Synthetic analogues of [Fe4S4(Cys)3(His)] in hydrogenases and [Fe4S4(Cys)4] in HiPIP derived from all-ferric [Fe4S4{N(SiMe3)2}4]

Gauging Iron-Sulfur Cubane Reactivity from Covalency: Trends with Oxidation State

We investigated room-temperature metal and ligand K-edge X-ray absorption (XAS) spectra of a complete redox series of cubane-type iron-sulfur clusters. The Fe K-edge position provides a qualitative but convenient alternative to the traditional spectroscopic descriptors used to identify oxidation states in these systems, which we demonstrate by providing a calibration curve based on two analytic methods. Furthermore, high energy resolution fluorescence detected XAS (HERFD-XAS) at the S K-edge was used to measure Fe-S bond covalencies and record their variation with the average valence of the Fe atoms. While the Fe-S(thiolate) covalency evolves linearly, gaining 11 ± 0.4% per bond and hole, the Fe-S(μ3) covalency evolves asystematically, reflecting changes in the magnetic exchange mechanism. A strong discontinuity manifested for superoxidation to the all-ferric state, distinguishing its electronic structure and its potential (bio)chemical role from those of its redox congeners. We highlight the functional implications of these trends for the reactivity of iron-sulfur cubanes.

Electrically conductive [Fe4S4]-based organometallic polymers

Tailoring the molecular components of hybrid organic-inorganic materials enables precise control over their electronic properties. Designing electrically conductive coordination materials, e.g. metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), has relied on single-metal nodes because the metal-oxo clusters present in the vast majority of MOFs are not suitable for electrical conduction due to their localized electron orbitals. Therefore, the development of metal-cluster nodes with delocalized bonding would greatly expand the structural and electrochemical tunability of conductive materials. Whereas the cuboidal [Fe4S4] cluster is a ubiquitous cofactor for electron transport in biological systems, few electrically conductive artificial materials employ the [Fe4S4] cluster as a building unit due to the lack of suitable bridging linkers. In this work, we bridge the [Fe4S4] clusters with ditopic N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) linkers through charge-delocalized Fe-C bonds that enhance electronic communication between the clusters. [Fe4S4Cl2(ditopic NHC)] exhibits a high electrical conductivity of 1 mS cm-1 at 25 °C, surpassing the conductivity of related but less covalent materials. These results highlight that synthetic control over individual bonds is critical to the design of long-range behavior in semiconductors.

A general method for metallocluster site-differentiation

The deployment of metalloclusters in applications such as catalysis and materials synthesis requires robust methods for site-differentiation: the conversion of clusters with symmetric ligand spheres to those with unsymmetrical ligand spheres. However, imparting precise patterns of site-differentiation is challenging because, compared with mononuclear complexes, the ligands bound to clusters exert limited spatial and electronic influence on one another. Here, we report a method that employs sterically encumbering ligands to bind to only a subset of a cluster's coordination sites. Specifically, we show that homoleptic, phosphine-ligated Fe-S clusters undergo ligand substitution with N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) to give heteroleptic clusters in which the resultant clusters' site-differentiation patterns are encoded by the steric profile of the incoming NHC. This method affords access to every site-differentiation pattern for cuboidal [Fe4S4] clusters and can be extended to other cluster types, particularly in the stereoselective synthesis of site-differentiated Chevrel-type [Fe6S8] clusters.

Characterization of the Geometrical and Electronic Structures of the Active Site and Its Effects on the Surrounding Environment in Reduced High-Potential Iron-Sulfur Proteins Investigated by the Density Functional Theory Approach

The high-potential iron-sulfur protein (HiPIP) is an electron-transporting protein that functions in the photosynthetic electron-transfer system and possesses a cubane-type [4Fe-4S] cluster in the active center. Characterization of the geometrical and electronic structures of the [4Fe-4S] cluster leads to an understanding of the functions in HiPIP, which are expected to be influenced by the environment surrounding the [4Fe-4S] cluster. This work characterized the geometrical and electronic structures of the [4Fe-4S] cluster in the reduced HiPIP and evaluated their effects on the protein environment using the density functional theory (DFT) approach. DFT calculations showed that the structural asymmetry and spin delocalization between iron atoms allowed for the acquisition of a unique stable geometrical and electronic structure in the open-shell singlet. In addition, the formation of an Fe-Fe bond accompanying the spin delocalization was found to depend on the interatomic distance. A comparison of the calculated stable structures with and without consideration of the amino acids around the [4Fe-4S] cluster demonstrated that the surrounding amino acids stabilized the unique geometrical and electronic structure of the [4Fe-4S] cluster in HiPIP.

