic species [{[Ti](μ-σ,π-CCSiMe₃)₂}MLLM{(Me₃SiCC-μ-σ,π)₂[Ti]}]²⁺ (4), which are formed via the formation of [{[Ti](μ-σ,π-CCSiMe₃)₂}MLL]⁺ (3) complexes, can be isolated in yields between 66% and 99%.However, when C₅H₄NCHCHC₆H₄CHCHNC₅H₄ (5a) and C₅H₄NCHNC₆H₄CHCHNC₅H₄ (5b), respectively, are reacted with {[Ti](μ-σ,π-CCSiMe₃)₂}AgBF₄(1c) in a 1:1 molar ratio, then the silver(I) ion is released from the organometallic π-tweezer 1c and coordination polymers [AgBF₄ · 5a]_n (6a) and [AgBF₄ · 5b]_n (6b) along with [Ti](CCSiMe₃)₂ (7) are formed in quantitative yield.     

Peroxynitrite detoxification by ferryl Mycobacterium leprae truncated hemoglobin O

During infection, Mycobacterium leprae is faced with the host macrophagic environment limiting the growth of the bacilli. However, (pseudo-)enzymatic detoxification systems, including truncated hemoglobin O (Ml-trHbO), could allow this mycobacterium to persist in vivo. Here, kinetics of peroxynitrite (ONOOH/ONOO⁻) detoxification by ferryl Ml-trHbO (Ml-trHbOFe(IV)O), obtained by treatment with H₂O₂, is reported. Values of the second-order rate constant for peroxynitrite detoxification by Ml-trHbOFe(IV)O (i.e., of Ml-trHbOFe(III) formation; k_on), at pH 7.2 and 22.0 °C, are 1.5 × 10⁴ M⁻¹ s⁻¹, and 2.2 × 10⁴ M⁻¹ s⁻¹, in the absence of and presence of physiological levels of CO₂ (∼1.2 × 10⁻³ M), respectively. Values of k_on increase on decreasing pH with a pK_a value of 6.7, this suggests that ONOOH reacts preferentially with Ml-trHbOFe(IV)O. In turn, peroxynitrite acts as an antioxidant of Ml-trHbOFe(IV)O, which could be responsible for the oxidative damage of the mycobacterium. As a whole, Ml-trHbO can undertake within the same cycle H₂O₂ and peroxynitrite detoxification.     

A closer look at the phosphorus-phosphorus double bond lengths in meta-terphenyl substituted diphosphenes

The single crystal X-ray structure of DmpPPDmp (1, Dmp = 2,6-Mes₂C₆H₃), which was previously reported to have a relatively short PP bond distance of 1.985(2) Å at room temperature, has been reexamined at variable temperatures. Crystallographic analyses of 1 at 100 K allow for resolution of disorder of the two phosphorus atoms (which is unresolvable from room temperature diffraction data), and for determination of a more conventional PP bond length of 2.029(1) Å. Single crystals of the closely related diphosphene DxpPPDxp (2, Dxp = 2,6-(2,6-Me₂C₆H₃)₂C₆H₃) show similar disorder in one of two crystallographically independent molecules in the unit cell. A value of 2.0276(4) Å is found for the non-disordered PP bonds at 100 K for 2. A new diphosphene Ar′PPAr′ (3, Ar′ = 2,6-Mes₂-4-OMe-C₆H₃) has been prepared and its structure has also been examined. The PP bond length for 3 was determined to be 2.0326(9) Å and relatively free of the effects of disorder.     

Synthesis, characterization, and redox behavior of six-coordinate (por)Ru(NO)Cl compounds (por = porphyrinato dianion)

A new high-yield preparative route to (por)Ru(NO)Cl compounds (por = porphyrinato dianion) from reactions of (por)Ru(NO)(alkoxide) precursors with boron trichloride is reported. These ruthenium nitrosyl chloride complexes are known to be useful precursors to (por)Ru(NO)-containing derivatives. The crystal structure of (OEP)Ru(NO)Cl (OEP = octaethylporphyrinato dianion) shows that the RuNO linkage is linear. The redox behavior of the (por)Ru(NO)Cl compounds has been determined by cyclic voltammetry. Analysis of the data reveals that the first oxidation of the (por)Ru(NO)Cl compounds is porphyrin-ring centered.     

