The reactivity patterns of low-coordinate iron-hydride complexes

J Am Chem Soc. 2008 May 21;130(20):6624-38. doi: 10.1021/ja710669w. Epub 2008 Apr 30.

Abstract

We report a survey of the reactivity of the first isolable iron-hydride complexes with a coordination number less than 5. The high-spin iron(II) complexes [(beta-diketiminate)Fe(mu-H)] 2 react rapidly with representative cyanide, isocyanide, alkyne, N 2, alkene, diazene, azide, CO 2, carbodiimide, and Brønsted acid containing substrates. The reaction outcomes fall into three categories: (1) addition of Fe-H across a multiple bond of the substrate, (2) reductive elimination of H 2 to form iron(I) products, and (3) protonation of the hydride to form iron(II) products. The products include imide, isocyanide, vinyl, alkyl, azide, triazenido, benzo[ c]cinnoline, amidinate, formate, and hydroxo complexes. These results expand the range of known bond transformations at iron complexes. Additionally, they give insight into the elementary transformations that may be possible at the iron-molybdenum cofactor of nitrogenases, which may have hydride ligands on high-spin, low-coordinate metal atoms.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Alkynes / chemistry
  • Carbon Monoxide / chemistry
  • Cyanides / chemistry
  • Ferrous Compounds / chemistry*
  • Hydrogen / chemistry*
  • Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy / methods
  • Molybdoferredoxin / chemistry
  • Nitrogen / chemistry
  • Oxidoreductases / chemistry
  • Spectroscopy, Mossbauer
  • X-Ray Diffraction

Substances

  • Alkynes
  • Cyanides
  • Ferrous Compounds
  • Molybdoferredoxin
  • Carbon Monoxide
  • Hydrogen
  • Oxidoreductases
  • nitrogenase reductase
  • Nitrogen