Proton-coupled electron-transfer catalytic oxygen reduction

The key step in the reduction of oxygen at a catalytic surfece is the breaking of the 0—0 bond that requires four coupled proton and electron transfers, opening up the possibility of many side reactions and products (see Figure 2.4) [6]. The complexity of the ORR and its numerous potential side products means that it is still relatively poorly understood, although the consensus is that it proceeds either via a direct four-electron reduction pathway or via a peroxide intermediate in a 2 + 2 serial four-electron pathway [16-18]. 

Complex IV, or cytochrome c oxidase, was the first of the mitochondrial electron transport complexes to have its molecular stmcture and the internal path of electron transfer revealed by X-ray crystallography. The catalytic core of the complex consists of two subunits. Subunit II contains a binuclear copper center (Cua) that is directly responsible for the oxidation of cytochrome c. From there electrons are passed to haem a and then to the adjacent binuclear center that consists of haem 03 and another copper ion (Cub), which are all held within subunit I (Fig. 13.1.4). Oxygen is bound and reduced between Cub and the iron of haem 03, and access paths for protons from the inside of the membrane and for oxygen from within the membrane have been defined from several crystal stmctures available for bovine and bacterial enzymes. In addition to the protons taken up for the reduction of oxygen, translocation of further protons across the membrane is coupled to electron transfer by a mechanism that is not yet understood (reviewed in Refs. [71, 72]). 

In an alternative approach to mimic tyrosinase activity a copper(I)-copper(n) redox couple and a hydroquinone-quinone redox couple were incorporated in one complex (scheme 17). The hydroquinone moiety should act as an electron shunt between an external reducing agent, i.e. ascorbic acid, zinc or electrochemical reduction, and the copper ions. Catalytic oxygenation by monooxygenases is usually accompanied by the formation of water, with the aid of an external electron and proton source.35 46 Activation of O2 by dinuclear copper(I) complex 58 results in superoxo- or p-peroxo-dicopper(II) complex 59, which oxygenates an external substrate molecule. Internal electron transfer to quinone dicopper(II) complex 60 is followed by quinone to hydroquinone reduction. The electron transfer system shown here is reminiscent of the quinone based systems found in the primary photochemical step of bacterial photosynthesis, and in (metallo)porph3nin-quinone electron transfer systems.In contrast to expectation, the hydroquinone dinuclear copper(II) complex 60 (L = (2-pyridylethyl)formidoyl, scheme 17), designed to mimic step c in this cycle, is a stable system in which the hydroquinone moiety is not oxidized to a quinone structure 61. 

---