Structural insight into halide-coordinated [Fe4S4XnY4-n]2- clusters (X, Y = Cl, Br, I) by XRD and Mössbauer spectroscopy

Iron sulphur halide clusters [Fe₄S₄Br₄]^2- and [Fe₄S₄X₂Y₂]^2- (X, Y = Cl, Br, I) were obtained in excellent yields (77 to 78%) and purity from [Fe(CO)₅], elemental sulphur, I₂ and benzyltrimethylammonium (BTMA⁺) iodide, bromide and chloride. Single crystals of (BTMA)₂[Fe₄S₄Br₄] (1), (BTMA)₂[Fe₄S₄Br₂Cl₂] (2), (BTMA)₂[Fe₄S₄Cl₂I₂] (3), and (BTMA)₂[Fe₄S₄Br₂I₂] (4) were isostructural to the previously reported (BTMA)₂[Fe₄S₄I₄] (5) (monoclinic, Cc). Instead of the chloride cubane cluster [Fe₄S₄Cl₄]^2-, we found the prismane-shaped cluster (BTMA)₃[Fe₆S₆Cl₆] (6) (P1̄). ⁵⁷Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy indicates complete delocalisation with Fe^2.5+ oxidation states for all iron atoms. Magnetic measurements showed small χ_MT values at 298 K ranging from 1.12 to 1.54 cm³ K mol^-1, indicating the dominant antiferromagnetic exchange interactions. With decreasing temperature, the χ_MT values decreased to reach a plateau at around 100 K. From about 20 K, the values drop significantly. Fitting the data in the Heisenberg-Dirac-van Vleck (HDvV) as well as the Heisenberg Double Exchange (HDE) formalism confirmed the delocalisation and antiferromagnetic coupling assumed from Mössbauer spectroscopy.

Survey of the Geometric and Electronic Structures of the Key Hydrogenated Forms of FeMo-co, the Active Site of the Enzyme Nitrogenase: Principles of the Mechanistically Significant Coordination Chemistry

The enzyme nitrogenase naturally hydrogenates N2 to NH3, achieved through the accumulation of H atoms on FeMo-co, the Fe7MoS9C(homocitrate) cluster that is the catalytically active site. Four intermediates, E1H1, E2H2, E3H3, and E4H4, carry these hydrogen atoms. I report density functional calculations of the numerous possibilities for the geometric and electronic structures of these poly-hydrogenated forms of FeMo-co. This survey involves more than 100 structures, including those with bound H2, and assesses their relative energies and most likely electronic states. Twelve locations for bound H atoms in the active domain of FeMo-co, including Fe–H–Fe and Fe–H–S bridges, are studied. A significant result is that transverse Fe–H–Fe bridges (transverse to the pseudo-threefold axis of FeMo-co and shared with triply-bridging S) are not possible geometrically unless the S is hydrogenated to become doubly-bridging. The favourable Fe–H–Fe bridges are shared with doubly-bridging S. ENDOR data for an E4H4 intermediate trapped at low temperature, and interpretations in terms of the geometrical and electronic structure of E4H4, are assessed in conjunction with the calculated possibilities. The results reported here yield a set of 24 principles for the mechanistically significant coordination chemistry of H and H2 on FeMo-co, in the stages prior to N2 binding.

Binding small molecules and ions to [Fe4S4Cl4](2-) modulates rate of protonation of the cluster

The mechanism of the acid-catalyzed substitution reaction of the terminal chloro-ligands in [Fe4S4Cl4](2-) by PhS(-) in the presence of NHBu(n)3(+) involves rate-limiting proton transfer from NHBu(n)3(+) to the cluster (k0 = 490 ± 20 dm(3) mol(-1) s(-1)). A variety of small molecules and ions (L = substrate = Cl(-), Br(-), I(-), RNHNH2 (R = Me or Ph), Me2NNH2, HCN, NCS(-), N3(-), Bu(t)NC or pyridine) bind to [Fe4S4Cl4](2-) and this affects the rate of subsequent protonation of [Fe4S4Cl4(L)](n-). Where the kinetics allow, the equilibrium constants for the substrates binding to [Fe4S4Cl4](2-) (K(L)) and the rates of proton transfer from NHBu(n)3(+) to [Fe4S4Cl4(L)](n-) (k) have been determined. The results indicate the following general features. (i) Bound substrates increase the rate of protonation of the cluster, but the rate increase is modest (k/k0 = 1.6 to ≥72). (ii) When K(L) is small, so is k/k0. (iii) Binding substrates which are good σ-donors or good π-acceptors lead to the largest k/k0. This behaviour is discussed in terms of the recent proposal that protonation of [Fe4S4Cl4](2-) at a μ3-S, is coupled to concomitant Fe-(μ3-SH) bond elongation/cleavage.

