Axial ligand effect on the catalytic activity of biomimetic Fe-porphyrin catalyst: an experimental and DFT study

Electrostatic interactions occurring in the immediate environment of the metal center in native enzymes influence the charge distribution and electron donation ability, regulating activity. Herein, using an iron-porphyrin biomimetic complex, we have investigated the effect of the protonation state of the axial imidazole on the catalytic oxidation of pentachlorophenol. We show that the catalytic efficiency is drastically affected by the anionic state of the axial ligand. The chemical events occurring during the catalytic cycle were monitored by a detailed analytical study. EPR, UV-Vis and low temperature UV-Vis together with theoretical DFT and TD-DFT calculations provide evidence that deprotonation of the axial imidazole leads to increased electron donation ability to the central metal, enhancing the formation of ferryl species.

ferryl; axial ligand; additives; co-catalyst; chlorophenol; chlorinated pollutants; dft; heme; bond-cleavage; iron tetrasulfophthalocyanine; proximal ligand; h2o2 oxidation; pentachlorophenol; complexes; iron(iii); cytochrome-p-450; dechlorination

Axial ligand effect on the catalytic activity of biomimetic Fe-porphyrin catalyst: an experimental and DFT study Articles