Pressure-tuning infrared and Raman spectra of trans-dichloro-bis[(diperfluoroethyl)phenylphosphine]platinum(II), trans-Pt[PPh(CF3CF2)2]2Cl2

Infrared and Raman spectra of solid trans-dichloro-bis[diperfluoroethyl(phenyl)phosphine]platinum(II), trans-Pt[PPh(CF₃CF₂)₂]₂Cl₂, have been studied at high external pressures up to ∼50 kbar with the aid of a diamond-anvil cell. A gradual, pressure-induced phase transition, most probably second order, was observed in the 21-34 kbar pressure range. In the IR spectra, the bands assigned to the CF stretching modes of the CF₃ groups exhibit larger pressure sensitivities than do those associated with the CF stretching modes of the CF₂ groups, most probably because of their physical location on the outside in the molecules in the unit cell. The fairly high pressure sensitivities of the symmetric PtCl stretching mode in both the low and high pressure phases (0.46 and 37 cm⁻¹/kbar, respectively) are considered to reflect the low force constant associated with the long PtCl bond length thus making this vibration more susceptible to compression.     

Biotransformation of the neonicotinoid insecticides imidacloprid and thiamethoxam by Pseudomonas sp. 1G

We report the isolation of a Pseudomonas sp. which is able to transform imidacloprid and thiamethoxam under microaerophilic conditions in the presence of an alternate carbon source. This bacterium, Pseudomonas sp. 1G, was isolated from soil with a history of repeated exposure to imidacloprid. Both insecticides were transformed to nitrosoguanidine (NNO), desnitro (NH), and urea (O) metabolites and a transformation pathway is proposed. This is the first conclusive report of bacterial transformation of the ‘magic nitro’ group which is responsible for the insect selectivity of neonicotinoid insecticides.     

Ferrocenyl-substituted allenylidene complexes of chromium, molybdenum and tungsten: Synthesis, structure and reactivity

Bis(ferrocenyl)-substituted allenylidene complexes, [(CO)₅MCCCFc₂] (1a-c, Fc = (C₅H₄)Fe(C₅H₅), M = Cr (a), Mo (b), W (c)) were obtained by sequential reaction of Fc₂CO with Me₃Si-CCH, KF/MeOH, n-BuLi, and [(CO)₅M(THF)]. For the synthesis of related mono(ferrocenyl)allenylidene chromium complexes, [(CO)₅CrCCC(Fc)R] (R = Ph, NMe₂), three different routes were developed: (a) reaction of the deprotonated propargylic alcohol HCCC(Fc)(Ph)OH with [(CO)₅Cr(THF)] followed by desoxygenation with Cl₂CO, (b) Lewis acid induced alcohol elimination from alkenyl(alkoxy)carbene complexes, [(CO)₅CrC(OR)CHC(NMe₂)Fc], and (c) replacement of OMe in [(CO)₅CrCCC(OMe)NMe₂] by Fc. Complex 1a was also formed when the mono(ferrocenyl)allenylidene complex [(CO)₅CrCCC(Fc)NMe₂] was treated first with Li[Fc] and the resulting adduct then with SiO₂. The replacement route (c) was also applied to the synthesis of an allenylidene complex (7a) with a CC spacer in between the ferrocenyl unit and C_γ of the allenylidene ligand, [(CO)₅CrCCC(NMe₂)-CCFc]. The related complex containing a CHCH spacer (9a) was prepared by condensation of [(CO)₅CrCCC(Me)NMe₂] with formylferrocene in the presence of NEt₃. The bis(ferrocenyl)-substituted allenylidene complexes 1a-c added HNMe₂ across the C_α-C_β bond to give alkenyl(dimethylamino)carbene complexes and reacted with diethylaminopropyne by regioselective insertion of the CC bond into the C_β-C_γ bond to afford alkenyl(diethylamino)allenylidene complexes, [(CO)₅MCCC(NEt₂)CMeCFc₂]. The structures of 5a, 7a, and 9a were established by X-ray diffraction studies.     

The course of oxidative addition reactions of haloalkynes and haloalkenes to dimethyl- and dialkynylaurate(I) anions [RAuR]

The reactions of halo-alkynes Cl-CCH, C-lCC-Cl or PhCC-I with solutions of Li⁺[MeAuMe]⁻ in diethylether containing Ph₃P do not give the expected oxidative addition products Me₂(RCC)Au(PPh₃) with R = H, Cl, Ph. A mixture of other complexes is obtained instead which are generated in secondary reactions involving reductive elimination of ethane and/or dialkyne. However, addition of the halo-alkene H(Cl)CCCl₂ to the same substrate solution affords trans-Me₂[trans-H(Cl)CC(Cl)]Au(PPh₃) in good yield. Its molecular structure with pseudo-C_s symmetry has been determined by the solution NMR spectra and a single-crystal X-ray diffraction study. The reaction of methyl iodide with solutions of Li⁺[RCCAuCCR]⁻ in diethylether containing PPh₃ give the quaternary salts Ph₃PMe⁺ [RCCAuCCR]⁻ as the main products and only small amounts of cis-Me₂(RCC)Au(PPh₃) complexes probably formed in a series of oxidative addition, reductive elimination, and substitution reactions. The structure of Ph₃PMe⁺ [PhCCAuCCPh]⁻ has been determined.     

