A series of twelve anionic, cationic, and neutral nickel(II) complexes have been synthesized and characterized. The interaction of these complexes with bovine serum albumin (BSA), human serum albumin (HSA), lysozyme (Lyso), and tryptophan (Trp) has been studied using steady-state fluorescence spectroscopy. Dynamic and static quenching constants have been calculated, and the role played in quenching by the ligand and complex charge investigated. The nickel complexes showed selectivity towards the different proteins based on the environment surrounding the Trp residue(s). Only small neutral complexes with hydrophobic ligands effectively quenched protein fluorescence via static quenching, with association constants ranging from 10(2) M(-1) (free Trp) to 10(10) M(-1) (lysozyme), indicating a spontaneous and thermodynamically favorable interaction. The number of binding sites, on average, was determined to be one in BSA, HSA and free Trp, and two in lysozyme.

Deconvoluting the different contributions of thiolate and ene-1,2-dithiolate donors to the underlying electronic structure of the Mo site in sulfite oxidase (SO) has proven to be a difficult task. One way in which these differences might be illuminated is by selectively substituting Se for S in model complexes which possess multiple sulfur donor ligand environments. Here we report the synthesis and structures of new oxo-Mo(V) complexes as effective models for the one-electron reduced active site of SO. We have used the tridentate heteroscorpionate ligand (2-dimethylethanethiol)bis(3,5-dimethylpyrazolyl)methane (L3SH) in order to model the constrained cysteinyl sulfur (S(Cys)) ligand environment observed in the crystal structure of the enzyme, and benzene-1,2-dithiol (bdt) as a mimic of the ene-1,2-dithiolate chelate. [(L3S)MoO(bdt)] and [(L3S)MoO(SPh)(2)] have been structurally characterized by X-ray crystallography, and as such, [(L3S)MoO(bdt)] is only the second known model compound that closely approximates the active site structure of reduced forms of SO. Additionally, benzenethiol (SPh) and benzeneselenol (SePh) have been used to perturb the equatorial ligand environment of [(L3S)MoO(bdt)].) This has provided much needed insight into the electronic structure of the one-electron reduced SO site and has allowed for increased understanding of the individual roles played by these different thiolate donors in the oxidative half-reaction of the enzyme. Interestingly, the EPR spectra of [(L3S)MoO(bdt)], [(L3S)MoO(SPh)(2)], and [(L3S)MoO(SePh)(2)] closely resemble that of both high pH (hpH) and low pH (lpH) SO, except for the fact that the magnitude of g(1) is found to be consistently higher in the model spectra compared to that of the enzyme. It is suggested that this derives from an increase in Mo-S covalency in the models relative to hpH and lpH SO.

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Both dioxo Mo(VI) and mono-oxo Mo(V) complexes of a sterically restrictive N2O heteroscorpionate ligand are found to exist as cis and trans isomers. The thermodynamically stable isomer differs for the two oxidation states, but in each case, we have isolated the kinetically labile isomer and followed its isomerization to the thermodynamically stable form. The Mo(VI) complex is more stable in the cis geometry and isomerizes more than 6 times faster than the Mo(V) complex, which prefers the trans geometry. In OAT reactions with PPh3, the trans isomer of the dioxo-Mo(VI) reacts approximately 20 times faster than the cis isomer. Thus, there are both oxidation state and donor atom dependent differences in isomeric stability and reactivity that could have significant functional implications for molybdoenzymes such as DMSO reductase.