In this literature discussion, students read a paper about a cobalt metallopeptide that imitates the active site of the enzyme nitrile hydratase.  Specifically, the model complex is oxidized by air to produce a coordination sphere with both cysteine thiolate and sulfinic acid ligands, much like the post-translationally oxidized cysteine ligands in the biological system.

This is a literature discussion based on the paper “Spectroscopic Elucidation of the Inhibitory Mechanism of Cys2

Students are asked to read an article detailing the development of a cobalt-based MRI contrast agent ("A Redox-Activated MRI Contrast Agent that Switches Between Paramagnetic and Diamagnetic States", Tsitovich, P. B.; Spernyak, J. A.;  Morrow, J. R. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2013, 52, 14247-14250,  DOI: 10.1002/anie.201306394). Before coming to class the students are asked to answer a series of questions designed to guide them through the first half of the article, and to be prepared to discuss their answers in class.

The following paper will be given to the students to read at home along with the questions in the attached document. Students will be allowed to discuss their answers in small groups and refine their answers, before the corresct answer is revealed.

Origins of Enantioselectivity during Allylic Substitution Reactions Catalyzed by Metallacyclic Iridium Complexes.

J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2012, 134 (19), pp 8136–8147

DOI: 10.1021/ja212217j

In this literature discussion, students are asked to read an article describing a series of uranyl halide compounds that contain an alkali counterion that interacts with one or more of the uranium's ligand atoms.  This paper stands out as a great example of the binding preferences of acids and bases, and can be explained very well using simple HSAB concepts.