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A simple combination of copper(II) acetate (Cu(OAc)(2)) and an appropriate base could promote oxidative cross-coupling of H-phosphonates and amides using air as a terminal oxidant. The substrate scope was broad with respect to both dialkyl H-phosphonates and nitrogen nucleophiles (including oxazolidinone, lactam, pyrrolidinone, urea, indole, and sulfonamide derivatives), giving the corresponding P-N coupling products in moderate to high yields.

Simple copper(II) hydroxide Cu(OH)(2) could act as an efficient heterogeneous catalyst for selective oxidative cross-coupling of a broad range of terminal alkynes and amides using air as a sole oxidant, giving the corresponding ynamides in moderate to high yields (56-93% yields).

The photochemical reduction of nitrite to NO by the dinuclear Ru(II)-Cu(II) complex ([Ru(bpy)(2)(Mebpy-COOC(3)H(6))Me(2)bpaCu(H(2)O)(ClO(4))](ClO(4)).(PF(6))(2).(H(2)O) was observed in the absence of sacrificial electron donor reagents in CH(2)Cl(2). The reaction rate of the photoreduction of nitrite depended upon the concentration of the excited Ru(II) moiety in the complex. The photoinduced intramolecular electron transfer rate constants between the Ru(II) and Cu(II) moieties (*Ru(II)-Cu(II) --> Ru(III)-Cu(I) and Ru(III)-Cu(I) --> Ru(II)-Cu(II)) in the dinuclear complex were calculated to be 2.3 x 10(9) and 8.3 x 10(7) s(-1), respectively, by laser flash photolysis.

An easily prepared supported copper hydroxide on titanium oxide (Cu(OH)(x)/TiO(2)) showed high catalytic performance for the 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of organic azides to terminal alkynes in non-polar solvents under anaerobic conditions. The reactions of various combinations of organic azides (four examples, including aromatic and aliphatic ones) and terminal alkynes (eleven examples, including aromatic, aliphatic, and double bond-containing ones) exclusively proceeded to give the corresponding 1,4-disubstituted-1,2,3-triazole derivatives in a completely regioselective manner. For the transformation of benzyl azide and ethynylbenzene with 0.12 mol % of Cu(OH)(x)/TiO(2), the turnover frequency was 505 h(-1) and the turnover number reached up to 800. These values were the highest among those with previously reported heterogeneous catalysts including Cu(OH)(x)/Al(2)O(3). The observed catalysis was truly heterogeneous and the retrieved catalyst after the reaction could be reused at least three times with retention of its high catalytic performance. It was confirmed by the UV/Vis spectrum of Cu(OH)(x)/TiO(2) and the amount of diyne formed that the Cu(II) species in Cu(OH)(x)/TiO(2) were reduced to Cu(I) species by the alkyne-alkyne homocoupling at the initial stage of the reaction (during the pretreatment of Cu(OH)(x)/TiO(2) with an alkyne). The catalytic reaction rate for the 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition linearly increased with an increase in the amount of in situ generated Cu(I) species. Therefore, the in situ generated Cu(I) species would be the catalytically active species for the present 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition.

The roles of the Trp144 and Tyr203 residues near the type 1 Cu site of Achromobacter cycloclastes nitrite reductase (AcNIR) have been examined with mutants of AcNIR. Tyr203 is located on the protein surface near the type 1 Cu site of AcNIR, and Trp144 is between the Tyr203 and the type 1 Cu center in AcNIR. Single mutation of Trp144 or Tyr203 in AcNIR to Leu resulted in decreased rate constants of intermolecular electron transfer from its cognate pseudoazurin (AcPAZ) (k(ET)=1.9x10(5), 2.2x10(5), and 7.3x10(5)M(-1)s(-1) for W144L, Y203L, and wild-type AcNIR, respectively). The intermolecular electron transfer rate constant of double mutant AcNIR (W144L/Y203L) was the same as those of single mutants (k(ET)=1.9x10(5)M(-1)s(-1) for W144L/Y203L). The redox potentials, coordination structures of the type 1 Cu, and the enzyme activities of AcNIR were affected little by the mutation.

Mavicyanin, a glycosylated protein isolated from Cucurbita pepo medullosa (zucchini), is a member of the phytocyanin subfamily containing one polypeptide chain of 109 amino residues and an unusual type-I Cu site in which the copper ligands are His45, Cys86, His91, and Gln96. The crystal structures of oxidized and reduced mavicyanin were determined at 1.6 and 1.9 A resolution, respectively. Mavicyanin has a core structure of seven polypeptide beta-strands arranged as a beta-sandwich organized into two beta-sheets, and the structure considerably resembles that of stellacyanin from cucumber (CST) or cucumber basic protein (CBP). A flexible region was not observed on superimpositioning of the oxidized and reduced mavicyanin structures. However, the Cu(II)-epsilon-O-Gln96 bond length was extended by 0.47 A, and the Thr15 residue was rotated by 60.0 degrees and O-gamma1-Thr15 moved from a distance of 4.78 to 2.58 A from the ligand Gln96 forming a new hydrogen bond between O-gamma1-Thr15 and epsilon-O-Gln96 upon reduction. The reorganization of copper coordination geometry of mavicyanin upon reduction arouses reduction potential decreased above pH 8 [Battistuzzi et al. (2001) J. Inorg. Biochem. 83, 223-227]. The rotation of Thr15 and the hydrogen bonding with the ligand Gln96 may constitute structural evidence of the decrease in the reduction potential at high pH.

