Hydride binding

The H2 ligand undergoes rapid two-dimensional hindered rotation about the M-H2 axis that is, it spins (librates) in propeller-like fashion with little or no wobbling. This phenomenon has been extensively studied by INS methods by Eckert because it unequivocally distinguishes molecular H2binding from classical hydride binding... 

The identity of the hydridic binding species can be probed by experiments [63] in the presence of D2 (or T2). These experiments demonstrate unambiguously that the active site cannot be a trihydride. The following key features need to be rationalised in any proposition concerning the nature of E3. (i) During turnover under Dj (or T2), no HD (or HT) is formed and (ii) In experiments under T2,... 

The enzyme is a single enantiomer of a chiral molecule and binds the coenzyme and substrate m such a way that hydride is transferred exclusively to the face of the carbonyl group that leads to (5) (+) lactic acid Reduction of pyruvic acid m the absence of an enzyme however say with sodium borohydride also gives lactic acid but as a racemic mixture containing equal quantities of the R and S enantiomers... 

Figure 1.9 Examples of functionally important intrinsic metal atoms in proteins, (a) The di-iron center of the enzyme ribonucleotide reductase. Two iron atoms form a redox center that produces a free radical in a nearby tyrosine side chain. The iron atoms are bridged by a glutamic acid residue and a negatively charged oxygen atom called a p-oxo bridge. The coordination of the iron atoms is completed by histidine, aspartic acid, and glutamic acid side chains as well as water molecules, (b) The catalytically active zinc atom in the enzyme alcohol dehydrogenase. The zinc atom is coordinated to the protein by one histidine and two cysteine side chains. During catalysis zinc binds an alcohol molecule in a suitable position for hydride transfer to the coenzyme moiety, a nicotinamide, [(a) Adapted from P. Nordlund et al., Nature 345 593-598, 1990.)...

Although estrone and estradiol (26) have both been isolated from human urine, it has recently been shown that it is the latter that is the active compound that binds to the so-called estrogen receptor protein. Reduction of estrone with any of a large number of reducing agents (for example, any of the complex metal hydrides) leads cleanly to estradiol. This high degree of stereoselectivity to afford the product of attack at the alpha side of the molecule is characteristic of many reactions of steroids. 

RhCl(PPh3)3 is a very active homogenous hydrogenation catalyst, because of its readiness to engage in oxidative addition reactions with molecules like H2, forming Rh—H bonds of moderate strength that can subsequently be broken to allow hydride transfer to the alkene substrate. A further factor is the lability of the bulky triphenylphosphines that creates coordinative unsaturation necessary to bind the substrate molecules [44]. 

It is probable that the negative charge induced by these three electrons on FeMoco is compensated by protonation to form metal hydrides. In model hydride complexes two hydride ions can readily form an 17-bonded H2 molecule that becomes labilized on addition of the third proton and can then dissociate, leaving a site at which N2 can bind (104). This biomimetic chemistry satisfyingly rationalizes the observed obligatory evolution of one H2 molecule for every N2 molecule reduced by the enzyme, and also the observation that H2 is a competitive inhibitor of N2 reduction by the enzyme. The bound N2 molecule could then be further reduced by a further series of electron and proton additions as shown in Fig. 9. The chemistry of such transformations has been extensively studied with model complexes (15, 105). 

Another stndy on binding to NHC complexes, that combined experiments and DFT (density functional theory) calculations was recently reported on a ruthenium system. This study shows the reversible binding of oxygen to the tetra-NHC complex [Ru(NHC) H)][BAr/] 6 (BAr/ = B (3,5-CF3) C H3 ), which leads to complex 7 (Scheme 10.2) [12]. Unexpectedly, the chemical shift of the hydride ligand undergoes a large downfield shift upon coordination to (from -41.2 ppm... 

Other Ion Affinities Binding affinities for many different types of ions to neutrals are defined analogously to hydride affinity, as the 298 K enthalpy required to dissociate the complexed species. The ion can be a cation or an anion. Conversely, ion affinities can be described in terms of the dissociation. 

An especially important case is the enantioselective hydrogenation of a-amidoacrylic acids, which leads to a-aminoacids.29 A particularly detailed study has been carried out on the mechanism of reduction of methyl Z-a-acetamidocinnamate by a rhodium catalyst with a chiral diphosphine ligand DIPAMP.30 It has been concluded that the reactant can bind reversibly to the catalyst to give either of two complexes. Addition of hydrogen at rhodium then leads to a reactive rhodium hydride and eventually to product. Interestingly, the addition of hydrogen occurs most rapidly in the minor isomeric complex, and the enantioselectivity is due to this kinetic preference. 

Table 9-9. Experimental binding energies D0 [kcal/mol] for the cationic hydrides of the 3d elements and deviations from these data obtained at various levels of theory. 

The synthesis of [Ircp Cl(bpy-cd)]Cl, where bpy-cd is a /3-cyclo-dextrin attached at the 6 position to a bpy ligand, is detailed.138 The complexes [Ircp (diimine)X]+, X = C1, H, diimine = bpy, phen, are active catalysts for the light-driven water-gas-shift reaction.139 The hydride complexes luminesce at 77 K and room temperature, whereas the chloride complexes do not.140 The three-legged piano-stool arrangement of the ligands in [Ircp (bpy)Cl]+ and [Ircp (4,4 -COOFl-bpy)Cl]+ is confirmed by X-ray crystallography.141,142 Further mechanistic studies on the catalytic cycle shown in reaction Scheme 11 indicate that Cl- is substituted by CO and the rate-determining step involves loss of C02 and H+ to leave the Ir1 species, which readily binds Fl+ to yield the lrIH hydride species.143... 

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