An expanded set of functional groups in bis(dithiolene)tungsten(IV,VI) complexes related to the active sites of tungstoenzymes, Including WIV-SR and WVI-O(SR).

The active sites of tungstoenzymes have the formulations W(IV,V)L(S(2)pd)(2) and W(VI)LL'(S(2)pd)(2), in which two pyranopterindithiolene cofactor ligands (S(2)pd) are chelated to a tungsten atom. Ligands L and/or L' are not fully defined in any wild-type enzyme. The feasibility of various coordination fragments (functional groups) in potential bis(dithiolene)tungsten site analogues has been examined in previous work by exploratory synthesis. This investigation expands the range of accessible functional groups. The synthetic scheme originates with [W(CO)(2)(S(2)C(2)Me(2))(2)], whose carbonyl groups are labile to substitution. Complexes W(IV,VI)LL'(S(2)C(2)Me(2))(2) are described in terms of their functional groups W(IV,VI)LL'. Reaction of the dicarbonyl with formate in acetonitrile/THF affords W(IV)(CO)(eta(1)-HCO(2)) (4) and in Me(2)SO W(VI)O(eta(1)-HCO(2)) (7) by an oxo transfer reaction. Carboxylates yield six-coordinate W(IV)(eta(2)-O(2)CR) (1-3, R = Ph, Me, Bu(t)) with C(2)(v) symmetry. Reaction of 3 (R = Bu(t)) with Me(3)SiSR (R = C(6)H(2)-2,4,6-Pr(i)(3)) gives W(IV)(SR) (5), which undergoes oxo and sulfido atom transfer to form W(VI)O(SR) (8) and W(VI)S(SR) (9), respectively. Attempts to prepare corresponding selenolate complexes, pertinent to the active site of formate dehydrogenase, were unsuccessful, including reactions of W(VI)OCl (10) with RSe(-). Structure proofs of 2-10 were obtained by X-ray structure determinations. Some 26 functional group types in bis(dithiolene)W(IV,V,VI) molecules have now been achieved by synthesis. It remains to be seen which are incorporated in an enzyme site. A number of them (e.g., 5) are directly analogous to molybdoenzyme sites, and may possess corresponding reactivity with biological substrates, as do W(IV)(OR)/W(VI)O(OR) (prepared earlier) in the reduction of N- and S-oxides by atom transfer.