A functional model related to cytochrome c oxidase and its electrocatalytic four-electron reduction of O-2

A cytochrome c oxidase model that consists of a cobalt(II) porphyrin with a copper(I) triazacyclononane macrocycle fastened on the distal face and an imidazole covalently attached to the proximal face has been synthesized and characterized. Redox titrations with molecular oxygen (O-2) and cobaltocene were carried out, and O-2 was found to bind irreversibly in a 1:1 ratio to the model compound. This O-2 adduct (a bridged peroxide) can be fully reduced to the deoxygenated form with four equivalents of cobaltocene. The model compound was adsorbed on an edge-plane graphite electrode, and rotating ring-disk voltammetry was used to monitor the electrocatalytic reduction of O-2. Four-electron reduction of O-2 was observed at physiological pH.