Kα High-Energy Resolution Fluorescence Detected X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy (HERFD XAS) provides a powerful tool for overcoming the limitations of conventional XAS to identify the electronic structure and coordination environment of metalloprotein active sites. Herein, Fe Kα HERFD-XAS is applied to the diiron active site of soluble Methane Monooxygenase (sMMO) and to a series of high-valent diiron model complexes, including a “diamond core” [FeIV2(μ-O)2(L)2](ClO4)4] (3) and an “open core” [(O=FeIV–O–FeIV(OH)(L)2](ClO4)3 (4) (where, L = tris(3,5-dimethyl-4-methoxypyridyl-2-methyl)amine) (TPA*)). Pronounced differences in the HERFD XAS pre-edge energies and intensities are observed for the open vs. closed Fe2O2 cores in the model compounds. These differences are reproduced by time-dependent density functional theory (TDDFT) calculations and allow for the pre-edge energies and intensity to be directly correlated with the local active site geometric and electronic structure. A comparison of the model complex HERFD XAS data to that of MMOHQ (the key intermediate in methane oxidation) is supportive of an open core structure. Specifically, the large pre-edge area observed for MMOHQ may be rationalized by invoking an open core structure with a terminal FeIV=O motif, though further modulations of the core structure due to the protein environment cannot be ruled out. The present study, thus, motivates the need for additional experimental and theoretical studies to unambiguously assess the active site conformation of MMOHQ.
Herein, we show that the performance of mesostructured cobalt oxide electrocatalyst for oxygen evolution reaction (OER) can be significantly enhanced by coupling of silver species. Various analysis techniques including pair distribution function and Rietveld refinement, X‐ray absorption spectroscopy at synchrotron as well as advanced electron microscopy revealed that silver exists as metallic Ag particles and well‐dispersed Ag2O nanoclusters within the mesostructure. The benefits of this synergy are twofold for OER: highly conductive metallic Ag improves the charge transfer ability of the electrocatalysts while ultra‐small Ag2O clusters provide the centers that can uptake Fe impurities from KOH electrolyte and boost the catalytic efficiency of Co–Ag oxides. The current density of mesostructured Co3O4 at 1.7 VRHE is increased from 102 to 211 mA cm−2 with incorporation of silver spices. This work presents the dual role of silver moieties and demonstrates a simple method to increase the OER activity of Co3O4.
The ability of resonant X-ray emission spectroscopy (XES) to recover physical oxidation state information, which may often be ambiguous in conventional X-ray spectroscopy, is demonstrated. By combining Kb XES with resonant excitation in the XAS pre-edge region, resonant Kb XES (or 1s3p RXES) data are obtained, which probe the 3d n+1 final-state configuration. Comparison of the non-resonant and resonant XES for as eries of high-spin ferrous and ferric complexes shows that oxidation state assignments that were previously unclear are now easily made.T he present study spans iron tetrachlorides,iron sulfur clusters,and the MoFeprotein of nitrogenase. While 1s3p RXES studies have previously been reported, to our knowledge,1s3p RXES has not been previously utilized to resolve questions of metal valency in highly covalent systems. As such, the approach presented herein provides chemists with means to more rigorously and quantitatively address challenging electronic-structure questions.
The determination of the diiron core intermediate structures involved in the catalytic cycle of soluble methane monooxygenase (sMMO), the enzyme that selectively catalyzes the conversion of methane to methanol, has been a subject of intense interest within the bioinorganic scientific community. Particularly, the specific geometry and electronic structure of the intermediate that precedes methane binding, known as intermediate Q (or MMOH Q ), has been debated for over 30 years. Some reported studies support a bis-μ-oxo-bridged Fe(IV) 2 O 2 closed-core conformation Fe(IV) 2 O 2 core, whereas others favor an open-core geometry, with a longer Fe–Fe distance. The lack of consensus calls for a thorough re-examination and reinterpretation of the spectroscopic data available on the MMOH Q intermediate. Herein, we report extensive simulations based on a hybrid quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics approach (QM/MM) approach that takes into account the complete enzyme to explore possible conformations for intermediates MMOH ox and MMOH Q of the sMMOH catalytic cycle. High-level quantum chemical approaches are used to correlate specific structural motifs with geometric parameters for comparison with crystallographic and EXAFS data, as well as with spectroscopic data from Mössbauer spectroscopy, Fe K-edge high-energy resolution X-ray absorption spectroscopy (HERFD XAS), and resonance Raman 16 O– 18 O difference spectroscopy. The results provide strong support for an open-core-type configuration in MMOH Q , with the most likely topology involving mono-oxo-bridged Fe ions and alternate terminal Fe-oxo and Fe-hydroxo groups that interact via intramolecular hydrogen bonding. The implications of an open-core intermediate Q on the reaction mechanism of sMMO are discussed.
Herein, we study the mechanism of iron-catalyzed direct synthesis of unprotected aminoethers from olefins by a hydroxyl amine derived reagent using a wide range of analytical and spectroscopic techniques (Mössbauer, Electron Paramagnetic Resonance, Ultra-Violet Visible Spectroscopy, X-ray Absorption, Nuclear Resonance Vibrational Spectroscopy, and resonance Raman) along with high-level quantum chemical calculations. The hydroxyl amine derived triflic acid salt acts as the “oxidant” as well as “amino” group donor. It activates the high-spin Fe(II) ( S t = 2) catalyst [Fe(acac) 2 (H 2 O) 2 ] ( 1 ) to generate a high-spin ( S t = 5/2) intermediate ( Int I ), which decays to a second intermediate ( Int II ) with S t = 2. The analysis of spectroscopic and computational data leads to the formulation of Int I as [Fe(III)(acac) 2 - N -acyloxy] (an alkyl-peroxo-Fe(III) analogue). Furthermore, Int II is formed by N–O bond homolysis. However, it does not generate a high-valent Fe(IV)(NH) species (a Fe(IV)(O) analogue), but instead a high-spin Fe(III) center which is strongly antiferromagnetically coupled ( J = −524 cm –1 ) to an iminyl radical, [Fe(III)(acac) 2 -NH·], giving S t = 2. Though Fe(NH) complexes as isoelectronic surrogates to Fe(O) functionalities are known, detection of a high-spin Fe(III)- N -acyloxy intermediate ( Int I ), which undergoes N–O bond cleavage to generate the active iron–nitrogen intermediate ( Int II ), is unprecedented. Relative to Fe(IV)(O) centers, Int II features a weak elongated Fe–N bond which, together with the unpaired electron density along the Fe–N bond vector, helps to rationalize its propensity for N -transfer reactions onto styrenyl olefins, resulting in the overall formation of aminoethers. This study thus demonstrates the potential of utilizing the iron-coordinated nitrogen-centered radicals as powerful reactive intermediates in catalysis.
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