Trapping of a phenoxyl radical at a non-haem high-spin iron(II) centre

The activation of dioxygen at haem and non-haem metal centres, and subsequent functionalization of unactivated C‒H bonds, has been a focal point of much research. In iron-mediated oxidation reactions, O2 binding at an iron(II) centre is often accompanied by an oxidation of the iron centre. Here we demonstrate dioxygen activation by sodium tetraphenylborate and protons in the presence of an iron(II) complex to form a reactive radical species, whereby the iron oxidation state remains unaltered in the presence of a highly oxidizing phenoxyl radical and O2. This complex, containing an unusual iron(II)-phenoxyl radical motif, represents an elusive example of a spectroscopically characterized oxygen-derived iron(II)-reactive intermediate during chemical and biological dioxygen activation at haem and non-haem iron active centres. The present report opens up strategies for the stabilization of a phenoxyl radical cofactor, with its full oxidizing capabilities, to act as an independent redox centre next to an iron(II) site during substrate oxidation reactions.

The synthesis and characterization of an iron(VII) nitrido complex

Complexes of iron in high oxidation states are captivating research subjects due to their pivotal role as active intermediates in numerous catalytic processes. Structural and spectroscopic studies of well-defined model complexes often provide evidence of these intermediates. In addition to the fundamental molecular and electronic structure insights gained by these complexes, their reactivity also affects our understanding of catalytic reaction mechanisms for small molecule and bond-activation chemistry. Here, we report the synthesis, structural and spectroscopic characterization of a stable, octahedral Fe(VI) nitrido complex and an authenticated, unique Fe(VII) species, prepared by one-electron oxidation. The super-oxidized Fe(VII) nitride rearranges to an Fe(V) imide through an intramolecular amination mechanism and ligand exchange, which is characterized spectroscopically and computationally. This enables combined reactivity and stability studies on a single molecular system of a rare high-valent complex redox pair. Quantum chemical calculations complement the spectroscopic parameters and provide evidence for a diamagnetic (S = 0) d 2 Fe(VI) and a genuine S = 1/2, d 1 Fe(VII) configuration of these super-oxidized nitrido complexes.

Synthesis, Structure and Reactivity of a Mononuclear N,N,O-Bound Fe(II) α-Keto-Acid Complex

A bulky, tridentate phenolate ligand (ImPh2 NNOtBu ) was used to synthesise the first example of a mononuclear, facial, N,N,O-bound iron(II) benzoylformate complex, [Fe(ImPh2 NNOtBu )(BF)] (2). The X-ray crystal structure of 2 reveals that the iron centre is pentacoordinate (τ=0.5), with a vacant site located cis to the bidentate BF ligand. The Mössbauer parameters of 2 are consistent with high-spin iron(II), and are very close to those reported for α-ketoglutarate-bound non-heme iron enzyme active sites. According to NMR and UV-vis spectroscopies, the structural integrity of 2 is retained in both coordinating and non-coordinating solvents. Cyclic voltammetry studies show that the iron centre has a very low oxidation potential and is more prone to electrochemical oxidation than the redox-active phenolate ligand. Complex 2 reacts with NO to form a S=3 /2 {FeNO}7 adduct in which NO binds directly to the iron centre, according to EPR, UV-vis, IR spectroscopies and DFT analysis. Upon O2 exposure, 2 undergoes oxidative decarboxylation to form a diiron(III) benzoate complex, [Fe2 (ImPh2 NNOtBu )2 (μ2 -OBz)(μ2 -OH)2 ]+ (3). A small amount of hydroxylated ligand was also observed by ESI-MS, hinting at the formation of a high-valent iron(IV)-oxo intermediate. Initial reactivity studies show that 2 is capable of oxygen atom transfer reactivity with O2 , converting methyl(p-tolyl)sulfide to sulfoxide.

Reactive high-spin iron(IV)-oxo sites through dioxygen activation in a metal-organic framework

In nature, nonheme iron enzymes use dioxygen to generate high-spin iron(IV)=O species for a variety of oxygenation reactions. Although synthetic chemists have long sought to mimic this reactivity, the enzyme-like activation of O2 to form high-spin iron(IV) = O species remains an unrealized goal. Here, we report a metal-organic framework featuring iron(II) sites with a local structure similar to that in α-ketoglutarate-dependent dioxygenases. The framework reacts with O2 at low temperatures to form high-spin iron(IV) = O species that are characterized using in situ diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform, in situ and variable-field Mössbauer, Fe Kβ x-ray emission, and nuclear resonance vibrational spectroscopies. In the presence of O2, the framework is competent for catalytic oxygenation of cyclohexane and the stoichiometric conversion of ethane to ethanol.

Conformational coupling of redox-driven Na+-translocation in Vibrio cholerae NADH:quinone oxidoreductase

In the respiratory chain, NADH oxidation is coupled to ion translocation across the membrane to build up an electrochemical gradient. In the human pathogen Vibrio cholerae, the sodium-pumping NADH:quinone oxidoreductase (Na+-NQR) generates a sodium gradient by a so far unknown mechanism. Here we show that ion pumping in Na+-NQR is driven by large conformational changes coupling electron transfer to ion translocation. We have determined a series of cryo-EM and X-ray structures of the Na+-NQR that represent snapshots of the catalytic cycle. The six subunits NqrA, B, C, D, E, and F of Na+-NQR harbor a unique set of cofactors that shuttle the electrons from NADH twice across the membrane to quinone. The redox state of a unique intramembranous [2Fe-2S] cluster orchestrates the movements of subunit NqrC, which acts as an electron transfer switch. We propose that this switching movement controls the release of Na+ from a binding site localized in subunit NqrB.

