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Speciation and structure of ferriprotoporphyrin IX in aqueous solution: spectroscopic and diffusion measurements demonstrate dimerization, but not μ-oxo dimer formation

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Abstract

Changes in ε 393 (the Soret band) of aqueous ferriprotoporphyrin IX [Fe(III)PPIX] with concentration indicate that it dimerizes, but does not form higher aggregates. Diffusion measurements support this observation. The diffusion coefficient of aqueous Fe(III)PPIX is half that of the hydrated monomeric dicyano complex. Much of the apparent instability of aqueous Fe(III)PPIX solutions could be attributed to adsorption onto glass and plastic surfaces. However, ε 347 was found to be independent of the aggregation state of the porphyrin and was used to correct for the effects of adsorption. The UV–vis spectrum of the aqueous dimer is not consistent with that expected for a μ-oxo dimer and the 1H NMR spectrum is characteristic of five-coordinate, high-spin Fe(III)PPIX. Magnetic susceptibility measurements using the Evans method showed that there is no antiferromagnetic coupling in the dimer. By contrast, when the μ-oxo dimer is induced in 10% aqueous pyridine, characteristic UV–vis and 1H NMR spectra of this species are observed and the magnetic moment is consistent with strong antiferromagnetic coupling. We propose a model in which the spontaneously formed aqueous Fe(III)PPIX dimer involves noncovalent interaction of the unligated faces of two five-coordinate H2O/HO-Fe(III)PPIX molecules, with the axial H2O/OH− ligands directed outwards. This arrangement is consistent with the crystal structures of related five-coordinate iron(III) porphyrins and accounts for the observed pH dependence of the dimerization constant and the spectra of the monomer and dimer. Structures for the aqueous dimer are proposed on the basis of molecular dynamics/simulated annealing calculations using a force field previously developed for modeling metalloporphyrins.

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Notes

  1. Under the conditions of this study, Cl− and other potential ligands have been avoided so that the only possible axial ligand(s) are H2O/OH−/O2− and Fe(III)PPIX can thus exist as hematin or its μ-oxo dimer.

Abbreviations

DMSO:

Dimethyl sulfoxide

Fe(III)PPIX:

Ferriprotoporphyrin IX

HEPES:

N-(2-Hydroxyethyl)piperazine-N′-ethanesulfonic acid

MD:

Molecular dynamics

MM:

Molecular mechanics

OEP:

Octaethylporphyrin

PAH:

Polyaromatic hydrocarbon

SA:

Simulated annealing

TPP:

5,10,15,20-Tetraphenylporphyrin

TpTP:

5,10,15,20-Tetra-p-tolylporphyrin

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Acknowledgements

This material is based upon work supported in part by the National Research Foundation under grant number 2069079. Any opinion, findings and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Research Foundation. We also acknowledge the Medical Research Council of South Africa, the University of Cape Town and the University of the Witwatersrand for financial support. K.A.dV further acknowledges the Department of Chemistry, University of Cape Town Equity Development Program for financial support.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemistry, University of Cape Town, Private Bag, Rondebosch, 7701, South Africa

    Katherine A. de Villiers, Catherine H. Kaschula & Timothy J. Egan

  2. Molecular Sciences Institute, School of Chemistry, University of the Witwatersrand, PO Wits, Johannesburg, 2050, South Africa

    Helder M. Marques

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  1. Katherine A. de Villiers
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  2. Catherine H. Kaschula
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  3. Timothy J. Egan
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Correspondence to Timothy J. Egan.

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de Villiers, K.A., Kaschula, C.H., Egan, T.J. et al. Speciation and structure of ferriprotoporphyrin IX in aqueous solution: spectroscopic and diffusion measurements demonstrate dimerization, but not μ-oxo dimer formation. J Biol Inorg Chem 12, 101–117 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00775-006-0170-1

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