Halide coordinated homoleptic [Fe4S4X4](2-) and heteroleptic [Fe4S4X2Y2](2-) clusters (X, Y = Cl, Br, I)--alternative preparations, structural analogies and spectroscopic properties in solution and solid state

New facile methods to prepare iron sulphur halide clusters [Fe4S4X4](2-) from [Fe(CO)5] and elemental sulphur were elaborated. Reactions of ferrous precursors like tetrahalidoferrates(ii) or simple ferrous halides with [Fe(CO)5] and sulphur turned out to be efficient methods to prepare homoleptic [Fe4S4X4](2-) (X = Cl, Br) and heteroleptic clusters [Fe4S4X4-nYn](2-) (X = Cl, Br; Y = Br, I). Solid materials were obtained as salts of BTMA(+) (= benzyltrimethylammonium); the new compounds containing [Fe4S4Br4](2-) and [Fe4S4X2Y2](2-) (X, Y = Cl, Br, I) were all isostructural to (BTMA)2[Fe4S4I4] (monoclinic, Cc) as inferred from synchrotron X-ray powder diffraction. While the solid materials contain defined heteroleptic clusters with a halide X : Y ratio of 2 : 2, dissolving these compounds leads to rapid scrambling of the halide ligands forming mixtures of all five possible [Fe4S4X4-nYn](2-) clusters as could be shown by UHR-ESI MS. The variation of X and Y allowed assignment of the absorption bands in the visible and NIR; the long-wavelength bands around 1100 nm were tentatively assigned to intervalence charge transfer (IVCT) transitions.

Exploring the acid-catalyzed substitution mechanism of [Fe4S4Cl4]2−

Kinetic studies focussing on either the protonation or substitution step of the acid catalyzed substitution reactions of [Fe₄S₄Cl₄]²⁻ support a mechanism involving concomitant cluster protonation and Fe–(μ₃-SH) bond cleavage.

Dinitrogen binding and cleavage by multinuclear iron complexes

The iron–molybdenum cofactor of nitrogenase has unprecedented coordination chemistry, including a high-spin iron cluster called the iron-molybdenum cofactor (FeMoco). Thus, understanding the mechanism of nitrogenase challenges coordination chemists to understand the fundamental N₂ chemistry of high-spin iron sites. This Account summarizes a series of studies in which we have synthesized a number of new compounds with multiple iron atoms, characterized them using crystallography and spectroscopy, and studied their reactions in detail. These studies show that formally iron(I) and iron(0) complexes with three- and four-coordinate metal atoms have the ability to weaken and break the triple bond of N₂. These reactions occur at or below room temperature, indicating that they are kinetically facile. This in turn implies that iron sites in the FeMoco are chemically reasonable locations for N₂ binding and reduction.

The careful evaluation of these compounds and their reaction pathways has taught important lessons about what characteristics make iron more effective for N₂ activation. Cooperation of two iron atoms can lengthen and weaken the N–N bond, while three working together enables iron atoms to completely cleave the N–N bond to nitrides. Alkali metals (typically introduced into the reaction as part of the reducing agent) are thermodynamically useful because the alkali metal cations stabilize highly reduced complexes, pull electron density into the N₂ unit, and make reduced nitride products more stable. Alkali metals can also play a kinetic role, because cation−π interactions with the supporting ligands can hold iron atoms near enough to one another to facilitate the cooperation of multiple iron atoms. Many of these principles may also be relevant to the iron-catalyzed Haber–Bosch process, at which collections of iron atoms (often promoted by the addition of alkali metals) break the N–N bond of N₂.

