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Nitrosoarenes (ArNOs) are toxic metabolic intermediates that bind to heme proteins to inhibit their functions. Although much of their biological functions involve coordination to the Fe centers of hemes, the factors that determine N-binding or O-binding of these ArNOs have not been determined. We utilize X-ray crystallography and density functional theory (DFT) analyses of new representative ferrous and ferric ArNO compounds to provide the first theoretical insight into preferential N-binding versus O-binding of ArNOs to hemes. Our X-ray structural results favored N-binding of ArNO to ferrous heme centers, and O-binding to ferric hemes. Results of the DFT calculations rationalize this preferential binding on the basis of the energies of associated spin-states, and reveal that the dominant stabilization forces in the observed ferrous N-coordination and ferric O-coordination are dπ–pπ* and dσ–pπ*, respectively. Our results provide, for the first time, an explanation why in situ oxidation of the ferrous-ArNO compound to its ferric state results in the observed subsequent dissociation of the ligand. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Some bacterial heme proteins catalyze the coupling of two NO molecules to generate N2O. We previously reported that a heme Fe–NO model engages in this N−N bond‐forming reaction with NO. We now demonstrate that (OEP)CoII(NO) similarly reacts with 1 equiv of NO in the presence of the Lewis acids BX3 (X=F, C6F5) to generate N2O. DFT calculations support retention of the CoII oxidation state for the experimentally observed adduct (OEP)CoII(NO⋅BF3), the presumed hyponitrite intermediate (P.+)CoII(ONNO⋅BF3), and the porphyrin π‐radical cation by‐product of this reaction, and that the π‐radical cation formation likely occurs at the hyponitrite stage. In contrast, the Fe analogue undergoes a ferrous‐to‐ferric oxidation state conversion during this reaction. Our work shows that cobalt hemes are chemically competent to engage in the NO‐to‐N2O conversion reaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent studies reported the development of biocatalytic heme carbenoid Si−H insertions for the selective formation of carbon‐silicon bonds, but many mechanistic questions remain unaddressed. To this end, a DFT mechanistic investigation was performed which reveals an FeII‐based concerted hydride transfer mechanism with early transition state feature. The results from these computational analyses are consistent with experimental data of radical trapping, kinetic isotope effects, and structure‐reactivity data using engineered variants of hemoproteins. Detailed geometric and electronic profiles along the heme catalyzed Si−H insertion pathways were provided to help understand the origin of experimental reactivity trends. Quantitative relationships between reaction barriers and some properties such as charge transfer from substrate to heme carbene and Si−H bond length change from reactant to transition state were found. Results suggest catalyst modifications to facilitate the charge transfer from the silane substrate to the carbene, which was determined to be a major electronic driving force of this reaction, should enable the development of improved biocatalysts for Si−H carbene insertion reactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

HNO plays significant roles in many biological processes. Numerous heme proteins bind HNO, an important step for its biological functions. A systematic computational study was performed to provide the first detailed trends and origins of the effects of iron oxidation state, axial ligand, and protein environment on HNO binding. The results show that HNO binds much weaker with ferric porphyrins than corresponding ferrous systems, offering strong thermodynamic driving force for experimentally observed reductive nitrosylation. The axial ligand was found to influence HNO binding through its trans effect and charge donation effect. The protein environment significantly affects the HNO hydrogen bonding structures and properties. The predicted NMR and vibrational data are in excellent agreement with experiment. This broad range of results shall facilitate studies of HNO binding in many heme proteins, models, and related metalloproteins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heme-HNO species are crucial intermediates in several biological processes. To date, no well-defined Fe heme-HNO model compounds have been reported. Hydride attack on the cationic ferric [(OEP)Fe(NO)(5-MeIm)]OTf (OEP = octaethylporphyrinato dianion) generates an Fe-HNO product that has been characterized by IR and 1H NMR spectroscopy. Results of DFT calculations reveal a direct attack of the hydride on the N atom of the coordinated ferric nitrosyl. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]