Catalytic reduction of hydrazine to ammonia by a mononuclear iron(II) complex on a tris(thiolato)phosphine platform

Inorg Chem. 2014 Jan 21;53(2):664-6. doi: 10.1021/ic402108w. Epub 2013 Dec 30.

Abstract

To provide the mechanistic information of nitrogenase at a molecular level, much effort has been made to develop synthetic metal complexes that have enzyme-like reactivity. Herein we obtain an iron(II) complex binding with a tris(thiolato)phosphine ligand, [P(Ph)4][Fe(PS3″)(CH3CN)] [1; PS3″ = P(C6H3-3-Me3Si-2-S)3(3-)] that catalyzes the reduction of hydrazine, an intermediate and a substrate of nitrogenase. The substrate- and product-bound adducts, [N(Bu)4][Fe(PS3″)(N2H4)] (2) and [N(Et)4][Fe(PS3″)(NH3)] (3), respectively, are also synthesized. This work provides the feasibility that the late stage of biological nitrogen fixation can be conducted at a single iron site with a sulfur-rich ligation environment.

MeSH terms

  • Ammonia / chemistry*
  • Catalysis
  • Coordination Complexes / chemistry*
  • Hydrazines / chemistry*
  • Iron / chemistry*
  • Oxidation-Reduction
  • Phosphines / chemistry*

Substances

  • Coordination Complexes
  • Hydrazines
  • Phosphines
  • hydrazine
  • Ammonia
  • Iron