Synthesis and characterization of Ni(III)N3S2 complexes as active site models for the oxidized form of nickel superoxide dismutase

Abstract

Nickel complexes, [Ni(H2BA(R)TPP)](ClO4)2 (R = Ph for 1 or iPr for 2), supported by a pentadentate ligand H2BA(R)TPP were synthesized and oxidized to form Ni(III) species having a N3S2 coordination environment to mimic the active site of the oxidized form of nickel superoxide dismutase (NiSODox). The Ni(III) species 2(+) exhibited a rhombic signal with g values at 2.15, 2.12 and 2.02 similar to that of NiSODox. DFT calculations revealed that 2(+) has an unpaired electron primarily located in the dz2 orbital of the Ni(III) center, which strongly overlaps with the pz orbital of the axial pyridine nitrogen of H2BA(Pr)TPP.

Keywords: biomimetics; catalysis; density functional calculations; nickel(III) complexes; superoxide.