A complete biomimetic iron-sulfur cubane redox series

Synthetic iron-sulfur cubanes are models for biological cofactors, which are essential to delineate oxidation states in the more complex enzymatic systems. However, a complete series of [Fe₄S₄]ⁿ complexes spanning all redox states accessible by 1-electron transformations of the individual iron atoms (n = 0-4+) has never been prepared, deterring the methodical comparison of structure and spectroscopic signature. Here, we demonstrate that the use of a bulky arylthiolate ligand promoting the encapsulation of alkali-metal cations in the vicinity of the cubane enables the synthesis of such a series. Characterization by EPR, ⁵⁷Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy, UV-visible electronic absorption, variable-temperature X-ray diffraction analysis, and cyclic voltammetry reveals key trends for the geometry of the Fe₄S₄ core as well as for the Mössbauer isomer shift, which both correlate systematically with oxidation state. Furthermore, we confirm the S = 4 electronic ground state of the most reduced member of the series, [Fe₄S₄]⁰, and provide electrochemical evidence that it is accessible within 0.82 V from the [Fe₄S₄]²⁺ state, highlighting its relevance as a mimic of the nitrogenase iron protein cluster.

A conformational role for NifW in the maturation of molybdenum nitrogenase P-cluster

Reduction of dinitrogen by molybdenum nitrogenase relies on complex metalloclusters: the [8Fe:7S] P-cluster and the [7Fe:9S:Mo:C:homocitrate] FeMo-cofactor. Although both clusters bear topological similarities and require the reductive fusion of [4Fe:4S] sub-clusters to achieve their respective assemblies, P-clusters are assembled directly on the NifD2K2 polypeptide prior to the insertion of FeMo-co, which is fully assembled separately from NifD2K2. P-cluster maturation involves the iron protein NifH2 as well as several accessory proteins, whose role has not been elucidated. In the present work, two NifD2K2 species bearing immature P-clusters were isolated from an Azotobacter vinelandii strain in which the genes encoding NifH and the accessory protein NifZ were deleted, and characterized by X-ray absorption spectroscopy and EPR. These analyses showed that both NifD2K2 complexes harbor clusters that are electronically and structurally similar, with each NifDK unit containing two [4Fe:4S]2+/+ clusters. Binding of the accessory protein NifW parallels a decrease in the distance between these clusters, as well as a subtle change in their coordination. These results support a conformational role for NifW in P-cluster biosynthesis, bringing the two [4Fe:4S] precursors closer prior to their fusion, which may be crucial in challenging cellular contexts.

Methods to identify and characterize iron-sulfur oligopeptides in water

Iron-sulfur clusters are ubiquitous cofactors that mediate central biological processes. However, despite their long history, these metallocofactors remain challenging to investigate when coordinated to small (≤ six amino acids) oligopeptides in aqueous solution. In addition to being often unstable in vitro, iron-sulfur clusters can be found in a wide variety of forms with varied characteristics, which makes it difficult to easily discern what is in solution. This difficulty is compounded by the dynamics of iron-sulfur peptides, which frequently coordinate multiple types of clusters simultaneously. To aid investigations of such complex samples, a summary of data from multiple techniques used to characterize both iron-sulfur proteins and peptides is provided. Although not all spectroscopic techniques are equally insightful, it is possible to use several, readily available methods to gain insight into the complex composition of aqueous solutions of iron-sulfur peptides.

Evaluation and Development of Methodologies for the Synthesis of Thiophosphinic Acids

Thiophosphorus acids R¹R²P(S)OH constitute an important class of organophosphorus compounds, in which the phosphorus atom is intrinsically chiral if R¹ ≠ R². In connection with a project aimed at the preparation of chiral thiophosphorus acids, various available literature methods were considered, but few fit the requirement of odorless reagents. Herein, the results of our studies on the synthesis of thiophosphinic acids are reported. Ultimately, two major approaches were selected: (1) the Stec reaction of phosphorus amides with carbon disulfide; and (2) the one-pot synthesis of thiophosphorus acids from H-phosphinates, an organometallic nucleophile, and quenching with elemental sulfur. An application to the preparation of a potential chiral phosphorus organocatalyst is also reported.

