Structural, spectroscopic, and computational characterization of the azide adduct of Fe(III)(2,6-diacetylpyridinebis(semioxamazide)), a functional analogue of iron superoxide dismutase.

We have prepared and thoroughly characterized, using X-ray crystallographic, spectroscopic, and computational methods, the diazide adduct of [Fe(III)(dapsox)(H2O)2](+) [dapsox = 2,6-diacetylpyridinebis(semioxamazide)], (1), a low-molecular weight, functional analogue of iron superoxide dismutase (FeSOD). The X-ray crystal structure of the dimeric form of 1, (Na[Fe(III)(dapsox)(N3)2]·DMF)2 (2) shows two axially coordinated, symmetry inequivalent azides with differing Fe-N3 bond lengths and Fe-N-N2 bond angles. This inequivalence of the azide ligands likely reflects the presence of an interdimer hydrogen bonding interaction between a dapsox NH group and the coordinated nitrogen of one of the two azide ligands. Resonance Raman (rR) data obtained for frozen aqueous solution and solid-state samples of 2 indicate that the azides remain inequivalent in solution, suggesting that one of the azide ligands of 1 engages in an intermolecular hydrogen bonding interaction with a water molecule. Density functional theory (DFT) and time-dependent DFT calculations have been used to study two different computational models of 1, one using coordinates taken from the X-ray crystal structure of 2, and the other generated via DFT geometry optimization. An evaluation of these models on the basis of electronic absorption, magnetic circular dichroism, and rR data indicates that the crystal structure based model yields a more accurate electronic structure description of 1, providing further support for the proposed intermolecular hydrogen bonding of 1 in the solid state and in solution. An analysis of the experimentally validated DFT results for this model reveals that the azides have both σ- and π-bonding interactions with the Fe(III) center and that more negative charge is located on the Fe-bound, rather than on the terminal, nitrogen atom of each azide. These observations are reminiscent of the results previously reported for the azide adduct of FeSOD and provide clues regarding the origin of the high catalytic activity of Fe-dapsox for superoxide disproportionation.