Inorganic Chemistry, Vol.51, No.10, 5533-5538, 2012
Co2+/Co+ Redox Tuning in Methyltransferases Induced by a Conformational Change at the Axial Ligand
Density functional theory and quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics computations predict cob(I)alamin (Co(+)Cbx), a universal B-12 intermediate state, to be a pentacoordinated square pyramidal complex, which is different from the most widely accepted viewpoint of its tetracoordinated square planar geometry. The square pyramidality of Co(+)Cbx is inspired by the fact that a Co+ ion, which has a dominant d(8) electronic configuration, forms a distinctive Co+-H interaction because of the availability of appropriately oriented filled d orbitals. This uniquely H-bonded Co(+)Cbx may have catalytic relevance in the context of thermodynamically uphill Co2+/Co+ reduction that constitutes an essential component in a large variety of methyltransferases.