Iron species with terminal oxo ligands are implicated as key intermediates in several synthetic and biochemical catalytic cycles. However, there is a dearth of structural information regarding these types of complexes because their instability has precluded isolation under ambient conditions. The isolation and structural characterization of an iron(III) complex with a terminal oxo ligand, derived directly from dioxygen (O2), is reported. A stable structure resulted from placing the oxoiron unit within a synthetic cavity lined with hydrogen-bonding groups. The cavity creates a microenvironment around the iron center that aids in regulating O2 activation and stabilizing the oxoiron unit. These cavities share properties with the active sites of metalloproteins, where function is correlated strongly with site structure.

Non-heme iron and manganese species with terminal oxo ligands are proposed to be key intermediates in a variety of biological and synthetic systems; however, the stabilization of these types of complexes has proven difficult because of the tendency to form oxo-bridged complexes. Described herein are the design, isolation, and properties for a series of mononuclear Fe(III) and Mn(III) complexes with terminal oxo or hydroxo ligands. Isolation of the complexes was facilitated by the tripodal ligand tris[(N'-tert-butylureaylato)-N-ethyl]aminato ([H(3)1](3-)), which creates a protective hydrogen bond cavity around the M(III)-O(H) units (M(III) = Fe and Mn). The M(III)-O(H) complexes are prepared by the activation of dioxygen and deprotonation of water. In addition, the M(III)-O(H) complexes can be synthesized using oxygen atom transfer reagents such as N-oxides and hydroxylamines. The [Fe(III)H(3)1(O)](2-) complex also can be made using sulfoxides. These findings support the proposal of a high valent M(IV)-oxo species as an intermediate during dioxygen cleavage. Isotopic labeling studies show that oxo ligands in the [M(III)H(3)1(O)](2-) complexes come directly from the cleavage of dioxygen: for [Fe(III)H(3)1(O)](2-) the nu(Fe-(16)O) = 671 cm(-1), which shifts 26 cm(-1) in [Fe(III)H(3)1((18)O)](2-) (nu(Fe-(18)O) = 645 cm(-1)); a nu(Mn-(16)O) = 700 cm(-1) was observed for [Mn(III)H(3)1((16)O)](2-), which shifts to 672 cm(-1) in the Mn-(18)O isotopomer. X-ray diffraction studies show that the Fe-O distance is 1.813(3) A in [Fe(III)H(3)1(O)](2-), while a longer bond is found in [Fe(III)H(3)1(OH)](-) (Fe-O at 1.926(2) A); a similar trend was found for the Mn(III)-O(H) complexes, where a Mn-O distance of 1.771(5) A is observed for [Mn(III)H(3)1(O)](2-) and 1.873(2) A for [Mn(III)H(3)1(OH)](-). Strong intramolecular hydrogen bonds between the urea NH groups of [H(3)1](3-) and the oxo and oxygen of the hydroxo ligand are observed in all the complexes. These findings, along with density functional theory calculations, indicate that a single sigma-bond exists between the M(III) centers and the oxo ligands, and additional interactions to the oxo ligands arise from intramolecular H-bonds, which illustrates that noncovalent interactions may replace pi-bonds in stabilizing oxometal complexes.

Delivery of NO to specific targets is important in fundamental studies and therapeutic applications. Various methods have been reported for delivery of NO in vivo and in vitro; however, there are few examples of systems that reversibly bind NO. Reported herein is the development of a new polymer (P-1[Co(II)]) that reversibly binds NO. P-1[Co(II)] has a significantly higher affinity for NO compared to O(2), CO(2), and CO. The polymer is synthesized by template copolymerization methods and consists of a porous methacrylate network, containing immobilized four-coordinate Co(II) sites. Binding of NO causes an immediate color change, indicating coordination of NO to the site-isolated Co(II) centers. The formation of P-1[Co(NO)] has been confirmed by EPR, electronic absorbance, and X-ray absorption spectroscopies. Electronic and X-ray absorbance results for P-1[Co(II)] and P-1[Co(NO)] show that the coordination geometry of the immobilized cobalt complexes are similar to those of their monomeric analogues and that NO binds directly to the cobalt centers. EPR spectra show that the binding of NO to P-1[Co(II)] is reversible in the solid state; the axial EPR signal associated with the four-coordinate Co(II) sites in P-1[Co(II)] is quenched upon NO binding. At room temperature and atmospheric pressure, 40% conversion of P-1[Co(NO)] to P-1[Co(II)] is achieved in 14 days; under vacuum at 120 degrees C this conversion is complete in approximately 1 h. The binding of NO to P-1[Co(II)] is also observed when the polymer is suspended in liquids, including water.

