Electron transfer reactions of fluorotyrosyl radicals

The complex Re(bpy)(CO)₃CN is an excited state oxidant of tyrosine upon deprotonation of the tyrosyl phenol. A series of Re(bpy-F_nY)(CO)₃CN complexes ([Re]-F_nY: [Re]-Y, [Re]-3-FY, [Re]-3,5-F2Y, [Re]-2,3-F₂Y, [Re]-2,3,5-F₃Y, [Re]-2,3,6-F₃Y, and [Re]-F₄Y) have been prepared so as to vary the F_nY^•/F_nY^- reduction potential and thus the driving force for electron transfer in this system. Time-resolved emission and nanosecond absorption spectroscopies have been used to measure the rates for charge separation, CS, and charge recombination, CR, for each complex. A driving force analysis reveals that CS is well described by Marcus' theory for ET, is strongly driving force dependent (activated), and occurs in the normal region for ET. CR, on the other hand, is weakly driving force dependent (near activationless) and occurs in the inverted region for ET. These data demonstrate that fluorotyrosines will be powerful probes for unraveling charge transport mechanisms in enzymes that utilize tyrosyl radicals.