Intramolecular direct oxygen transfer from oxoferryl porphyrin to a sulfide bond.

A 1:1 supramolecular complex (met-hemoCD) of 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(4-sulfonatophenyl)porphyrinatoiron(III) (Fe(III)TPPS) with a per-O-methylated β-cyclodextrin dimer having a -SCH2PyCH2S- (Py = pyridin-3,5-diyl) linker (Py3CD) reacted rapidly with hydrogen peroxide or cumene hydroperoxide in an aqueous solution forming two types of hydroperoxo or alkylperoxo intermediates, ROO-Fe(III)(OH(-))PCD and ROO-Fe(III)(Py)PCD, which underwent rapid homolysis to the corresponding ferryloxo species, namely, O═Fe(IV)(OH(-))PCD and O═Fe(IV)(Py)PCD, respectively. For the O═Fe(IV)(OH(-))PCD species, the iron-oxo oxygen facing the linker gradually transferred to the nearby sulfide bond on the linker, forming the sulfoxidized Py3CD (Py3CD-O)/Fe(II)TPPS complex, which then bound dioxygen in air forming an oxy-ferrous complex, O2-Fe(II)TPPS/Py3CD-O. In contrast, the O═Fe(IV)(Py)PCD species, in which the iron-oxo oxygen was located on the opposite side of the sulfide bond on the linker across the porphyrin ring, was reduced to the resting state (met-hemoCD) by the surroundings without any oxidation of the Py3CD linker.