Unusual Dinitrogen Binding and Electron Storage in Dinuclear Iron Complexes

Sorsche D, Miehlich M, Searles K, Gouget G, Zolnhofer E, Fortier S, Chen CH, Gau M, Carroll PJ, Murray CB, Caulton KG, Khusniyarov M, Meyer K, Mindiola DJ (2020)

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2020

Journal

Book Volume: 142

Pages Range: 8147-8159

Journal Issue: 18

DOI: 10.1021/jacs.0c01488

Abstract

A rare example of a dinuclear iron core with a non-linearly bridged dinitrogen ligand is reported in this work. One-electron reduction of [(^tBupyrr2py)Fe(OEt2)] (1) (^tBupyrr2py^2- = 2,6-bis((3,5-di-tert-butyl)pyrrol-2-yl)pyridine) with KC8 yields the complex [K]2[(^tBupyrr2py)Fe]2(μ2-η·¹:η·¹-N2) (2), where the unusual cis-divacant octahedral coordination geometry about each iron and the η·5-cation-πcoordination of two potassium ions with four pyrrolyl units of the ligand cause distortion of the bridging end-on μ-N2 about the FeN2Fe core. Attempts to generate a Et2O-free version of 1 resulted instead in a dinuclear helical dimer, [(^tBupyrr2py)Fe]2 (3), via bridging of the pyridine moieties of the ligand. Reduction of 3 by two electrons under N2 does not break up the dimer, nor does it result in formation of 2 but instead formation of the ate-complex [K(OEt2)]2[(^tBupyrr2py)Fe]2 (4). Reduction of 1 by two electrons and in the presence of crown-ether forms the tetraanionic N2 complex [K2][K(18-crown-6)]2(^tBupyrr2py)Fe]2(μ2-η·¹:η·¹-N2) (5), also having a distorted FeN2Fe moiety akin to 2. Complex 2 is thermally unstable and loses N2, disproportionating to Fe nanoparticles among other products. A combination of single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies, solution and solid-state magnetic studies, and ⁵⁷Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy has been applied to characterize complexes 2-5, whereas DFT studies have been used to help explain the bonding and electronic structure in these unique diiron-N2 complexes 2 and 5.

Authors with CRIS profile

Involved external institutions

University of Pennsylvania United States (USA) (US) Indiana University United States (USA) (US)

How to cite

APA:

Sorsche, D., Miehlich, M., Searles, K., Gouget, G., Zolnhofer, E., Fortier, S.,... Mindiola, D.J. (2020). Unusual Dinitrogen Binding and Electron Storage in Dinuclear Iron Complexes. Journal of the American Chemical Society, 142(18), 8147-8159. https://doi.org/10.1021/jacs.0c01488

MLA:

Sorsche, Dieter, et al. "Unusual Dinitrogen Binding and Electron Storage in Dinuclear Iron Complexes." Journal of the American Chemical Society 142.18 (2020): 8147-8159.

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