Reactivities and Electronic Structures of μ-1,2-Peroxo and μ-1,2-Superoxo CoIIICoIII Complexes: Electrophilic Reactivity and O2 Release Induced by Oxidation

Peroxo complexes are key intermediates in water oxidation catalysis (WOC). Cobalt plays an important role in WOC, either as oxides CoOx or as {CoIII(μ-1,2-peroxo)CoIII} complexes, which are the oldest peroxo complexes known. The oxidation of {CoIII(μ-1,2-peroxo)CoIII} complexes had usually been described to form {CoIII(μ-1,2-superoxo)CoIII} complexes; however, recently the formation of {CoIV(μ-1,2-peroxo)CoIII} species were suggested. Using a bis(tetradentate) dinucleating ligand, we present here the synthesis and characterization of {CoIII(μ-1,2-peroxo)(μ-OH)CoIII} and {CoIII(μ-OH)2CoIII} complexes. Oxidation of {CoIII(μ-1,2-peroxo)(μ-OH)CoIII} at -40 °C in CH3CN provides the stable {CoIII(μ-1,2-superoxo)(μ-OH)CoIII} species and activates electrophilic reactivity. Moreover, {CoIII(μ-1,2-peroxo)(μ-OH)CoIII} catalyzes water oxidation, not molecularly but rather via CoOx films. While {CoIII(μ-1,2-peroxo)(μ-OH)CoIII} can be reversibly deprotonated with DBU at -40 °C in CH3CN, {CoIII(μ-1,2-superoxo)(μ-OH)CoIII} undergoes irreversible conversions upon reaction with bases to a new intermediate that is also the decay product of {CoIII(μ-1,2-superoxo)(μ-OH)CoIII} in aqueous solution at pH > 2. Based on a combination of experimental methods, the new intermediate is proposed to have a {CoII(μ-OH)CoIII} core formed by the release of O2 from {CoIII(μ-1,2-superoxo)(μ-OH)CoIII} confirmed by a 100% yield of O2 upon photocatalytic oxidation of {CoIII(μ-1,2-peroxo)(μ-OH)CoIII}. This release of O2 by oxidation of a peroxo intermediate corresponds to the last step in molecular WOC.

Air-stable four-coordinate cobalt(ii) single-ion magnets: experimental and ab initio ligand field analyses of correlations between dihedral angles and magnetic anisotropy

For single-ion magnets (SIMs), understanding the effects of the local coordination environment and ligand field on magnetic anisotropy is key to controlling their magnetic properties. Here we present a series of tetracoordinate cobalt(ii) complexes of the general formula [^FL₂Co]X₂ (where ^FL is a bidentate diamido ligand) whose electron-withdrawing -C₆F₅ substituents confer stability under ambient conditions. Depending on the cations X, these complexes adopt structures with greatly varying dihedral twist angle δ between the N-Co-N' chelate planes in the solid state (48.0 to 89.2°). AC and DC field magnetic susceptibility measurements show this to translate into very different magnetic properties, the axial zero-field splitting (ZFS) parameter D ranging from -69 cm^-1 to -143 cm^-1 with substantial or negligible rhombic component E, respectively. A close to orthogonal arrangement of the two N,N'-chelating σ- and π-donor ligands at the Co(ii) ion is found to raise the energy barrier for magnetic relaxation to above 400 K. Multireference ab initio methods were employed to describe the complexes' electronic structures, and the results were analyzed within the framework of ab initio ligand field theory to probe the nature of the metal-ligand bonding and spin-orbit coupling. A relationship between the energy gaps of the first few electronic transitions and the ZFS was established, and the ZFS was correlated with the dihedral angle δ as well as with the metal-ligand bonding variations, viz. the two angular overlap parameters e_σ and e_πs. These findings not only give rise to a Co(ii) SIM showing open hysteresis up to 3.5 K at a sweep rate of 30 Oe s^-1, but they also provide design guidelines for Co(ii) complexes with favorable SIM signatures or even switchable magnetic relaxation properties.

Synthesis and isolation of a triplet bismuthinidene with a quenched magnetic response

Large Spin-Orbit Coupling (SOC) is an intrinsic property of the heavy-elements that directly affects the electronic structures of the compounds. Herein we report the synthesis and characterization of a mono-coordinate bismuthinidene featuring a rigid and bulky ligand. All magnetic measurements (SQUID, NMR) point to a diamagnetic compound. However, multiconfigurational quantum chemical calculations predict the ground state of the compound to be dominated (76%) by a spin-triplet. The apparent diamagnetism is explained by an extremely large SOC induced positive zero-field-splitting of more than 4500 cm^-1 that leaves the M_S = 0 magnetic sublevel thermally isolated in the electronic ground state.

Dynamic effects on ligand field from rapid hydride motion in an iron(ii) dimer with an S = 3 ground state

Hydride complexes are important in catalysis and in iron-sulfur enzymes like nitrogenase, but the impact of hydride mobility on local iron spin states has been underexplored. We describe studies of a dimeric diiron(ii) hydride complex using X-ray and neutron crystallography, Mössbauer spectroscopy, magnetism, DFT, and ab initio calculations, which give insight into the dynamics and the electronic structure brought about by the hydrides. The two iron sites in the dimer have differing square-planar (intermediate-spin) and tetrahedral (high-spin) iron geometries, which are distinguished only by the hydride positions. These are strongly coupled to give an S total = 3 ground state with substantial magnetic anisotropy, and the merits of both localized and delocalized spin models are discussed. The dynamic nature of the sites is dependent on crystal packing, as shown by changes during a phase transformation that occurs near 160 K. The change in dynamics of the hydride motion leads to insight into its influence on the electronic structure. The accumulated data indicate that the two sites can trade geometries by rotating the hydrides, at a rate that is rapid above the phase transition temperature but slow below it. This small movement of the hydrides causes large changes in the ligand field because they are strong-field ligands. This suggests that hydrides could be useful in catalysis not only due to their reactivity, but also due to their ability to rapidly modulate the local electronic structure and spin states at metal sites.

