Unique cooperation has been observed between rhenium atoms and non-innocent N-confused porphyrin ligands in new oxorhenium(V) complexes.
The simplest porphyrin, porphine (left), and the N-confused porphyrin used to synthesize unique oxorhenium complexes.
Hiroyuki Furuta et al. have synthesised two new porphyrin oxorhenium(V) complexes which have been shown to be remarkably effective at oxygen atom transport. Through a catalytic process the oxygen atom from pyridine N-oxide can be transferred to PPh3 in a 97% yield, notably higher than that of some other rhenium(V) complexes. The authors propose that the reason for their success is the existence of a Re-C bond, believing that this bond is important for efficient oxygen transport.
Atom transport is at the heart of successful catalysis, and as usual nature has already beaten us to it. Galactose oxidase for example converts a primary alcohol into an aldehyde by transporting a hydrogen atom from one part of the enzyme to another. But if the oxygen atom transfer seen in these synthetic N-confused porphyrin oxorhenium(V) complexes can be extended to other systems, exciting advancements in the field of catalysis could be on the horizon.
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To find out more about these exciting new complexes and the atom transport they facilitate, take a look at the full Dalton Transactions communication.
Cooperation between metal and ligand in oxygen atom transport by N-confused porphyrin oxorhenium(V) complexes
Takaaki Yamamoto, Motoki Toganoh and Hiroyuki Furuta
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By Katie Renouf, Web Writer
