The first [Fe 2 SP] model complexes for the active site of [FeFe]-hydrogenases have been prepared. Thus, the μ-CO-containing complex salt [Et 3 NH][(μ-CO)(μ-SCH 2 CH 2 OH)Fe 2 (CO) 6 ] (m 1 ) formed from Fe 3 (CO) 12 , HSCH 2 CH 2 OH, and Et 3 N was treated in situ with PCl 3 and PPhCl 2 followed by treatment with Et 3 N/DBU to give the all-carbonyl complexes (μ-SCH 2 CH 2 OPR-μ)Fe 2 (CO) 6 (1, R = Cl; 3, Ph), whereas the functional transformation of 1 with PhOH/NaH and CO substitution of 3 with PPh 3 or PPh 2 H in the presence of Me 3 NO afforded the corresponding complexes (μ-SCH 2 CH 2 OPOPh-μ)Fe 2 (CO) 6 (2) and (μ-SCH 2 CH 2 OPPh-μ)Fe 2 (CO) 5 L (4, L = PPh 3 ; 5, PPh 2 H), respectively. Similarly, when complex salt [Et 3 NH][(μ-CO)(μ-SC 6 H 4 OH)Fe 2 (CO) 6 ] (m 4 ) generated from Fe 3 (CO) 12 , 2-HOC 6 H 4 SH, and Et 3 N was treated in situ with PCl 3 and PPhCl 2 followed by treatment with Et 3 N/DBU, the expected all-carbonyl complexes (μ-SC 6 H 4 OPR-μ)Fe 2 (CO) 6 (6, R = Cl; 8, Ph) were produced. In addition, further functional transformation of 6 with MeOH/Et 3 N and CO substitution of 8 with t-BuNC in the presence of Me 3 NO yielded the corresponding complexes (μ-SC 6 H 4 OPOMe-μ)Fe 2 (CO) 6 (7) and (μ-SC 6 H 4 OPPh-μ)Fe 2 (CO) 5 (t-BuNC) (9), respectively. However, it should be noted that when complex salt m 4 was treated with PBr 3 under similar conditions, [(μ-SC 6 H 4 OPO(CH 2 ) 4 Br-μ]Fe 2 (CO) 6 (10) was unexpectedly obtained. While the possible pathways for formation of the unexpected 10 were suggested, all complexes 1−10 were characterized by elemental analysis and spectroscopy and for some of them by X-ray crystallography. Interestingly, model complexes 1, 4, and 8 have been found to be catalysts for HOAc proton reduction to H 2 under CV conditions.
■ INTRODUCTION[FeFe]-Hydrogenases (hereafter denoted as [FeFe]Hases) are a class of natural enzymes that catalyze H 2 production at rapid rates in a broad range of prokaryotic and eukaryotic microorganisms. 1−5 The X-ray crystallographic 6−8 and FTIR spectroscopic 9−11 studies revealed that the active site of [FeFe]Hases consists of a butterfly [Fe 2 S 2 ] cluster core and a cubic [Fe 4 S 4 ] cluster core, which are connected together via a cysteine S atom. In addition, the two Fe atoms in the butterfly [Fe 2 S 2 ] core are bridged by a dithiolate ligand and coordinated by three CO and two CN − ligands. Recently, the dithiolate ligand has been identified as an azadithiolate μ-SCH 2 NHCH 2 S-μ ligand, evidenced by 14 N HYSCORE 12 and controlled metalloenzyme activation 13 (Figure 1a). Encouraged by the well-established active site structure, synthetic chemists have prepared a great number of models for the active site of [FeFe]Hases, such as the butterfly [Fe 2 E 2 ] (E = S, Se, Te) and [Fe 2 P 2 ]-type model complexes. 14−17 However, it is worth noting that up to now no butterfly [Fe 2 SP]-type model complex has been prepared, albeit some ordinary butterfly [Fe 2 SP] complexes are known. 18−21 Therefore, to further understand the active site struc...