Fully Delocalized Mixed-Valent Cu1.5 Cu1.5 Complex: Strong Cu-Cu interaction and Fast Electron Self-Exchange Rate Despite Large Structural Changes

A flexible macrocyclic ligand with two tridentate {CNC} compartments can host two Cu ions in reversibly interconvertible states, Cu^I Cu^I (1) and mixed-valent Cu^1.5 Cu^1.5 (2). They were characterized by XRD and multiple spectroscopic methods, including EPR, UV/Vis absorption and MCD, in combination with TD-DFT and CASSCF calculations. 2 features a short Cu⋅⋅⋅Cu distance (≈2.5 Å; compared to ≈4.0 Å in 1) and a very high delocalization energy of 13 000 cm^-1 , comparable to the mixed-valent state of the biological Cu_A site. Electron self-exchange between 1 and 2 is rapid despite large structural reorganization, and is proposed to proceed via a sequential mechanism involving an active conformer of 1, viz. 1'; the latter has been characterized by XRD. Such electron transfer (ET) process is reminiscent of the conformationally gated ET proposed for biological systems. This redox couple is a unique pair of flexible dicopper complexes, achieving fast electron self-exchange closely related to the function of the Cu_A site.

On the Single-Molecule Magnetic Behavior of Linear Iron(I) Arylsilylamides

The rational design of 3d-metal-based single-molecule magnets (SMM) requires a fundamental understanding of their intrinsic electronic and structural properties and how they translate into experimentally observable features. Here, we determined the magnetic properties of the linear iron(I) silylamides K{crypt}[FeL₂] and [KFeL₂] (L = -N(Dipp)SiMe₃; crypt = 4,7,13,16,21,24-Hexaoxa-1,10-diazabicyclo[8.8.8]hexacosan). For the former, slow-relaxation of the magnetization with a spin reversal barrier of U_eff = 152 cm^-1 as well as a closed-waist magnetic hysteresis and magnetic blocking below 2.5 K are observed. For the more linear [KFeL₂], in which the potassium cation is encapsulated by the aryl substituents of the amide ligands, the relaxation barrier and the blocking temperature increase to U_eff = 184 cm^-1 and T_B = 4.5 K, respectively. The increase is rationalized by a more pronounced axial anisotropy in [KFeL₂] determined by dc-SQUID magnetometry. The effective relaxation barrier of [KFeL₂] is in agreement with the energy spacing between the ground and first-excited magnetic states, as obtained by field-dependent IR-spectroscopy (178 cm^-1), magnetic measurements (208 cm^-1), as well as theoretical analysis (212 cm^-1). In comparison with the literature, the results show that magnetic coercivity in linear iron(I) silylamides is driven by the degree of linearity in conjunction with steric encumbrance, whereas the ligand symmetry is a marginal factor.

Asymmetric counteranion-directed photoredox catalysis

Photoredox catalysis enables distinctive and broadly applicable chemical reactions, but controlling their selectivity has proven to be difficult. The pursuit of enantioselectivity is a particularly daunting challenge, arguably because of the high energy of the activated radical (ion) intermediates, and previous approaches have invariably required pairing of the photoredox catalytic cycle with an additional activation mode for asymmetric induction. A potential solution for photoredox reactions proceeding via radical ions would be catalytic pairing with enantiopure counterions. However, although attempts toward this approach have been described, high selectivity has not yet been accomplished. Here we report a potentially general solution to radical cation-based asymmetric photoredox catalysis. We describe organic salts, featuring confined imidodiphosphorimidate counteranions that catalyze highly enantioselective [2+2]-cross cycloadditions of styrenes.

Identification of the Catalytically Dominant Iron Environment in Iron- and Nitrogen-Doped Carbon Catalysts for the Oxygen Reduction Reaction

For large-scale utilization of fuel cells in a future hydrogen-based energy economy, affordable and environmentally benign catalysts are needed. Pyrolytically obtained metal- and nitrogen-doped carbon (MNC) catalysts are key contenders for this task. Their systematic improvement requires detailed knowledge of the active site composition and degradation mechanisms. In FeNC catalysts, the active site is an iron ion coordinated by nitrogen atoms embedded in an extended graphene sheet. Herein, we build an active site model from in situ and operando ⁵⁷Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy and quantum chemistry. A Mössbauer signal newly emerging under operando conditions, D4, is correlated with the loss of other Mössbauer signatures (D2, D3a, D3b), implying a direct structural correspondence. Pyrrolic N-coordination, i.e., FeN₄C₁₂, is found as a spectroscopically and thermodynamically consistent model for the entire catalytic cycle, in contrast to pyridinic nitrogen coordination. These findings thus overcome the previously conflicting structural assignments for the active site and, moreover, identify and structurally assign a previously unknown intermediate in the oxygen reduction reaction at FeNC catalysts.

Antisymmetric Spin Exchange in a μ-1,2-Peroxodicopper(II) Complex with an Orthogonal Cu-O-O-Cu Arrangement and S = 1 Spin Ground State Characterized by THz-EPR

A unique type of Cu₂/O₂ adduct with orthogonal (close to 90°) Cu-O-O-Cu arrangement has been proposed for initial stages of O₂ binding at biological type III dicopper sites, and targeted ligand design has now allowed us to emulate such an adduct in a pyrazolate-based μ-η¹ :η¹-peroxodicopper(II) complex (2) with Cu-O-O-Cu torsion φ of 87°, coined ^⊥ P intermediate. Full characterization of 2, including X-ray diffraction (d _O-O = 1.452 Å) and Raman spectroscopy (ν̃_O-O = 807 cm^-1), completes a series of closely related Cu₂/O₂ intermediates featuring μ-η¹ :η¹-peroxodicopper(II) cores with φ ranging from 55° (A, cis-peroxo ^C P; Brinkmeier A.et al., J. Am. Chem. Soc.2021, 143, 10361) via 87° (2, ^⊥ P type) up to 104° (B, approaching trans-peroxo ^T P; Kindermann N.et al., Angew. Chem., Int. Ed.2015, 54, 1738). SQUID magnetometry revealed ferromagnetic interaction of the Cu^II ions and a triplet (S _t = 1) ground state in 2. Frequency-domain THz-EPR has been employed to quantitatively investigate the spin systems of 2 and B. Magnetic transitions within the triplet ground states confirmed their substantial zero-field splittings (ZFS) suggested by magnetometry. Formally forbidden triplet-to-singlet transitions at 56 (2) and 157 cm^-1 (B), which are in agreement with the exchange coupling strengths J _iso inferred from SQUID data, are reported for the first time for coupled dicopper(II) complexes. Rigorous analysis by spin-Hamiltonian-based simulations attributed the corresponding nonzero transition probabilities and the ZFS to substantial antisymmetric (Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya) exchange d and provided robust values and orientations for the d , J , and g tensors. These interactions can be correlated with the Cu-O-O-Cu geometries, revealing a linear increase of J _iso with the Cu-O-O-Cu torsion and a strong linear decrease with the Cu-O-O angle. Relevance of the ^⊥ P intermediate for O₂ activation at type III dicopper sites and a potential role of antisymmetric exchange in the concomitant intersystem crossing are proposed.

