From ab initio quality calculations on model systems, we conclude that in unliganded Fe-porphyrin the Fe lies in the plane for both the high-spin (q) and intermediate-spin (t) We will discuss the bonding of oxygen to hemoglobin (Hb) or myoglobin (Mb) using the results of theoretical calculations of the electronic structure of model systems representing Feporphyrin, Fe-porphyrin plus an additional nitrogenous axial ligand (deoxy Mb), and 02 bound to the latter five-coordinate complex (MbO2). In all cases the Fe is found to be high-or intermediate-spin (S = 2 or 1) with six electrons in the d orbitals. In no case (not even with the six-coordinate complexes) do we find a low-lying state in which the Fe is in a low-spin state (t2g6, S = 0). We find that the properties of these model complexes are consistent with the observed properties of the active sites of Mb and Hb and that these calculations give additional insight into the protein-modified behavior of the active site of Hb. In this paper we outline the qualitative description that emerges; detailed results will appear elsewhere.
Model calculations