Mössbauer
spectroscopy, experimental thermodynamic measurements,
and computational studies were performed to investigate the properties
of molecular hydrogen binding to the organometallic fragments [MHdppe2]+ (M = Fe, Ru, Os; dppe =1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)ethane)
to form the dihydrogen complex fragments [MH(η2-H2)dppe2]+. Mössbauer spectroscopy
showed that the dehydrogenated complex [FeHdppe2]+ adopts a geometry consistent with the triplet spin state, transitioning
to a singlet state complex upon addition of the dihydrogen molecule
in a manner similar to the previously studied dinitrogen complexes.
From simulations, this spin transition behavior was found to be responsible
for the strong binding behavior experimentally observed in the iron
complex. Spin-singlet to spin-singlet transitions were found to exhibit
thermodynamics consistent with the 5d > 3d > 4d binding trend
observed
for other transition metal dihydrogen complexes. Finally, the method
for distinguishing between dihydrogen and dihydride complexes based
on partial quadrupole splittings observed in Mössbauer spectra
was confirmed, providing a tool for further characterization of these
unique species for Mössbauer active compounds.