Generation of a μ-1,2-hydroperoxo FeIIIFeIII and a μ-1,2-peroxo FeIVFeIII Complex

μ-1,2-Peroxo-diferric intermediates (P) of non-heme diiron enzymes are proposed to convert upon protonation either to high-valent active species or to activated P′ intermediates via hydroperoxo-diferric intermediates. Protonation of synthetic μ-1,2-peroxo model complexes occurred at the μ-oxo and not at the μ-1,2-peroxo bridge. Here we report a stable μ-1,2-peroxo complex {Fe^III(μ-O)(μ-1,2-O₂)Fe^III} using a dinucleating ligand and study its reactivity. The reversible oxidation and protonation of the μ-1,2-peroxo-diferric complex provide μ-1,2-peroxo Fe^IVFe^III and μ-1,2-hydroperoxo-diferric species, respectively. Neither the oxidation nor the protonation induces a strong electrophilic reactivity. Hence, the observed intramolecular C-H hydroxylation of preorganized methyl groups of the parent μ-1,2-peroxo-diferric complex should occur via conversion to a more electrophilic high-valent species. The thorough characterization of these species provides structure-spectroscopy correlations allowing insights into the formation and reactivities of hydroperoxo intermediates in diiron enzymes and their conversion to activated P′ or high-valent intermediates.

Iron coordination complexes can be used to gain insight on biologically relevant iron-oxygen compounds generated in iron metalloenzymes. Here, the authors characterise a μ-1,2-hydroperoxo Fe^IIIFe^III and a μ-1,2-peroxo Fe^IVFe^III, and study their reactivity in C-H activation.

A Combined Spectroscopic and Computational Study on the Mechanism of Iron-Catalyzed Aminofunctionalization of Olefins Using Hydroxylamine Derived N-O Reagent as the "Amino" Source and "Oxidant"

Herein, we study the mechanism of iron-catalyzed direct synthesis of unprotected aminoethers from olefins by a hydroxyl amine derived reagent using a wide range of analytical and spectroscopic techniques (Mössbauer, Electron Paramagnetic Resonance, Ultra-Violet Visible Spectroscopy, X-ray Absorption, Nuclear Resonance Vibrational Spectroscopy, and resonance Raman) along with high-level quantum chemical calculations. The hydroxyl amine derived triflic acid salt acts as the “oxidant” as well as “amino” group donor. It activates the high-spin Fe(II) (S_t = 2) catalyst [Fe(acac)₂(H₂O)₂] (1) to generate a high-spin (S_t = 5/2) intermediate (Int I), which decays to a second intermediate (Int II) with S_t = 2. The analysis of spectroscopic and computational data leads to the formulation of Int I as [Fe(III)(acac)₂-N-acyloxy] (an alkyl-peroxo-Fe(III) analogue). Furthermore, Int II is formed by N–O bond homolysis. However, it does not generate a high-valent Fe(IV)(NH) species (a Fe(IV)(O) analogue), but instead a high-spin Fe(III) center which is strongly antiferromagnetically coupled (J = −524 cm^–1) to an iminyl radical, [Fe(III)(acac)₂-NH·], giving S_t = 2. Though Fe(NH) complexes as isoelectronic surrogates to Fe(O) functionalities are known, detection of a high-spin Fe(III)-N-acyloxy intermediate (Int I), which undergoes N–O bond cleavage to generate the active iron–nitrogen intermediate (Int II), is unprecedented. Relative to Fe(IV)(O) centers, Int II features a weak elongated Fe–N bond which, together with the unpaired electron density along the Fe–N bond vector, helps to rationalize its propensity for N-transfer reactions onto styrenyl olefins, resulting in the overall formation of aminoethers. This study thus demonstrates the potential of utilizing the iron-coordinated nitrogen-centered radicals as powerful reactive intermediates in catalysis.

One-electron Bonds in Copper-Aluminum and Copper-Gallium Complexes

Odd-electron bonds have unique electronic structures and are often encountered as transiently stable, homonuclear species. In this study, a pair of copper complexes supported by Group 13 metalloligands, M[N((o-C6H4)NCH2PiPr2)3] (M...

A Reactive, Photogenerated High-Spin (S = 2) FeIV(O) Complex via O2 Activation

Addition of dioxygen at low temperature to the non-heme ferrous complex Fe^II(Me₃TACN)((OSi^Ph2)₂O) (1) in 2-MeTHF produces a peroxo-bridged diferric complex Fe₂^III(μ-O₂)(Me₃TACN)₂((OSi^Ph2)₂O)₂ (2), which was characterized by UV-vis, resonance Raman, and variable field Mössbauer spectroscopies. Illumination of a frozen solution of 2 in THF with white light leads to homolytic O-O bond cleavage and generation of a Fe^IV(O) complex 4 (ν(Fe=O) = 818 cm^-1; δ = 0.22 mm s^-1, ΔE_Q = 0.23 mm s^-1). Variable field Mössbauer spectroscopy measurements show that 4 is a rare example of a high-spin S = 2 Fe^IV(O) complex and the first synthetic example to be generated directly from O₂. Complex 4 is highly reactive, as expected for a high-spin ferryl, and decays rapidly in fluid solution at cryogenic temperatures. This decay process in 2-MeTHF involves C-H cleavage of the solvent. However, the controlled photolysis of 2 in situ with visible light and excess phenol substrate leads to competitive phenol oxidation, via the proposed transient generation of 4 as the active oxidant.

