Characterization of a bimetallic-bridging intermediate in the reduction of NO to N 2O: a density functional theory study

Abstract

We have applied density functional theory to characterize the bimetallic-bridging intermediate in the reduction of NO to N 2O by heme-copper oxidoreductases. The present study provides information of the electronic and vibrational structure of the putative intermediate, and thus, it forms the basis for a quantitative accurate atomic-level description of the key steps in the N-N bond formation and the N-O bond cleavage mechanism