Reduction of RuVI≡N to RuIII—NH3 by Cysteine in Aqueous Solution

Qian Wang, Wai-Lun Man, William W. Y. Lam, Shek-Man Yiu, Man-Kit Tse, Tai-Chu Lau*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Journal Publications and ReviewsRGC 21 - Publication in refereed journalpeer-review

3 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The reduction of metal nitride to ammonia is a key step in biological and chemical nitrogen fixation. We report herein the facile reduction of a ruthenium(VI) nitrido complex [(L)RuVI(N)(OH2)]+ (1, L = N,N′-bis(salicylidene)-o-cyclohexyldiamine dianion) to [(L)RuIII(NH3)(OH2)]+ by L-cysteine (Cys), an ubiquitous biological reductant, in aqueous solution. At pH 1.0-5.3, the reaction has the following stoichiometry: [(L)RuVI(N)(OH2)]+ + 3HSCH2CH(NH3)CO2 → [(L)RuIII(NH3)(OH2)]+ + 1.5(SCH2CH(NH3)CO2)2. Kinetic studies show that at pH 1 the reaction consists of two phases, while at pH 5 there are three distinct phases. For all phases the rate law is rate = k2[1][Cys]. Studies on the effects of acidity indicate that both HSCH2CH(NH3+)CO2 - and -SCH2CH(NH3 +)CO2 - are kinetically active species. At pH 1, the reaction is proposed to go through [(L)-RuIV(NHSCH2CHNH3CO2H)(OH2)]2+ (2a), [(L)RuIII(NH2SCH2CHNH3CO2H)(OH2)]2+ (3), and [(L)RuIV(NH2)(OH2)]+ (4) intermediates. On the other hand, at pH around 5, the proposed intermediates are [(L)RuIV(NHSCH2CHNH3CO2)-(OH2)]+ (2b) and [(L)RuIV(NH2)(OH2)]+ (4). The intermediate ruthenium(IV) sulfilamido species, [(L)-RuIV(NHSCH2CHNH3CO2H)(OH2)]2+ (2a) and the final ruthenium(III) ammine species, [(L)RuIII(NH3)(MeOH)]+ (5) (where H2O was replaced by MeOH) have been isolated and characterized by various spectroscopic methods.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)5850-5858
JournalInorganic Chemistry
Volume57
Issue number10
Online published30 Apr 2018
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 21 May 2018

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