PhSeZnCl, which is also known as Santi’s reagent,
can catalyze
the reduction of hydrogen peroxide by thiols with a GPx-like mechanism.
In this work, the first step of this catalytic cycle, i.e., the reduction
of H2O2 by PhSeZnCl, is investigated in silico using state-of-the-art density functional theory
calculations. Then, the role of the metal is evaluated by replacing
Zn with its group 12 siblings (Cd and Hg). The thermodynamic and kinetic
factors favoring Zn are elucidated. Furthermore, the role of the halogen
is considered by replacing Cl with Br in all three metal compounds,
and this turns out to be negligible. Finally, the overall GPx-like
mechanism of PhSeZnCl and PhSeZnBr is discussed by evaluating the
energetics of the mechanistic path leading to the disulfide product.