Systematic Variation of 3d Metal Centers in a Redox-Innocent Ligand Environment: Structures, Electrochemical Properties, and Carbon Dioxide Activation

Coordination compounds of earth-abundant 3d transition metals are among the most effective catalysts for the electrochemical reduction of carbon dioxide (CO₂). While the properties of the metal center are crucial for the ability of the complexes to electrochemically activate CO₂, systematic variations of the metal within an identical, redox-innocent ligand backbone remain insufficiently investigated. Here, we report on the synthesis, structural and spectroscopic characterization, and electrochemical investigation of a series of 3d transition-metal complexes [M = Mn(I), Fe(II), Co(II), Ni(II), Cu(I), and Zn(II)] coordinated by a new redox-innocent PNP pincer ligand system. Only the Fe, Co, and Ni complexes reveal distinct metal-centered electrochemical reductions from M(II) down to M(0) and show indications for interaction with CO₂ in their reduced states. The Ni(0) d¹⁰ species associates with CO₂ to form a putative Aresta-type Ni-η²-CO₂ complex, where electron transfer to CO₂ through back-bonding is insufficient to enable electrocatalytic activity. By contrast, the Co(0) d⁹ intermediate binding CO₂ can undergo additional electron uptake into a formal cobalt(I) metallacarboxylate complex able to promote turnover. Our data, together with the few literature precedents, single out that an unsaturated coordination sphere (coordination number = 4 or 5) and a d⁷-to-d⁹ configuration in the reduced low oxidation state (+I or 0) are characteristics that foster electrochemical CO₂ activation for complexes based on redox-innocent ligands.

A series of 3d transition-metal complexes (M = Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, and Zn) coordinated by a new redox-innocent PNP pincer ligand system were synthesized and structurally as well as electrochemically analyzed to illuminate the role of the metal center in molecular electrochemical carbon dioxide (CO₂) activation.

Rational Design of a Confacial Pentaoctahedron: Anisotropic Exchange in a Linear ZnII FeIII FeIII FeIII ZnII Complex

The first confacial pentaoctahedron comprised of transition metal ions namely ZnII FeIII A FeIII B FeIII A ZnII has been synthesized by using a dinucleating nonadentate ligand. The face-sharing bridging mode enforces short ZnII ⋅⋅⋅FeIII A and FeIII A ⋅⋅⋅FeIII B distances of 2.83 and 2.72 Å, respectively. Ab-initio CASSCF/NEVPT2 calculations provide significant negative zero-field splittings for FeIII A and FeIII B with |DA |>|DB | with the main component along the C3 axis. Hence, a spin-Hamiltonian comprised of anisotropic exchange, zero-field, and Zeeman term was employed. This allowed by following the boundary conditions from the theoretical results the simulation in a theory-guided parameter determination with Jxy =+0.37, Jz =-0.32, DA =-1.21, EA =-0.24, DB =-0.35, and EB =-0.01 cm-1 supported by simulations of high-field magnetic Mössbauer spectra recorded at 2 K. The weak but ferromagnetic FeIII A FeIII B interaction arises from the small bridging angle of 84.8° being at the switch from anti- to ferromagnetic for the face-sharing bridging mode.

Cooperative Co-Activation of Water and Hypochlorite by a Non-Heme Diiron(III) Complex

Aqueous solutions of the iron(III) complex of N,N,N'-tris(2-pyridylmethyl)ethylenediamine-N'-acetate (tpena) react with hypochlorite (ClO^-) to produce the reactive high-valent [Fe^IV(O)(tpena)]⁺. Under catalytic conditions, in bicarbonate-buffered media (pH 8) with a set ionic strength (10 mM NaCl), kinetic analysis shows that two equivalents of [Fe^IV(O)(tpena)]⁺ per one ClO^- are produced, with benign chloride ions the only byproduct. An unprecedented supramolecular activation of ClO^- by {(HCO₃)⊂[(tpena)Fe^III(μ-O)Fe^III(Htpena)]}²⁺ is proposed. This mode of activation has great advantage for use in the catalytic oxidation of C-H bonds in water since: (i) the catalyst scaffold is protected from oxidative degradation and (ii) undesirable radical side reactions which produce toxic chlorinated compounds are circumvented by this novel coactivation of water and ClO^-. The unique activation mechanism by the Fe-tpena system makes possible the destruction of organic contaminants as an add-on technology to water disinfection by chlorination, demonstrated here through (i) the catalytic oxidation of micropollutant metaldehyde, and (ii) mineralization of the model substrate formate. The resting-state speciation at pH 3, 5, 7, and 9, as well as the catalytically active iron speciation are characterized with Mössbauer and EPR spectroscopy and supported by DFT calculations. Our study provides fundamentally new insights into the design and activation mode of iron-based catalysts relevant to applications in water remediation.

