Redox activation

Palacin S, Lesieur P, Stefanelli I and Barraud A 1988 Structural studies of intermolecular interactions in pure and diluted films of a redox-active phthalocyanine Thin Soiid Fiims 159 83-90... 

A substantial fraction of the named enzymes are oxido-reductases, responsible for shuttling electrons along metabolic pathways that reduce carbon dioxide to sugar (in the case of plants), or reduce oxygen to water (in the case of mammals). The oxido-reductases that drive these processes involve a small set of redox active cofactors , that is, small chemical groups that gain or lose electrons. These cofactors include iron porjDhyrins, iron-sulfur clusters and copper complexes as well as organic species that are ET active. 

Olefin synthesis starts usually from carbonyl compounds and carbanions with relatively electropositive, redox-active substituents mostly containing phosphorus, sulfur, or silicon. The carbanions add to the carbonyl group and the oxy anion attacks the oxidizable atom Y in-tramolecularly. The oxide Y—O" is then eliminated and a new C—C bond is formed. Such reactions take place because the formation of a Y—0 bond is thermodynamically favored and because Y is able to expand its coordination sphere and to raise its oxidation number. 

Two efficient syntheses of strained cyclophanes indicate the synthetic potential of allyl or benzyl sulfide intermediates, in which the combined nucleophilicity and redox activity of the sulfur atom can be used. The dibenzylic sulfides from xylylene dihalides and -dithiols can be methylated with dimethoxycarbenium tetrafiuoroborate (H. Meerwein, 1960 R.F. Borch, 1968, 1969 from trimethyl orthoformate and BFj, 3 4). The sulfonium salts are deprotonated and rearrange to methyl sulfides (Stevens rearrangement). Repeated methylation and Hofmann elimination yields double bonds (R.H. Mitchell, 1974). 

The thioredoxin domain (see Figure 2.7) has a central (3 sheet surrounded by a helices. The active part of the molecule is a Pa(3 unit comprising p strands 2 and 3 joined by a helix 2. The redox-active disulfide bridge is at the amino end of this a helix and is formed by a Cys-X-X-Cys motif where X is any residue in DsbA, in thioredoxin, and in other members of this family of redox-active proteins. The a-helical domain of DsbA is positioned so that this disulfide bridge is at the center of a relatively extensive hydrophobic protein surface. Since disulfide bonds in proteins are usually buried in a hydrophobic environment, this hydrophobic surface in DsbA could provide an interaction area for exposed hydrophobic patches on partially folded protein substrates. 

R. T. Boere and T. L. Roemmele, Electrochemistry of Redox-active Group 15/16 Heterocycles, Coord. Chem. Rev., 210, 369 (2000). 

Macroheterocycles as components of photo- and redox-active host ensembles 98PAC2359. 

Electrochemical measurements are commonly carried out in a medium that consists of solvent containing a supporting electrolyte. The choice of the solvent is dictated primarily by the solubility of the analyte and its redox activity, and by solvent properties such as the electrical conductivity, electrochemical activity, and chemical reactivity. The solvent should not react with the analyte (or products) and should not undergo electrochemical reactions over a wide potential range. 

Fig. 6. Theoretical cyclic voltammogram for a redox-active polymer film with noninteracting redox centres...

A great variety of suitable polymers is accessible by polymerization of vinylic monomers, or by reaction of alcohols or amines with functionalized polymers such as chloromethylat polystyrene or methacryloylchloride. The functionality in the polymer may also a ligand which can bind transition metal complexes. Examples are poly-4-vinylpyridine and triphenylphosphine modified polymers. In all cases of reactively functionalized polymers, the loading with redox active species may also occur after film formation on the electrode surface but it was recognized that such a procedure may lead to inhomogeneous distribution of redox centers in the film... 

A very similar idea is the use of ion exchanging polymers into which redox active ions can be incorporated by equilibration with an adherent solution. Sulfonated perfluoro polymers (Nafion), polyvinylsulfonic acid , and polystyrene... 

A two-step synthetic procedure to isomeric redox-active metallocyclophanes Mo(NO)Tp (4,4 -OC. 

These studies of protein-bound heterometallic cubanes have amply demonstrated that the heterometal site is redox active and able to bind small molecules. Although they have yet to be identified as intrinsic components of any protein or enzyme (except as part of the nitrogenase FeMo cofactor cluster (254)), they are clearly attractive candidates for the active sites of redox enzymes. 

Spectroscopic studies have been instrumental in elucidating the catalytic mechanism of Ni-Fe hydrogenases. A great deal of controversy concerning this mechanism arises from the fact that, as the as the X-ray crystallographic analysis has shown, there are at least three potential redox-active species at the enzyme s active site the thiolate ligands (75) and the Fe (65) and Ni (9) ions. 

If the Fe-Ni center is not redox active, at least during catalysis, then the process must be ligand-based (92). Maroney and co-workers have argued that the paramagnetic Ni-C state could be generated by the interaction of a thyil radical with a Ni(II) ion. This species is isoelectronic with a thiolate-bound Ni(III) according to the reaction... 

The [NiFe] hydrogenase from D. gigas has been used as a prototype of the [NiFe] hydrogenases. The enzyme is a heterodimer (62 and 26 kDa subunits) and contains four redox active centers one nickel site, one [3Fe-4S], and two [4Fe-4S] clusters, as proven by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) and Mosshauer spectroscopic studies (174). The enzyme has been isolated with different isotopic enrichments [6 Ni (I = I), = Ni (I = 0), Fe (I = 0), and Fe (I = )] and studied after reaction with H and D. Isotopic substitutions are valuable tools for spectroscopic assignments and catalytic studies (165, 166, 175). 

These enzymes may contain other redox-active sites (iron-sulfur centers, hemes, and/or flavins), either in distinct domains of a single polypeptide or bound in separate subunits. These additional cofactors perform electron transfer from the molybdenum center to an external electron acceptor/donor. 

The protein from D. desulfuricans has been characterized by Mbss-bauer and EPR spectroscopy 224). The enzyme has a molecular mass of approximately 150 kDa (three different subunits 88, 29, and 16 kDa) and contains three different types of redox-active centers four c-type hemes, nonheme iron arranged as two [4Fe-4S] centers, and a molybdopterin site (Mo-bound to two MGD). Selenium was also chemically detected. The enzyme specific activity is 78 units per mg of protein. 

Transition Metal and Organic Redox-Active Macrocycles Designed to Electrochemically Recognize Charged and Neutral Guest Species Paul D. Beer... 

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