The tripodal ligand N[CH2CH2NHC(O)NHC(CH3)3]3 ([H61]) was used to synthesize a series of monomeric complexes with terminal hydroxo ligands. The complexes [Co(II/III)H31(OH)](2-/1-), [Fe(II/III)H31(OH)](2-/1-), and [Zn(II)H31(OH)](2-) have been isolated and characterized. The source of the hydroxo ligand in these complexes is water, which was confirmed with an isotopic labeling study for [Co(III)H31(OH)](1-). The synthesis of [M(II)H31(OH)](2-) complexes was accomplished by two routes. Method A used 3 equiv of base prior to metalation and water binding, affording yields of < or = 40% for [Co(II)H31(OH)](2-). When 4 equiv of base was used (method B), yields ranged from 50% to 70% for all of the M(II)H31(OH)](2-) complexes. This improvement is attributed to the presence of an intramolecular basic site within the cavity, which scavenges protons produced during formation of the M(II)-OH complexes. The molecular structures of [Zn(II)H31(OH)](2-), [Fe(II)H31(OH)](2-), [Co(II)H31(OH)](2-), and [Co(III)H31(OH)](1-) were examined by X-ray diffraction methods. The complexes have trigonal bipyramidal coordination geometry with the hydroxo oxygen trans to the apical nitrogen. The three M(II)-OH complexes crystallized with nearly identical lattice parameters, and each contains two independent anions in the asymmetric unit. The complexes have intramolecular H-bonds from the urea cavity of [H31](3-) to the coordinated hydroxo oxygen. All the complexes have long M-O(H) bond lengths (>2.00 A) compared to those of the few previously characterized synthetic examples. The longer bond distances in [M(II)H31(OH)](2-) reflect the intramolecular H-bonds in the complexes. The five-coordinate [Zn(II)H31(OH)](2-) has an average Zn-O(H) distance of 2.024(2) A, which is similar to that found for the zinc site in carbonic anhydrase II (2.05(2) A). The enzyme active site also has an extensive network of intramolecular H-bonds to the hydroxo oxygen. [Co(II)H31(OH)](2-) and [Fe(II)H31(OH)](2-) have one-electron redox processes at -0.74 and -1.40 V vs SCE. Both complexes can be chemically oxidized to yield their corresponding M(III)-OH complexes. [Co(III)H31(OH)](1-), with an S = 1 ground state, is a rare example of a paramagnetic Co(III) complex.

Bimetallic (Et4N)2[Co2(L)2], (Et4N)2[1] (where (L)(3-) = (N(o-PhNC(O)(i)Pr)2)(3-)) reacts with 2 equiv of O2 to form the monometallic species (Et4N)[Co(L)O2], (Et4N)[3]. A crystallographically characterized analog (Et4N)2[Co(L)CN], (Et4N)2[2], gives insight into the structure of [3](1-). Magnetic measurements indicate [2](2-) to be an unusual high-spin Co(II)-cyano species (S = 3/2), while IR, EXAFS, and EPR spectroscopies indicate [3](1-) to be an end-on superoxide complex with an S = 1/2 ground state. By X-ray spectroscopy and calculations, [3](1-) features a high-spin Co(II) center; the net S = 1/2 spin state arises after the Co electrons couple to both the O2(•-) and the aminyl radical on redox non-innocent (L(•))(2-). Dianion [1](2-) shows both nucleophilic and electrophilic catalytic reactivity upon activation of O2 due to the presence of both a high-energy, filled O2(-) π* orbital and an empty low-lying O2(-) π* orbital in [3](1-).