The results of these studies teach more general lessons as well. They have demonstrated that N₂ can be a redox-active ligand, accepting spin and electron density in complexes of N₂^2–. They have shown the power of cooperation between multiple transition metals, and also between alkali metals and transition metals. Finally, alkali metal based cation−π interactions have the potential to be broadly useful for bringing metals close together with sufficient flexibility to allow multistep, multielectron reactions. At the same time, the positive charge on the alkali metal cation stabilizes charge buildup in intermediates.

Protonation and Proton-Coupled Electron Transfer at S-Ligated [4Fe-4S] Clusters

Biological [Fe-S] clusters are increasingly recognized to undergo proton-coupled electron transfer (PCET), but the site of protonation, mechanism, and role for PCET remains largely unknown. Here we explore this reactivity with synthetic model clusters. Protonation of the arylthiolate-ligated [4Fe-4S] cluster [Fe4 S4 (SAr)4 ](2-) (1, SAr=S-2,4-6-(iPr)3 C6 H2 ) leads to thiol dissociation, reversibly forming [Fe4 S4 (SAr)3 L](1-) (2) and ArSH (L=solvent, and/or conjugate base). Solutions of 2+ArSH react with the nitroxyl radical TEMPO to give [Fe4 S4 (SAr)4 ](1-) (1ox ) and TEMPOH. This reaction involves PCET coupled to thiolate association and may proceed via the unobserved protonated cluster [Fe4 S4 (SAr)3 (HSAr)](1-) (1-H). Similar reactions with this and related clusters proceed comparably. An understanding of the PCET thermochemistry of this cluster system has been developed, encompassing three different redox levels and two protonation states.

The pathway for serial proton supply to the active site of nitrogenase: enhanced density functional modeling of the Grotthuss mechanism

Proton translocation along a chain of eight waters to the active site of nitrogenase is described in detail, using density functional simulations with a 269 atom system that includes surrounding amino acids.

Misconception of reductive elimination of H2, in the context of the mechanism of nitrogenase

Calculated atom partial charges reveal misconceptions of reductive elimination of H₂.

Protonation of bridging sulfur in cubanoid Fe4S4 clusters causes large geometric changes: the theory of geometric and electronic structure

Density functional calculations indicate that protonation of a μ₃-S atom in cubanoid clusters [Fe₄S₄X₄]²⁻ leads to a large extension of one Fe–S(H) bond such that the SH ligand is doubly-bridging, μ-SH.

What is the trigger mechanism for the reversal of electron flow in oxygen-tolerant [NiFe] hydrogenases?

A new mechanistic model is developed for the sequence of events by which oxygen-tolerant [NiFe] hydrogenase enzymes respond to O₂.

The [NiFe] hydrogenases use an electron transfer relay of three FeS clusters – proximal, medial and distal – to release the electrons from the principal reaction, H₂ → 2H⁺ + 2e^–, that occurs at the Ni–Fe catalytic site. This site is normally inactivated by O₂, but the subclass of O₂-tolerant [NiFe] hydrogenases are able to counter this inactivation through the agency of an unusual and unprecedented proximal cluster, with composition [Fe₄S₃(S^cys)₆], that is able to transfer two electrons back to the Ni–Fe site and effect crucial reduction of O₂-derived species and thereby reactivate the Ni–Fe site. This proximal cluster gates both the direction and the number of electrons flowing through it, and can reverse the normal flow during O₂ attack. The unusual structures and redox potentials of the proximal cluster are known: a structural change in the proximal cluster causes changes in its electron-transfer potentials. Using protein structure analysis and density functional simulations, this paper identifies a closed protonic system comprising the proximal cluster, some contiguous residues, and a proton reservoir, and proposes that it is activated by O₂-induced conformational change at the Ni–Fe site. This change is linked to a key histidine residue which then causes protonation of the proximal cluster, and migration of this proton to a key μ₃-S atom. The resulting SH group causes the required structural change at the proximal cluster, modifying its redox potentials, and leads to the reversed electron flow back to the Ni–Fe site. This cycle is reversible, and the protons involved are independent of those used or produced in reactions at the active site. Existing experimental support for this model is cited, and new testing experiments are suggested.