title: Stabilities of cubane type [Fe₄S₄(SR)₄](2-) clusters in partially aqueous media.
abstract: The stability of cubane-type [Fe₄S₄(SR)₄](2-) clusters in mixed organic/aqueous solvents was examined as an initial step in the development of stable water-soluble cluster compounds possibly suitable for reconstitution of scaffold proteins in protein biosynthesis. The research involves primarily spectrophotometric assessment of stability in 20-80% Me₂SO/aqueous media (v/v), from which it was found that conventional clusters tend to be stable for up to 12h in 60% Me₂SO but are much less stable at higher aqueous content. α-Cyclodextrin mono- and dithioesters and thiols were prepared as ligand precursors for cluster binding, which was demonstrated by spectroscopic methods. A potentially bidentate cyclodextrin dithiolate was found to be relatively effective for cluster stabilization in 40% Me₂SO, suggesting (together with earlier results) that other exceptionally large thiolate ligands may promote cluster stability in aqueous media.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA.
authors.forename: Wayne
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Lo
authors.forename: Thomas A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Scott
authors.forename: Ping
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Chang-Chun
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Ling
authors.forename: R H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Holm
mesh_terms: D040761:Biomimetic Materials / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry; D056831:Coordination Complexes / Q000737:chemistry*; D004121:Dimethyl Sulfoxide / Q000737:chemistry; D057927:Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions; D007501:Iron / Q000737:chemistry*; D007506:Iron-Sulfur Proteins / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry; D008024:Ligands; D008958:Models, Molecular; D013324:Strontium / Q000737:chemistry; D013455:Sulfur / Q000737:chemistry*; D047391:alpha-Cyclodextrins / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D056831:Coordination Complexes; D007506:Iron-Sulfur Proteins; D008024:Ligands; D047391:alpha-Cyclodextrins; D013455:Sulfur; D007501:Iron; D004121:Dimethyl Sulfoxide; D013324:Strontium