Experimental and Theoretical Evidence for an Unusual Almost Triply Degenerate Electronic Ground State of Ferrous Tetraphenylporphyrin

Iron porphyrins exhibit unrivalled catalytic activity for electrochemical CO₂-to-CO conversion. Despite intensive experimental and computational studies in the last 4 decades, the exact nature of the prototypical square-planar [Fe^II(TPP)] complex (1; TPP^2- = tetraphenylporphyrinate dianion) remained highly debated. Specifically, its intermediate-spin (S = 1) ground state was contradictorily assigned to either a nondegenerate ³A_2g state with a (d_xy)²(d_z²)²(d_xz,yz)² configuration or a degenerate ³E_g^θ state with a (d_xy)²(d_xz,yz)³(d_z²)¹/(d_z²)²(d_xy)¹(d_xz,yz)³ configuration. To address this question, we present herein a comprehensive, spectroscopy-based theoretical and experimental electronic-structure investigation on complex 1. Highly correlated wave-function-based computations predicted that ³A_2g and ³E_g^θ are well-isolated from other triplet states by ca. 4000 cm^-1, whereas their splitting Δ_A-E is on par with the effective spin-orbit coupling (SOC) constant of iron(II) (≈400 cm^-1). Therfore, we invoked an effective Hamiltonian (EH) operating on the nine magnetic sublevels arising from SOC between the ³A_2g and ³E_g^θ states. This approach enabled us to successfully simulate all spectroscopic data of 1 obtained by variable-temperature and variable-field magnetization, applied-field ⁵⁷Fe Mössbauer, and terahertz electron paramagnetic resonance measurements. Remarkably, the EH contains only three adjustable parameters, namely, the energy gap without SOC, Δ_A-E, an angle θ that describes the mixing of (d_xy)²(d_xz,yz)³(d_z²)¹ and (d_z²)²(d_xy)¹(d_xz,yz)³ configurations, and the ⟨r_d^-3⟩ expectation value of the iron d orbitals that is necessary to estimate the ⁵⁷Fe magnetic hyperfine coupling tensor. The EH simulations revealed that the triplet ground state of 1 is genuinely multiconfigurational with substantial parentages of both ³A_2g (<88%) and ³E_g (>12%), owing to their accidental near-triple degeneracy with Δ_A-E = +950 cm^-1. As a consequence of this peculiar electronic structure, 1 exhibits a huge effective magnetic moment (4.2 μB at 300 K), large temperature-independent paramagnetism, a large and positive axial zero-field splitting, strong easy-plane magnetization (g_⊥ ≈ 3 and g_∥ ≈ 1.7) and a large and positive internal field at the ⁵⁷Fe nucleus aligned in the xy plane. Further in-depth analyses suggested that g_⊥ ≫ g_∥ is a general spectroscopic signature of near-triple orbital degeneracy with more than half-filled pseudodegenerate orbital sets. Implications of the unusual electronic structure of 1 for CO₂ reduction are discussed.

A Pseudotetrahedral Terminal Oxoiron(IV) Complex: Mechanistic Promiscuity in C-H Bond Oxidation Reactions

S=2 oxoiron(IV) species act as reactive intermediates in the catalytic cycle of nonheme iron oxygenases. The few available synthetic S=2 FeIV =O complexes known to date are often limited to trigonal bipyramidal and very rarely to octahedral geometries. Herein we describe the generation and characterization of an S=2 pseudotetrahedral FeIV =O complex 2 supported by the sterically demanding 1,4,7-tri-tert-butyl-1,4,7-triazacyclononane ligand. Complex 2 is a very potent oxidant in hydrogen atom abstraction (HAA) reactions with large non-classical deuterium kinetic isotope effects, suggesting hydrogen tunneling contributions. For sterically encumbered substrates, direct HAA is impeded and an alternative oxidative asynchronous proton-coupled electron transfer mechanism prevails, which is unique within the nonheme oxoiron community. The high reactivity and the similar spectroscopic parameters make 2 one of the best electronic and functional models for a biological oxoiron(IV) intermediate of taurine dioxygenase (TauD-J).

Ligand Tailoring Toward an Air-Stable Iron(V) Nitrido Complex

A new supporting ligand, tris-[2-(3-mesityl-imidazol-2-ylidene)methyl]amine (TIMMN^Mes), was developed and utilized to isolate an air-stable iron(V) complex bearing a terminal nitrido ligand, which was synthesized by one-electron oxidation from the iron(IV) precursor. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction analyses of both complexes reveal that the metal-centered oxidation is escorted by iron nitride (Fe≡N) bond elongation, which in turn is accompanied by the accommodation of the high-valence iron center closer to the equatorial plane of a trigonal bipyramid. This contrasts with the previous observation of the only other literature-known Fe(IV)≡N/Fe(V)≡N redox pair, namely, [PhB(^tBuIm)₃FeN]^0/+. On the basis of ⁵⁷Fe Mössbauer, EPR, and UV/vis electronic absorption spectroscopy as well as quantum chemical calculations, we identified the lesser degree of pyramidalization around the iron atom, the Jahn-Teller distortion, and the resulting nature of the SOMO to be the decisive factors at play.

A [3Cu:2S] cluster provides insight into the assembly and function of the CuZ site of nitrous oxide reductase

Nitrous oxide reductase (N₂OR) is the only known enzyme reducing environmentally critical nitrous oxide (N₂O) to dinitrogen (N₂) as the final step of bacterial denitrification. The assembly process of its unique catalytic [4Cu:2S] cluster Cu_Z remains scarcely understood. Here we report on a mutagenesis study of all seven histidine ligands coordinating this copper center, followed by spectroscopic and structural characterization and based on an established, functional expression system for Pseudomonas stutzeri N₂OR in Escherichia coli. While no copper ion was found in the Cu_Z binding site of variants H129A, H130A, H178A, H326A, H433A and H494A, the H382A variant carried a catalytically inactive [3Cu:2S] center, in which one sulfur ligand, S_Z2, had relocated to form a weak hydrogen bond to the sidechain of the nearby lysine residue K454. This link provides sufficient stability to avoid the loss of the sulfide anion. The UV-vis spectra of this cluster are strikingly similar to those of the active enzyme, implying that the flexibility of S_Z2 may have been observed before, but not recognized. The sulfide shift changes the metal coordination in Cu_Z and is thus of high mechanistic interest.

Variants of all seven histidine ligands of the [4Cu:2S] active site of nitrous oxide reductase mostly result in loss of the metal site. However, a H382A variant retains a [3Cu:2S] cluster that hints towards a structural flexibility also present in the intact site.

