While NO typically reduces biological copper centers, recent studies suggest that NO can serve as an oxidizing agent in a class of bacteria capable of anaerobically oxidizing methane to methanol via the copper based particulate methane monoxygenase. Employing electron-rich, low coordinate copper(I) complexes [Cu], we find that the low temperature addition of 2 equiv. NO leads to a species consistent with the cis-hyponitrite[Cu](k2-O2N2). Spectroscopic characterization of these reactive intermediates will be presented along with reactivity studies that illustrate the highly oxidizing behavior of the unusual [Cu](k2-O2N2) intermediate.

Nitric oxide reactivity at low coordinate copper(I): An unusual, oxidizing intermediate

246th National Meeting (2013)

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