We report (1) the amino acid sequence of Hyphomicrobium denitrificans nitrite reductase (HdNIR), containing two type 1 Cu sites and one type 2 Cu site; (2) the expression and preparation of wild-type HdNIR and two mutants replacing the Cys ligand of each type 1 Cu with Ala; and (3) their spectroscopic and functional characterization. The open-reading frame of 50-kDa HdNIR is composed of the 15-kDa N-terminal domain having a type 1 Cu-binding motif like cupredoxins and the 35-kDa C-terminal domain having type 1 Cu-binding and type 2 Cu-binding motifs such as common nitrite reductases (NIRs). Moreover, the amino acid sequences of the N- and C-terminal domains are homologous to those of plastocyanins and NIRs, respectively. The point mutation of the Cys ligand of each type 1 Cu with Ala gives two mutants, C114A and C260A, possessing one type 1 Cu and one type 2 Cu. The spectroscopic data of C114A reveal that the C-terminal NIR-like domain has the green type 1 Cu (type 1 Cu(C)), showing two intense absorption peaks at 455 (epsilon = 2600 M(-1) cm(-1)) and 600 nm (epsilon = 2800 M(-1) cm(-1)) and a rhombic EPR signal like those of the green type 1 Cu of Achromobacter cycloclastes NIR (AcNlR). The spectroscopic data of C260A elucidate that the N-terminal Pc-like domain in HdNIR contains the blue type 1 Cu (type 1 Cu(N)), exhibiting an intense absorption band at 605 nm (epsilon = 2900 M(-1) cm(-1)) and an axial EPR signal like those of the blue type 1 Cu of Alcaligenes xylosoxidans NIR (AxNIR). The sum of the visible absorption or EPR spectra of C114A and C260A is almost equal to the corresponding spectrum of wild-type HdNIR. The spectroscopic characterization of the type 1 Cu indicates that the geometries of the type 1 Cu(N) and Cu(C) sites are slightly distorted tetrahedral (or axially elongated bipyramidal) and flattened tetrahedral, respectively. In the cyclic voltammograms, the midpoint potentials (E(1/2)), probably because of the type 1 Cu ions of C114A and C260A, are observed at +321 and +336 mV versus normal hydrogen electrode (NHE) at pH 7.0, respectively. These values, which are close to each other, are more positive than those ( approximately +0.24-0.28 V at pH 7.0) of the type 1 Cu sites of AcNIR and AxNIR. The electron-accepting capability of C114A from cytochrome c(550) is almost similar to that of wild-type HdNIR, whereas that of C260A is very low. This suggests that the type 1 Cu(C) in the C-terminal domain is essential for the enzyme functions of HdNIR.

The obligate methylotroph Methylomonas sp. strain J produces two azurins (Az-iso1 and Az-iso2) as candidates for electron acceptor from methylamine dehydrogenase (MADH) in the electron-transfer process involving the oxidation of methylamine to formaldehyde and ammonia. The X-ray crystallographic study indicated that Az-iso2 gives two types of crystals (form I and form II) with polyethylene glycol (PEG4000) and ammonium sulfate as the precipitants, respectively. Comparison between the two Az-iso2 structures in forms I and II reveals the remarkable structural changes at the top surface of the molecule around the copper atom. Az-iso2 possesses Gly43 instead of Val43 or Ala43, which is unique among all other azurins around the copper ligand His46, inducing the remarkable structural change in the loop region from Gly37 to Gly43. When the structure of Az-iso2 is superimposed on that of amicyanin in the ternary complex composed of MADH, amicyanin, and cytochrome c(551), the loop of Az-iso2 deeply overlaps with the light subunit of MADH. However, the Az-iso2 molecule is probably able to avoid any steric hindrance with the cognate MADH to form the complex for intermolecular electron-transfer reaction, since the loop containing Gly43 is flexible. We discuss why the electron-transfer activity of Az-iso2 is fivefold higher than that of Az-iso1.

