Trapping an Elusive Fe(IV)-Superoxo Intermediate Inside a Self-Assembled Nanocage in Water at Room Temperature

Abstract

Molecular cavities that mimic natural metalloenzymes have shown the potential to trap elusive reaction intermediates. Here, we demonstrate the formation of a rare yet stable Fe(IV)-superoxo intermediate at room temperature subsequent to dioxygen binding at the Fe(III) site of a (Et 4 N) 2 [Fe III (Cl)(bTAML)] complex confined inside the hydrophobic interior of a water-soluble Pd 6 L 4 12+ nanocage. Using a combination of electron paramagnetic resonance, Mossbauer, Raman/IR vibrational, X-ray absorption, and emission spectroscopies, we demonstrate that the cage-encapsulated complex has a Fe(IV) oxidation state characterized by a stable S = 1/2 spin state and a short Fe−O bond distance of ∼1.70 Å. We find that the O 2 reaction in confinement is reversible, while the formed Fe(IV)superoxo complex readily reacts when presented with substrates having weak C−H bonds, highlighting the lability of the O−O bond. We envision that such optimally trapped high-valent superoxos can show new classes of reactivities catalyzing both oxygen atom transfer and C−H bond activation reactions.