Metal–biomolecule frameworks (MBioFs)

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses crystal structures of metal–peptide complexes. Most of the crystal-structure analyses of metal–amino acid and metal–peptide complexes have been carried out on the assumption that such complexes act as models for the metal-binding sites on proteins. Crystal-structure analyses show that the geometrical features of metal complexes of amino acids, peptides and imidazole are related in systematic ways to the chemical structure, which the complexes have in the crystalline state. Moreover, the transfer of geometrical information from crystal-structure analyses to species that exist in solution depends on the assumption that the complexes found in crystals are present also in the solutions from which the crystals grow. This chapter illustrates that, the existence of cis-trans isomers coordination isomers, optical isomers, and dimeric species in the crystalline complexes emphasizes the variety of species, which must be considered when equations are written to represent metal–peptide equilibria in solution.

Crystal structures of metal-peptide complexes.

Sc2(WO4)3, diamagnetic above 30°K, crystallizes in the orthorhombic system, Space Group Pnca, with lattice constants a=9.596±0.004, b=13.330±0.003, and c=9.512±0.004 A at 298°K. The complete x‐ray scattering pattern within a reciprocal lattice hemisphere of radius (sinθ)/λ=1.02 A−1 was measured with PEXRAD. The crystal structure was solved by use of three‐dimen sional Patterson and Fourier series and refined by the method of least squares, using 1731 independent structure factors. The final agreement factor R is 0.0622. Scandium atoms occupy slightly distorted octahedra, with average Sc–O=2.063 A and Sc–O distances ranging from 2.026±0.015 to 2.124±0.010 A. Two crystallographically independent W atoms are surrounded by somewhat distorted tetrahedra: the W–O distances vary from 1.695±0.009 to 1.829±0.016 A, the average being 1.761 A. The thermal vibrations are significantly anisotropic. Sc2(WO4)3 forms the structure type for 23 trivalent metal tungstates and molybdates, including the nine smaller rare‐earth tungstates. The larger rare‐earth tungstates, crystallizing in the Eu2(WO4)3 structure type, have 8 coordination about the rare‐earth ion; the smaller have 6 coordination. A simple correlation is found between the variation in radius ratio due to the lanthanide contraction and the change in coordination.

Crystal Structure of the Transition‐Metal Molybdates and Tungstates. II. Diamagnetic Sc2(WO4)3

The nature of Cu bonding to natural organic matter

An analysis of the various parameters associated with N-H… O type of hydrogen bonds has been made using data from reported crystal structures of amino acids and simple peptides. The different parameters at the donor and the acceptor ends have been suitably defined and evaluated. In some cases the analysis is done depending upon the chargedness or other characteristics of the donor and acceptor groups. Histograms giving the distribution of these parameters have been drawn and possible conclusions arrived at:



1. The distribution shows a maximum between 2.8 A and 2.9 A for the charged donor group and 2.9 A and 3.0 A for the uncharged donor group and is probably not dependent upon the charge on the acceptor group.



2. The angle between the directions CO and O. N tends to lie between two cones about C O with semi-vertical angles 40 and 70°. The orientation of the directions O. N and O. H with respect to the lone pair orbital directions on the acceptor oxygen atoms are analysed in detail using spherical polar coordinates. The analysis indicates that the group NH has a very strong tendency to point towards the acceptor oxygen atom. A general feature has been found in that the direction N-H tends to be closer to an orbital if the oxygen is an acceptor of two hydrogen bonds, while the direction tends to lie in between the orbitals when the acceptor oxygen is the receipient of only one hydrogen bond. The possible explanation of this on the basis of lone pair interaction is briefly discussed.

C. M. Gramaccioli

Papers

The crystal structure of copper glutamate dihydrate.