A series of divalent, monovalent, and zerovalent nickel complexes supported by the electron-releasing, monoanionic tris(phosphino)borate ligands [PhBP3] and [PhBPiPr 3] ([PhBP3] = [PhB(CH2PPh2)3]-, [PhBPiPr 3] = [PhB(CH2PiPr2)3]-) have been synthesized to explore fundamental aspects of their coordination chemistry. The pseudotetrahedral, divalent halide complexes [PhBP3]NiCl (1), [PhBP3]NiI (2), and [PhBPiPr 3]NiCl (3) were prepared by the metalation of [PhBP3]Tl or [PhBPiPr 3]Tl with (Ph3P)2NiCl2, NiI2, and (DME)NiCl2 (DME = 1,2-dimethoxyethane), respectively. Complex 1 is a versatile precursor to a series of complexes accessible via substitution reactions including [PhBP3]Ni(N3) (4), [PhBP3]Ni(OSiPh3) (5), [PhBP3]Ni(O-p- t Bu-Ph) (6), and [PhBP3]Ni(S-p- t Bu-Ph) (7). Complexes 2−5 and 7 have been characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and are pseudotetrahedral monomers in the solid state. Complex 1 reacts readily with oxygen to form the four-electron-oxidation product, {[PhB(CH2P(O)Ph2)2(CH2PPh2)]NiCl} (8A or 8B), which features a solid-state structure that is dependent on its method of crystallization. Chemical reduction of 1 using Na/Hg or other potential 1-electron reductants generates a product that arises from partial ligand degradation, [PhBP3]Ni(η2-CH2PPh2) (9). The more sterically hindered chloride 3 reacts with Li(dbabh) (Hdbabh = 2,3:5,6-dibenzo-7-azabicyclo[2.2.1]hepta-2,5-diene) to provide the three-coordinate complex [κ2-PhBPiPr 3]Ni(dbabh) (11), also characterized by XRD. Chemical reduction of complex 1 in the presence of L-type donors produces the tetrahedral Ni(I) complexes [PhBP3]Ni(PPh3) (12) and [PhBP3]Ni(CN t Bu) (13). Reduction of 3 following the addition of PMe3 or tert-butyl isocyanide affords the Ni(I) complexes [PhBPiPr 3]Ni(PMe3) (14) and [PhBPiPr 3]Ni(CN t Bu) (15), respectively. The reactivity of these [PhBP3]NiIL and [PhBPiPr 3]NiIL complexes with respect to oxidative group transfer reactions from organic azides and diazoalkanes is discussed. The zerovalent nitrosyl complex [PhBP3]Ni(NO) (16) is prepared by the reaction of 1 with excess NO or by treating 12 with stoichiometric NO. The anionic Ni(0) complexes [[κ2-PhBP3]Ni(CO)2][ n Bu4N] (17) and [[κ2-PhBPiPr 3]Ni(CO)2][ASN] (18) (ASN = 5-azoniaspiro[4.4]nonane) have been prepared by reacting [PhBP3]Tl or [PhBPiPr 3]Tl with (Ph3P)2Ni(CO)2 in the presence of R4NBr. The photolysis of 17 appears to generate a new species consistent with a zerovalent monocarbonyl complex which we tentatively assign as {[PhBP3]Ni(CO)}{ n Bu4N}, although complete characterization of this complex has been difficult. Finally, theoretical DFT calculations are presented for the hypothetical low spin complexes [PhBP3]Ni(N t Bu), [PhBPiPr 3]Ni(N t Bu), [PhBPiPr 3]Ni(NMe), and [PhBPiPr 3]Ni(N) to consider what role electronic structure factors might play with respect to the relative stability of these species.

The syntheses and properties of the monomeric [MnIII/IIH31(OH)]-/2- and [MnIIIH31(O)]2- complexes are reported, where [H31]3- is the tripodal ligand tris[(N'-tert-butylureaylato)-N-ethyl)]aminato. Isotope-labeling studies with H218O confirmed that water is the source of the terminal oxo and oxygen in the hydroxo ligand. The molecular structures of the [MnIIH31(OH)]2- and [MnIIIH31(O)]2- complexes were determined by X-ray diffraction methods and show that each complex has trigonal bipyramidal coordination geometry. The MnIII-O distance in [MnIIIH31(O)]2- is 1.771(4) A, which is lengthened to 2.059(2) A in [MnIIH31(OH)]2-. Structural studies also show that [H31]3- provides a hydrogen-bond cavity that surrounds the MnIII-O(H) units. Using a thermodynamic approach, which requires pKa and redox potentials, bond dissociation energies of 77(4) and 110(4) kcal/mol were calculated for [MnIIH31(O-H)]2- and [MnIIIH31(O-H)]-, respectively. The calculated value of 77 kcal/mol for the [MnIIH31(O-H)]2- complex is supported by the ability of [MnIIIH31(O)]2- complex to cleave C-H bonds with bond energies of <80 kcal/mol.

Doctoral recipients in the biomedical sciences and STEM fields are showing increased interest in career opportunities beyond academic positions. While recent research has addressed the interests and preferences of doctoral trainees for non-academic careers, the strategies and resources that trainees use to prepare for a broad job market (non-academic) are poorly understood. The recent adaptation of the Social Cognitive Career Theory to explicitly highlight the interplay of contextual support mechanisms, individual career search efficacy, and self-adaptation of job search processes underscores the value of attention to this explicit career phase. Our research addresses the factors that affect the career search confidence and job search strategies of doctoral trainees with non-academic career interests and is based on nearly 900 respondents from an NIH-funded survey of doctoral students and postdoctoral fellows in the biomedical sciences at two U.S. universities. Using structural equation modeling, we find that trainees pursuing non-academic careers, and/or with low perceived program support for career goals, have lower career development and search process efficacy (CDSE), and receive different levels of support from their advisors/supervisors. We also find evidence of trainee adaptation driven by their career search efficacy, and not by career interests.