Synthesis and reactivity of iron carbonyl clusters containing alkynethiolate ligands

The new cluster Li[Fe₃(μ₃,η¹-SCCFc)(CO)₉] reacts with ClAuPPh₃ to afford compound [Fe₃Au(μ₄,η²-CCFc)(CO)₉(PPh₃)], which exhibits an isomeric equilibrium in solution with the cluster [Fe₃Au(μ₃,η²-CCFc)(CO)₉(PPh₃)].The rupture of C-S bonds in the thioethers Me₃SiCCSCCR (R = Fc, SiⁱPr₃) in the presence of Fe₃(CO)₁₂, yields to the clusters [Fe₃(μ-SCCSiⁱPr₃)(μ-CCSiMe₃)(CO)₉] and [Fe₃(μ,η²-(SiⁱPr₃)CCCCSiMe₃)(μ₃-S)(CO)₉] together with the unexpected compounds [Fe₂(μ-SCC(H)R)(CO)₆] (R = SiMe₃, SiⁱPr₃).Additionally, the dinuclear derivatives [Fe₂(μ-SCCR)(μ-CCR′)(CO)₆] (R = Fc, R′ = SiMe₃; R = SiMe₃, R′ = Fc; R = SiMe₃; R′ = SiⁱPr₃) have also been obtained. These compounds have been spectroscopically characterized and the crystal structure of some of them has been solved.     

Layered (2-D) structure of [Ru2(O2CMe)4]2[Ni(CN)4] determined via Rietveld refinement of synchrotron powder diffraction data

Reaction of [Ru₂(O₂CMe)₄]Cl and K₂[Ni(CN)₄] forms [Ru₂(O₂CMe)₄]₂[Ni(CN)₄] with the targeted layered structure possessing Ru-NCNi linkages, albeit strained, with Ru-NC and Ni-CN angles in the range of 147-167°. The magnetic properties of [Ru₂(O₂CMe)₄]₂[Ni(CN)₄] can be fit to a zero-field splitting model with D/k_B = 95 K (66 cm⁻¹).     

Gas-phase molecular structures of substituted 1,3-bisketenes: A challenge for theory and experiment

Molecular structures of dimethylbis(trimethylsilylketyl)silane (Me₂Si[C(SiMe₃)CO]₂), dimethylbis(trimethylgermylketyl)silane (Me₂Si[C(GeMe₃)CO]₂), and dimethylbis(trimethylstannylketyl)germane (Me₂Ge[C(SnMe₃)CO]₂) have been studied in the gas phase by electron diffraction accompanied by high level ab initio and DFT calculations. Extensive theoretical conformational analyses of the molecules in the vapour predicted a possibility of existence of two types of conformers with small energy differences. The first type had gauche-gauche arrangements of the ketenyl groups in the central C(CO)XC(CO) fragments directed away from each other. The second type had nearly syn-gauche arrangements of the ketenyl groups. In addition, the energy differences were found to depend on the level of computations used. The experimental analysis, in turn, was unable to distinguish between different conformers due to the large number of similar overlapping distances. The experimental data were fitted by an averaged single-conformer model, which nevertheless allowed reliable determination of bonds and bonded angles in the molecules. Main experimental (r_h1) structural parameters for Me₂Si[C(SiMe₃)CO]₂, Me₂Si[C(GeMe₃)CO]₂, and Me₂Ge[C(SnMe₃)CO]₂, i.e. Me₂X[C(YMe₃)CO]₂ (X,Y = Si, Ge, Sn), are (X-C)_mean 187.7(1) pm, 194.6(2) pm, 216.1(3) pm; (Y-C)_mean, 187.7(1) pm, 188.8(8) pm, 194.6(4) pm; (CC)_mean, 135.3(5) pm, 131.6(5) pm, 131.5(13) pm; (CO)_mean, 117.0(7) pm, 117.4(7) pm, 119.0(11) pm; (C-H)_mean, 110.6(7) pm, 110.0(4) pm, 109.1(13) pm; (X(Y)-CC)_mean, 114.4(2)°, 115.6(1)°, 115.6(2)°; (C-X(Y)-C_Me)_mean, 108.3(3)°, 108.4(3)°, 108.9(13)°; C(2)-C(1)-Y(4)-C(10), −19(6)°, 5(4)°, −9(10)°; C(7)-C(6)-Y(9)-C(38),−22(7)°, −32(3)°, −9(10)°; C(2)-C(1)-X(5)-C(6), 128(4)°, 142(1)°, 108(9)°; C(7)-C(6)-X(5)-C(1), 92(6)°, 115(2)°, 108(9)°, respectively.