The stretching frequency of the iron-carbon bond, v(Fe-CO), is a direct measure of the iron-carbon bond strength when there is no change in the Fe-C-O geometry. Here we report resonance Raman detection of v(Fe-CO) frequencies in the CO complexes of iron (II) alpha, alpha, alpha, alpha-mesotetrakis(o-pivalamidophenyl)porphyrin, FeII(TpivPP), with trans ligands of varying strength: N-methylimidazole (N-MeIm), 1,2-dimethylimidazole (1,2-Me2Im), pyridine (py), and tetrahydrofuran (THF). It was found that the weaker the iron-trans ligand bond, the stronger the iron-carbon bond. Comparisons of sterically hindered (1,2-Me2Im) and unhindered (N-MeIm) bases are of particular interest because of their implication in the phenomenon of hemoglobin cooperativity and the mechanisms of protein control of heme reactivity. While the CO binding affinity of FeII(TpivPP)(1,2-MeIm) is approximately 400 times lower than that of FeII(TpivPP)(N-MeIm), the v(Fe-CO) frequency for the former (at 496 cm-1) is higher than that for the latter (at 489 cm-1). This example shows that the CO binding affinity cannot be directly correlated with the strength of the iron-carbon bond. Comparison of the CO binding to FeII(TpivPP)(THF) and FeII(TpivPP)(N-MeIm) reveals a similar relationship; the v(Fe-CO) frequency (at 527 cm-1) in FeII(TpivPP)(THF)(CO) is 38 cm-1 higher than that in FeII(TpivPP)(N-MeIm)(CO), but the CO binding affinity is lower for the THF complex.

Strong evidence suggests that the stretching vibration of the bound oxygen can be perturbed by an accidentally degenerate porphyrin ring mode, resulting in two split frequencies. In the Co(II)(TpivPP) (pyridine) (18)O(2) complex, we demonstrate that the nu((18)O-(18)O) mode, after being shifted from its nu((16)O-(16)O) value at 1,156 cm(-1), undergoes a resonance interaction with the 1,080 cm(-1) porphyrin mode, giving rise to two lines at 1,067 and 1,089 cm(-1). In the O(2) complex of Co(II) mesoporphyrin IX-substituted sperm whale myoglobin, we observed a dramatic intensity increase at 1,132 cm(-1) upon (16)O(2) --> (18)O(2) substitution, which is due to the reappearance of the 1,132-cm(-1) porphyrin mode after the removal of resonance conditions. A decrease in O(2) binding affinity, caused by the proximal base tension, corresponds to an increase in the Co-O(2) stretching frequency. The nu(Co-O(2)) at 527 cm(-1) for the low affinity Co(II)(TpivPP)(1,2-Me(2)Im) O(2) complex is 11 cm(-1) higher than the 516-cm(-1) value for the high affinity complex (with N-MeIm replacing 1,2-Me(2)Im). However, in the corresponding iron complexes the reverse behavior is observed, i.e., the nu(Fe-O(2)) decreases for the (1,2-Me(2)Im) complex. There is a 24-cm(-1) difference in the Co-O(2) stretching frequencies between Co(II)(TpivPP)(N-MeIm)O(2) (at 516 cm(-1)) and oxy meso CoMb (at 540 cm(-1)), suggesting a protein induced distortion of the Co-O-O linkage. However, the values for nu(Fe-O(2)) are nearly identical between Fe(II)(TpivPP)(N-MeIm)O(2) (at 571 cm(-1)) and oxy Mb (at 573 cm(-1)), indicating that O(2) binds to myoglobin in the same manner as in the sterically unhindered "picket fence" complex. Evidence is presented that suggests the presence of two dioxygen stretching frequencies due to two different conformers in each of the N-MeIm and 1,2-Me(2)Im complex of oxy Co(II)(TpivPP).

The resonance Raman (RR) spectra of the hexacoordinated ferrous nitrosyl sperm whale myoglobin are independent of pH for both the 200-700 cm and 1350-1650 cm-' regions. In agreement with earlier ESR [Eur. J. Biochem. (1972) 31, 578-5841 and contrary to recent RR [Biochemistry (1982) 21, 6989-69951 results the RR spectra do not indicate a transition to the pentacoordinated ferrous nitrosyl derivative at low pH. However, interaction of the protein with sodium dodecylsulfate, leads to the formation of a pure pentacoordinated state with a typical RR spectrum. Replacement of 14N0 for "NO in this pentacoordinated ferrous nitrosyl derivative does not exhibit isotope effects using 413.1 excitation. Sperm whale myoglobinResonance Raman spectra