No abstract

Vitamin B(12) catalyzes the reductive dechlorination of several ubiquitous pollutants such as perchloroethylene (PCE) and trichloroethylene (TCE). Several mechanisms have been proposed for these transformations, some of which involve the intermediacy of chlorinated vinylcobalamins. To evaluate the currently unknown chemical and physical properties of such species, various chlorinated vinylcobaloxime complexes [cobaloxime = bis(dimethylglyoximato)(pyridine)cobalt(III)] were prepared and characterized. X-ray structures are reported for (cis-1,2-dichloroethenyl)cobaloxime (4), (cis-monochloroethenyl)cobaloxime (5), (alpha-chloroethenyl)cobaloxime (6), and vinylcobaloxime (7), and the reactivities of these isolated complexes were investigated. They were stable in the presence of ethanolic NaBH(4) unless external cobaloximes were added. The cob(I)aloxime formed under the latter conditions promoted the conversion of 4 to 5 and 6, and of 5 and 6 into 7. Mechanistic studies of these transformations are consistent with a pathway in which the conversion of 4 into 5 and 6 takes place via chloroacetylene as an intermediate, and the conversion of 6 to 7 involves vinyl chloride as an intermediate. Cyclic voltammetry on the chlorinated vinylcobaloximes resulted in irreversible reduction waves, with 4 displaying the least negative and 7 the most negative peak potential. These results are discussed in the context of the B(12)-catalyzed reductive dechlorination of PCE and TCE.

Vitamin B12-catalyzed reductive dechlorination of perchloroethylene (PCE) and trichloroethylene (TCE) is a potential strategy for cleanup of polluted environments. Presented are crystal structures of vinylcobalamin 2 and cis-chlorovinylcobalamin 1. They show a strong resistance toward photolysis. Reduction of 2 is difficult, but reduction of 1 occurs readily and produces 2. The mechanism of this latter reaction involves acetylene as an intermediate. These and other findings are discussed in the context of environmental studies on B12-catalyzed dechlorination of PCE and TCE and investigations of the haloalkene reductive dehalogenases that catalyze similar reactions.

The first X-ray structure of a vinylcobalamin is reported. Chlorovinylcobalamin is formed in the reaction of cob(I)alamin with chloroacetylene. Subsequently, cob(I)alamin catalyzes the reduction of chlorovinylcobalamin to vinylcobalamin in the presence of excess titanium(III)citrate. Introduction of a chlorine onto the vinyl group of vinylcobalamin greatly changes its reduction potential. These results are discussed with respect to vitamin B12-catalyzed dechlorination of perchloroethylene, a pollutant on the priority list of the EPA.