Synthetic ferripyrophyllite: preparation, characterization and catalytic application

Sheet silicates, also known as phyllosilicates, contain parallel sheets of tetrahedral silicate built up by [Si₂O₅]^2- entities connected through intermediate metal-oxygen octahedral layers. The well-known minerals talc and pyrophyllite are belonging to this group based on magnesium and aluminium, respectively. Surprisingly, the ferric analogue rarely occurs in nature and is found in mixtures and conglomerates with other materials only. While partial incorporation of iron into pyrophyllites has been achieved, no synthetic protocol for purely iron-based pyrophyllite has been published yet. Here we report about the first artificial synthesis of ferripyrophyllite under exceptional mild conditions. A similar ultrathin two-dimensional (2D) nanosheet morphology is obtained as in talc or pyrophyllite but with iron(iii) as a central metal. The high surface material exhibits a remarkably high thermostability. It shows some catalytic activity in ammonia synthesis and can serve as catalyst support material for noble metal nanoparticles.

In Vivo Biogenesis of a De Novo Designed Iron-Sulfur Protein

In vivo expression of metalloproteins requires specific metal trafficking and incorporation machinery inside the cell. Synthetic designed metalloproteins are typically purified without the target metal, which is subsequently introduced through in vitro reconstitution. The extra step complicates protein optimization by high-throughput library screening or laboratory evolution. We demonstrate that a designed coiled-coil iron-sulfur protein (CCIS) assembles robustly with [4Fe-4S] clusters in vivo. While in vitro reconstitution produces a mixture of oligomers that depends on solution conditions, in vivo production generates a stable homotrimer coordinating a single, diamagnetic [4Fe-4S]²⁺ cluster. The multinuclear cluster of in vivo assembled CCIS is more resistant to degradation by molecular oxygen. Only one of the two metal coordinating half-sites is required in vivo, indicating specificity of molecular recognition in recruitment of the metal cluster. CCIS, unbiased by evolution, is a unique platform to examine iron-sulfur protein biogenesis and develop synthetic multinuclear oxidoreductases.

Ambiphilicity of a mononuclear cobalt(III) superoxo complex

Addition of HOTf to a mixture of CoIII(BDPP)(O2˙) (1, H2BDPP = 2,6-bis((2-(S)-diphenylhydroxylmethyl-1-pyrrolidinyl)methyl)pyridine) and Cp*2Fe produced H2O2 in high yield implying formation of CoIII(BDPP)(OOH) (3), and reaction of Sc(OTf)3 with the same mixture gave a peroxo-bridged CoIII/ScIII5. These findings demonstrate the ambiphilic property of CoIII-superoxo 1.

Bioinspired Nickel Complexes Supported by an Iron Metalloligand

Nature utilizes multimetallic sites in metalloenzymes to enable multielectron chemical transformations at ambient conditions and low overpotentials. One such example of multimetallic cooperativity can be found in the C-cluster of Ni-carbon monoxide dehydrogenase (CODH), which interconverts CO and CO₂. Toward a potential functional model of the C-cluster, a family of Ni-Fe bimetallic complexes was synthesized that contain direct metal-metal bonding interactions. The complexes were characterized by X-ray crystallography, various spectroscopies (NMR, EPR, UV-vis, Mössbauer), and theoretical calculations. The Ni-Fe bimetallic system has a reversible Fe(III)/Fe(II) redox couple at -2.10 V (vs Fc⁺/Fc). The Fe-based "redox switch" can turn on CO₂ reactivity at the Ni(0) center by leveraging the Ni→Fe dative interaction to attenuate the Ni(0) electron density. The reduced Ni(0)Fe(II) species mediated the formal two-electron reduction of CO₂ to CO, providing a Ni-CO adduct and CO₃^2- as products. During the reaction, an intermediate was observed that is proposed to be a Ni-CO₂ species.

A metastable RuIII azido complex with metallo-Staudinger reactivity

The metastable purple [(Py5Me2)RuIII(N3)]2+ ion reacts with PPh3 at room temperature to form the phosphinimine complex [(Py5Me2)RuII(N(H)PPh3)]2+ and free [H2NPPh3]+ in a combined 23% conversion. Mechanistic studies suggest that this is the first metallo-Staudinger reaction of a late transition metal that bypasses the nitrido mechanism and instead utilizes a Ru-N[double bond, length as m-dash]N[double bond, length as m-dash]N-PPh3 phosphazide intermediate.

Isolation of a Homoleptic Non-oxo Mo(V) Alkoxide Complex: Synthesis, Structure, and Electronic Properties of Penta-tert-Butoxymolybdenum

Treatment of [MoCl₄(THF)₂] with MOtBu (M = Na, Li) does not result in simple metathetic ligand exchange but entails disproportionation with formation of the well-known dinuclear complex [(tBuO)₃Mo≡Mo(OtBu)₃] and a new paramagnetic compound, [Mo(OtBu)₅]. This particular five-coordinate species is the first monomeric, homoleptic, all-oxygen-ligated but non-oxo 4d¹ Mo(V) complex known to date; as such, it proves that the dominance of the Mo═O group over (high-valent) molybdenum chemistry can be challenged. [Mo(OtBu)₅] was characterized in detail by a combined experimental/computational approach using X-ray diffraction; UV/vis, MCD, IR, EPR, and NMR spectroscopy; and quantum chemistry. The recorded data confirm a Jahn-Teller distortion of the structure, as befitting a d¹ species, and show that the complex undergoes Berry pseudorotation. The alkoxide ligands render the disproportionation reaction, leading the formation of [Mo(OtBu)₅] to be particularly facile, even though the parent complex [MoCl₄(THF)₂] itself was also found to be intrinsically unstable; remarkably, this substrate converts into a crystalline material, in which the newly formed Mo(III) and Mo(V) products cohabitate the same unit cell.