Interactive Regulation of Formate Dehydrogenase during CO2 Fixation in Gas-Fermenting Bacteria

Microbial CO₂ fixation and conversion constitute a potential solution to both utilization of greenhouse gas or industrial waste gases and sustainable production of bulk chemicals and fuels. Autotrophic gas-fermenting bacteria play central roles in this bioprocess. This study provides new insights regarding the metabolic regulatory mechanisms underlying CO₂ reduction in Clostridium ljungdahlii, a representative gas-fermenting bacterium. A critical formate dehydrogenase (FDH1) responsible for fixing CO₂ and a dominant reversible lysine acetylation system, At2/Dat1, were identified. Furthermore, FDH1 was found to be interactively regulated by both the At2/Dat1 system and the global transcriptional factor CcpA, and the two regulatory systems are mutually restricted. Reconstruction of this multilevel metabolic regulatory module led to improved CO₂ metabolism by C. ljungdahlii. These findings not only substantively expand our understanding but also provide a potentially useful metabolic engineering strategy for microbial carbon fixation.

Protein lysine acetylation, a prevalent posttranslational modification, regulates numerous crucial biological processes in cells. Nevertheless, how lysine acetylation interacts with other types of regulation to coordinate metabolism remains largely unknown owing to the complexity of the process. Here, using a representative gas-fermenting bacterium, Clostridium ljungdahlii, we revealed a novel regulatory mechanism that employs both the lysine acetylation and transcriptional regulation systems to interactively control CO₂ fixation, a key biological process for utilizing this one-carbon gas. A dominant lysine acetyltransferase/deacetylase system, At2/Dat1, was identified and found to regulate FDH1 (formate dehydrogenase responsible for CO₂ fixation) activity via a crucial acetylation site (lysine-29). Notably, the global transcription factor CcpA was also shown to be regulated by At2/Dat1; in turn, CcpA could directly control At2 expression, thus indicating an unreported interaction mode between the acetylation system and transcription factors. Moreover, CcpA was observed to negatively regulate FDH1 expression, which, when combined with At2/Dat1, leads to the collaborative regulation of this enzyme. Based on this concept, we reconstructed the regulatory network related to FDH1, realizing significantly increased CO₂ utilization by C. ljungdahlii.

An [Fe4S4]3+-Alkyl Cluster Stabilized by an Expanded Scorpionate Ligand

Alkyl-ligated iron-sulfur clusters in the [Fe₄S₄]³⁺ charge state have been proposed as short-lived intermediates in a number of enzymatic reactions. To better understand the properties of these intermediates, we have prepared and characterized the first synthetic [Fe₄S₄]³⁺-alkyl cluster. Isolation of this highly reactive species was made possible by the development of an expanded scorpionate ligand suited to the encapsulation of cuboidal clusters. Like the proposed enzymatic intermediates, this synthetic [Fe₄S₄]³⁺-alkyl cluster adopts an S = ¹/₂ ground state with g_iso > 2. Mössbauer spectroscopic studies reveal that the alkylated Fe has an unusually low isomer shift, which reflects the highly covalent Fe-C bond and the localization of Fe³⁺ at the alkylated site in the solid state. Paramagnetic ¹H NMR studies establish that this valence localization persists in solution at physiologically relevant temperatures, an effect that has not been observed for [Fe₄S₄]³⁺ clusters outside of a protein. These findings establish the unusual electronic-structure effects imparted by the strong-field alkyl ligand and lay the foundation for understanding the electronic structures of [Fe₄S₄]³⁺-alkyl intermediates in biology.

The Spectroscopy of Nitrogenases

Nitrogenases are responsible for biological nitrogen fixation, a crucial step in the biogeochemical nitrogen cycle. These enzymes utilize a two-component protein system and a series of iron-sulfur clusters to perform this reaction, culminating at the FeMco active site (M = Mo, V, Fe), which is capable of binding and reducing N2 to 2NH3. In this review, we summarize how different spectroscopic approaches have shed light on various aspects of these enzymes, including their structure, mechanism, alternative reactivity, and maturation. Synthetic model chemistry and theory have also played significant roles in developing our present understanding of these systems and are discussed in the context of their contributions to interpreting the nature of nitrogenases. Despite years of significant progress, there is still much to be learned from these enzymes through spectroscopic means, and we highlight where further spectroscopic investigations are needed.

