title: Electronic structure control of the nucleophilicity of transition metal-thiolate complexes: an experimental and theoretical study.
abstract: New metal(II)-thiolate complexes supported by the tetradentate ligand 1,5-bis(2-pyridylmethyl)-1,5-diazacyclooctane (L(8)py(2)) have been synthesized and subjected to physical, spectroscopic, structural, and computational characterization. The X-ray crystal structures of these complexes, [L(8)py(2)M(S-C(6)H(4)-p-CH(3))]BPh(4) (M = Co, Ni, Zn), reveal distorted square-pyramidal divalent metal ions with four equatorial nitrogen donors from L(8)py(2) and axial p-toluenethiolate ligands. The reactions of the complexes with benzyl bromide produce isolable metal(II)-bromide complexes (in the cases of Co and Ni) and the thioether benzyl-p-tolylsulfide. This reaction is characterized by a second-order rate law (nu = k(2)[L(8)py(2)M(SAr)(+)][PhCH(2)Br]) for all complexes (where M = Fe, Co, Ni, or Zn). Of particular significance is the disparity between k(2) for M = Fe and Co versus k(2) for M = Ni and Zn, in that k(2) for M = Ni and Zn is ca. 10 times larger (faster) than k(2) for M = Fe and Co. An Eyring analysis of k(2) for [L(8)py(2)Co(SAr)](+) and [L(8)py(2)Ni(SAr)](+) reveals that the reaction rate differences are not rooted in a change in mechanism, as the reactions of these complexes with benzyl bromide exhibit comparable activation parameters (M = Co: DeltaH() = 45(2) kJ mol(-)(1), DeltaS() = -144(6) J mol(-)(1) K(-)(1); M = Ni: DeltaH() = 43(3) kJ mol(-)(1), DeltaS() = -134(8) J mol(-)(1) K(-)(1)). Electronic structure calculations using density functional theory (DFT) reveal that the enhanced reaction rate for [L(8)py(2)Ni(SAr)](+) is rooted in a four-electron repulsion (or a "filled/filled interaction") between a completely filled nickel(II) d(pi) orbital and one of the two thiolate frontier orbitals, a condition that is absent in the Fe(II) and Co(II) complexes. The comparable reactivity of [L(8)py(2)Zn(SAr)](+) relative to that of [L(8)py(2)Ni(SAr)](+) arises from a highly ionic zinc(II)-thiolate bond that enhances the negative charge density on the thiolate sulfur. DFT calculations on putative thioether-coordinated intermediates reveal that the Co(II)- and Zn(II)-thioethers exhibit weaker M-S bonding than Ni(II). These combined results suggest that while Ni(II) may serve as a competent replacement for Zn(II) in alkyl group transfer enzymes, turnover may be limited by slow product release from the Ni(II) center.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1101 West University Avenue, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, USA.
authors.forename: Derek C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Fox
authors.forename: Adam T
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Fiedler
authors.forename: Heather L
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Halfen
authors.forename: Thomas C
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Brunold
authors.forename: Jason A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Halfen
mesh_terms: D003198:Computer Simulation; D018360:Crystallography, X-Ray; D004563:Electrochemistry; D008024:Ligands; D008670:Metals / Q000737:chemistry*; D008958:Models, Molecular; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D015394:Molecular Structure; D009942:Organometallic Compounds / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000737:chemistry; D013438:Sulfhydryl Compounds / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D008024:Ligands; D008670:Metals; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D013438:Sulfhydryl Compounds