The mutant (M150Q-NIR) replacing the Met150 ligand of the type 1 Cu center in Achromobacter cycloclastes nitrite reductase (AcNIR) with Gln has been physicochemically and functionally characterized. The electronic absorption and CD spectra of M150Q-NIR are similar to those of mavicyanin and stellacyanin having the 2His, Cys, and Gln ligands, but the EPR signal has an axial character, although their blue copper proteins show rhombic EPR signals. The mutant has about 80% catalytic activity of AcNIR. Moreover, the midpoint potential (E(1/2)) of M150Q-NIR is +113 mV vs. NHE at pH 7.0, being negatively shifted compared to that of AcNIR (+240 mV). Although the intermolecular electron-transfer process from Achromobacter cycloclastes pseudoazurin (pAz) to M150Q-NIR was not detected, the pAz mutant (M86Q-pAz) replacing the Met86 ligand with Gln transfers one electron to the NIR mutant with an intermolecular electron-transfer rate constant (k(ET)) of 2.3 x 10(5)M(-1)s(-1).

Methyl‐selective α‐oxygenation of tertiary amines is a highly attractive approach for synthesizing formamides while preserving the amine substrate skeletons. Therefore, the development of efficient catalysts that can advance regioselective α‐oxygenation at the N‐methyl positions using molecular oxygen (O2) as the terminal oxidant is an important subject. In this study, we successfully developed a highly regioselective and efficient aerobic methyl‐selective α‐oxygenation of tertiary amines by employing a Cu/nitroxyl radical catalyst system. The use of moderately hindered nitroxyl radicals, such as 1,5‐dimethyl‐9‐azanoradamantane N‐oxyl (DMN‐AZADO) and 1‐methyl‐2‐azaadamanane N‐oxyl (1‐Me‐AZADO), was very important to promote the oxygenation effectively mainly because these N‐oxyls have longer life‐times than less hindered N‐oxyls. Various types of tertiary N‐methylamines were selectively converted to the corresponding formamides. A plausible reaction mechanism is also discussed on the basis of experimental evidence, together with DFT calculations. The high regioselectivity of this catalyst system stems from steric restriction of the amine‐N‐oxyl interactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The photochemical reduction of nitrite () to nitrogen monooxide (NO) was catalyzed by a copper complex containing a tridentate aromatic amine compound (bis(6-methyl-2-pyridylmethyl)amine), which is a model for the active site of copper-containing nitrite reductase, with a visible light irradiation system containing a [Ru(bpy)3]Cl2 photosensitizer in H2O under acidic conditions at 30°C. The rate-limiting step of the reaction was found to be the generation step of the excited Ru complex or the intermolecular electron transfer between Cu and Ru complexes. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Cu-containing nitrite reductase from Hyphomicrobium denitrificans catalyzes the reduction of nitrite to nitric oxide by an electron from a specific electron donor protein, cytochrome c550. However, we have recently found that another periplasmic soluble cytochrome c, cytochrome cL, also donates an electron to this enzyme. The detailed electron-transfer mechanism was investigated kinetically. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spectroscopic features and enzymatic activity of H135R nitrite reductase mutant, in which a His ligand at the type 2 copper site is replaced with Arg, have been investigated to get information on unique nitrite reductases having one Arg at the type 2 copper site. Although the substitution of Arg for His slightly perturbed the structure of copper sites, the enzymatic activity was considerably lower than that of wild-type enzyme. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The dicopper-substituted γ-Keggin silicotungstate TBA4[γ-H2SiW10O36Cu2(μ-1,1-N3)2] (I, TBA = tetra-n-butylammonium) could act as an efficient precatalyst for the regioselective 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of organic azides to alkynes. Various combinations of. substrates (four azides and eight alkynes) were efficiently converted to the corresponding 1,2,3-triazole derivatives in excellent yields without any additives. The present system was applicable to a larger-scale cycloaddition of benzyl azide to phenylacetylene under solvent-free conditions (100 mmol scale) in which 21 .5 g of the analytically pure corresponding triazole could be isolated. In this case, the turnover frequency and the turnover number reached up to 14 800 h-1 and 91 500, respectively, and these values were the highest among those reported for the copper-mediated systems so far. In addition, I could be applied to the one-pot synthesis of 1-benzyl-4-phenyl-1H-1,2,3-triazole from benzyl chloride, sodium azide, and phenylacetylene. The catalyst effect, kinetic, mechanistic, and computational studies show that the reduced dicopper core plays an important role in the present 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cu-doped Li 2 O, synthesized by mechanochemical reactions between Li 2 O and CuO, is demonstrated as a cathode material for lithium-ion batteries. The X-ray diffraction and absorption analyses suggest that in the Cu-doped Li 2 O, Cu 2+ ions are located at 48 g sites less symmetrical than 8 c sites for Li + ions, distorting the arrangement of surrounding O 2− ions slightly from tetrahedral to square-planar, while the Cu 2+ ions are doped in an antifluorite-type Li 2 O. The Cu-doped Li 2 O cathode has a charge capacity of 360 mAh g −1 without an irreversible O 2 gas evolution reaction and exhibits a reversible capacity of 300 mAh g −1 . Cu K -edge XANES spectroscopy and quantitative analysis of peroxide species reveal that redox of copper ions, formation/neutralization of O 2 p electron holes, and generation/annihilation of peroxide species take place during charge/discharge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]