Resolving the structure of the E1 state of Mo nitrogenase through Mo and Fe K-edge EXAFS and QM/MM calculations

Biological nitrogen fixation is predominately accomplished through Mo nitrogenase, which utilizes a complex MoFe7S9C catalytic cluster to reduce N2 to NH3. This cluster requires the accumulation of three to four reducing equivalents prior to binding N2; however, despite decades of research, the intermediate states formed prior to N2 binding are still poorly understood. Herein, we use Mo and Fe K-edge X-ray absorption spectroscopy and QM/MM calculations to investigate the nature of the E1 state, which is formed following the addition of the first reducing equivalent to Mo nitrogenase. By analyzing the extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) region, we provide structural insight into the changes that occur in the metal clusters of the protein when forming the E1 state, and use these metrics to assess a variety of possible models of the E1 state. The combination of our experimental and theoretical results supports that formation of E1 involves an Fe-centered reduction combined with the protonation of a belt-sulfide of the cluster. Hence, these results provide critical experiment and computational insight into the mechanism of this important enzyme.

Progress in Synthesizing Analogues of Nitrogenase Metalloclusters for Catalytic Reduction of Nitrogen to Ammonia

Ammonia (NH3) has played an essential role in meeting the increasing demand for food and the worldwide need for nitrogen (N2) fertilizer since 1913. Unfortunately, the traditional Haber–Bosch process for producing NH3 from N2 is a high energy-consumption process with approximately 1.9 metric tons of fossil CO2 being released per metric ton of NH3 produced. As a very challenging target, any ideal NH3 production process reducing fossil energy consumption and environmental pollution would be welcomed. Catalytic NH3 synthesis is an attractive and promising alternative approach. Therefore, developing efficient catalysts for synthesizing NH3 from N2 under ambient conditions would create a significant opportunity to directly provide nitrogenous fertilizers in agricultural fields as needed in a distributed manner. In this paper, the literature on alternative, available, and sustainable NH3 production processes in terms of the scientific aspects of the spatial structures of nitrogenase metalloclusters, the mechanism of reducing N2 to NH3 catalyzed by nitrogenase, the synthetic analogues of nitrogenase metalloclusters, and the opportunities for continued research are reviewed.

A [2Fe-1S] Complex That Affords Access to Bimetallic and Higher-Nuclearity Iron-Sulfur Clusters

Small, coordinatively unsaturated iron-sulfur clusters are conceived as building blocks for the diverse set of shapes of iron-sulfur clusters in biological and synthetic chemistry. Here we describe a synthetic method for preparing [2Fe-1S] clusters containing two iron(II) ions, which are supported by a relatively unhindered β-diketiminate supporting ligand. The [2Fe-1S] cluster can be isolated in the presence of trimethylphosphine, and the compound with one PMe₃ on each iron(II) ion has been crystallographically characterized. The PMe₃ ligands may be removed with B(C₆F₅)₃ to give a spectroscopically characterized species with solvent ligands. This species is a versatile synthon for [2Fe-2S], [4Fe-3S], and [10Fe-8S] clusters. Crystallographic characterization of the 10Fe cluster shows that it has all iron(II) ions, and the core has two [4Fe-4S] cubes that share a face in a novel arrangement. This cluster also has two iron sites that are coordinated to solvent donors, suggesting the potential for using this type of cluster for reactivity in the future.

Controlling Substrate Binding to Fe4S4 Clusters through Remote Steric Effects

The extraordinary reactivity exhibited by many Fe-S enzymes is due in large part to the influence of the protein scaffold on substrate binding and activation. In principle, the coordination chemistry of synthetic Fe-S clusters could similarly be controlled through remote steric effects. Toward this end, we report the synthesis of 3:1 site-differentiated [Fe₄S₄] clusters ligated by N -heterocyclic carbene (NHC) ligands with variable steric profiles: IMes (1,3-dimesitylimidazol-2-ylidene) and I ⁱPr^Me (1,3-diisopropyl-4,5-dimethylimidazol-2-ylidene). Treatment of (IMes)₃Fe₄S₄Cl with NaBAr^F₄ in ethereal solvents (Et₂O and THF) leads to the formation of an ether adduct, [(IMes)₃Fe₄S₄(solv)][BAr^F₄]; solvent can be displaced by addition of ^tBuNC to form the unusual monoisocyanide adduct [(IMes)₃Fe₄S₄(CN ^tBu)][BAr^F₄]. Carrying out the same reactions with the less sterically encumbered cluster (I ⁱPr^Me)₃Fe₄S₄Cl results in more typical reactivity: undesired ligand redistribution to form the homoleptic cluster [(I ⁱPr^Me)₄Fe₄S₄][BAr^F₄] and generation of the triisocyanide adduct [(I ⁱPr^Me)₃Fe₄S₄(CN ^tBu)₃][BAr^F₄]. The increased steric profile of the IMes ligands disfavors ligand redistribution and defines a binding pocket at the apical Fe, thereby enabling the generation of a coordinatively unsaturated and substitutionally labile Fe site. This method of controlling the coordination chemistry at the apical Fe site by modifying the sterics of ligands bound to adjacent Fe sites complements existing strategies for generating site-differentiated Fe-S clusters and provides new opportunities to direct reactivity at cuboidal metalloclusters.

Synthesis of an All-Ferric Cuboidal Iron-Sulfur Cluster [FeIII4 S4 (SAr)4 ]

An unprecedented, super oxidized all-ferric iron-sulfur cubanoid cluster with all terminal thiolates, Fe₄ S₄ (STbt)₄ (3) [Tbt=2,4,6-tris{bis(trimethylsilyl)methyl}phenyl], has been isolated from the reaction of the bis-thiolate complex Fe(STbt)₂ (2) with elemental sulfur. This cluster 3 has been characterized by X-ray crystallography, zero-field ⁵⁷ Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry, and other relevant physico-chemical methods. Based on all the data, the electronic ground state of the cluster has been assigned to be S_tot =0.

A convenient route to synthetic analogues of the oxidized form of high-potential iron-sulfur proteins

An amide-bound [Fe4S4](3+) cluster, [Fe4S4{N(SiMe3)2}4](-) (1), was found to serve as a convenient precursor for synthetic analogues of the oxidized form of high-potential iron-sulfur proteins. Treatment of 1 with 4 equiv of bulky thiols led to replacement of the amide ligands with thiolates, giving rise to a series of [Fe4S4(SR)4](-) clusters (R = Dmp (2a), Tbt (2b), Eind (2c), Dxp (2d), Dpp (2e); Dmp = 2,6-di(mesityl)phenyl, Tbt = 2,4,6-tris[bis(trimethylsilyl)methyl]phenyl, Eind = 1,1,3,3,5,5,7,7-octaethyl-s-hydrindacen-4-yl, Dxp = 2,6-di(m-xylyl)phenyl, Dpp = 2,6-diphenylphenyl). These clusters were characterized by the mass spectrum, the EPR spectrum, and X-ray crystallography. The redox potentials of the [Fe4S4](3+/2+) couple, -0.82 V (2a), -0.86 V (2b), -0.84 V (2c), -0.74 V (2d), and -0.63 V (2e) vs Ag/Ag(+) in THF, are significantly more negative than that of [Fe4S4(SPh)4](-/2-) (-0.21 V).

Tridentate thiolate ligands: application to the synthesis of the site-differentiated [4Fe-4S] cluster having a hydrosulfide ligand at the unique iron center

We have designed new trithiols Temp(SH)(3) and Tefp(SH)(3) that can be synthesized conveniently in short steps and are useful for preparation of crystalline [3:1] site-differentiated [4Fe-4S] clusters suitable for X-ray structural analysis. The ethanethiolate clusters (PPh(4))(2)[Fe(4)S(4)(SEt)(TempS(3))] (4a) and (PPh(4))(2)[Fe(4)S(4)(SEt)(TefpS(3))] (4b) were prepared as precursors, and the unique iron sites were then selectively substituted. Upon reaction with H(2)S, (PPh(4))(2)[Fe(4)S(4)(SH)(TempS(3))] (6a) and (PPh(4))(2)[Fe(4)S(4)(SH)(TefpS(3))] (6b), which model the [4Fe-4S] cluster in the β subunit of (R)-2-hydroxyisocaproyl-CoA dehydratase, were synthesized. Clusters 6a and 6b were further converted to the sulfido-bridged double cubanes (PPh(4))(4)[{Fe(4)S(4)(TempS(3))}(2)(μ(2)-S)] (7a) and (PPh(4))(4)[{Fe(4)S(4)(TefpS(3))}(2)(μ(2)-S)] (7b), respectively, via intermolecular condensation with the release of H(2)S. Conversely, addition of H(2)S to 7a,b afforded the hydrosulfide clusters 6a,b. The molecular structures of the clusters reported herein were elucidated by X-ray crystallographic analysis. Their redox properties were investigated by cyclic voltammetry.