A Manganese(IV)-Hydroperoxo Intermediate Generated by Protonation of the Corresponding Manganese(III)-Superoxo Complex

Earlier work revealed that metal-superoxo species primarily function as radicals and/or electrophiles. Herein, we present ambiphilicity of a Mn^III-superoxo complex revealed by its proton- and metal-coupled electron-transfer processes. Specifically, a Mn^IV-hydroperoxo intermediate, [Mn(BDP^BrP)(OOH)]⁺ (1, H₂BDP^BrP = 2,6-bis((2-(S)-di(4-bromo)phenylhydroxylmethyl-1-pyrrolidinyl)methyl)pyridine) was generated by treatment of a Mn^III-superoxo complex, Mn(BDP^BrP)(O₂^•) (2) with trifluoroacetic acid at -120 °C. Detailed insights into the electronic structure of 1 are obtained using resonance Raman and multi-frequency electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopies coupled with density functional theory calculations. Similarly, the reaction of 2 with scandium(III) triflate was shown to give a Mn(IV)/Sc(III) bridging peroxo species, [Mn(BDP^BrP)(OO)Sc(OTf)_n]^(3-n)+ (4). Furthermore, it is found that deprotonation of 1 quantitatively regenerates 2, and that one-electron oxidation of the corresponding Mn^III-hydroperoxo species, Mn(BDP^BrP)(OOH) (3), also yields 1.

Stoichiometric Formation of an Oxoiron(IV) Complex by a Soluble Methane Monooxygenase Type Activation of O2 at an Iron(II)-Cyclam Center

In soluble methane monooxygenase enzymes (sMMO), dioxygen (O₂) is activated at a diiron(II) center to form an oxodiiron(IV) intermediate Q that performs the challenging oxidation of methane to methanol. An analogous mechanism of O₂ activation at mono- or dinuclear iron centers is rare in the synthetic chemistry. Herein, we report a mononuclear non-heme iron(II)-cyclam complex, 1-trans, that activates O₂ to form the corresponding iron(IV)-oxo complex, 2-trans, via a mechanism reminiscent of the O₂ activation process in sMMO. The conversion of 1-trans to 2-trans proceeds via the intermediate formation of an iron(III)-superoxide species 3, which could be trapped and spectroscopically characterized at -50 °C. Surprisingly, 3 is a stronger oxygen atom transfer (OAT) agent than 2-trans; 3 performs OAT to 1-trans or PPh₃ to yield 2-trans quantitatively. Furthermore, 2-trans oxidizes the aromatic C-H bonds of 2,6-di-tert-butylphenol, which, together with the strong OAT ability of 3, represents new domains of oxoiron(IV) and superoxoiron(III) reactivities.

Bis(imino)pyrazine-Supported Iron Complexes: Ligand-Based Redox Chemistry, Dearomatization, and Reversible C-C Bond Formation

Iron complexes supported by novel π-acidic bis(imino)pyrazine (P^PzDI) ligands can be functionalized at the nonligated nitrogen atom, and this has a marked effect on the redox properties of the resulting complexes. Dearomatization is observed in the presence of cobaltocene, which reversibly reduces the pyrazine core and not the imine functionality, as observed in the case of the pyridinediimine-ligated iron analogues. The resulting ligand-based radical is prone to dimerization through the formation of a long carbon-carbon bond, which can be subsequently cleaved under mild oxidative conditions.

Bimetallic iron–tin catalyst for N2 to NH3 and a silyldiazenido model intermediate

A new tin-supported iron complex catalyzes N₂ fixation. The role of this heavy main group element in the catalysis is evaluated.

Conversion of a Fleeting Open-Shell Iron Nitride into an Iron Nitrosyl

Terminal metal nitrides have been proposed as key intermediates in a series of pivotal chemical transformations. However, exploring the chemical activity of transient tetragonal iron(V) nitrides is largely impeded by their facile dimerization in fluid solutions. Herein, in situ EPR and Mössbauer investigations are presented of unprecedented oxygenation of a paramagnetic iron(V) nitrido intermediate, [Fe^VN(cyclam‐ac)]⁺ (2, cyclam‐ac⁻=1,4,8,11‐tetraazacyclotetradecane‐1‐acetate anion), yielding an iron nitrosyl complex, [Fe(NO)(cyclam‐ac)]⁺ (3). Further theoretical studies suggest that during the reaction a closed‐shell singlet O atom is transferred to 2. Consequently, the N−O bond formation does not follow a radical coupling mechanism proposed for the N−N bond formation but is accomplished by three mutual electron‐transfer pathways between 2 and the O atom donor, thanks to the ambiphilic nature of 2.

A Series of Iron Nitrosyl Complexes {Fe-NO}6-9 and a Fleeting {Fe-NO}10 Intermediate en Route to a Metalacyclic Iron Nitrosoalkane

Iron-nitrosyls have fascinated chemists for a long time due to the noninnocent nature of the NO ligand that can exist in up to five different oxidation and spin states. Coordination to an open-shell iron center leads to complex electronic structures, which is the reason Enemark-Feltham introduced the {Fe-NO}ⁿ notation. In this work, we succeeded in characterizing a series of {Fe-NO}^6-9 complexes, including a reactive {Fe-NO}¹⁰ intermediate. All complexes were synthesized with the tris-N-heterocyclic carbene ligand tris[2-(3-mesitylimidazol-2-ylidene)ethyl]amine (TIMEN^Mes), which is known to support iron in high and low oxidation states. Reaction of NOBF₄ with [(TIMEN^Mes)Fe]²⁺ resulted in formation of the {Fe-NO}⁶ compound [(TIMEN^Mes)Fe(NO)(CH₃CN)](BF₄)₃ (1). Stepwise chemical reduction with Zn, Mg, and Na/Hg leads to the isostructural series of high-spin iron nitrosyl complexes {Fe-NO}^7,8,9 (2-4). Reduction of {Fe-NO}⁹ with Cs electride finally yields the highly reduced {Fe-NO}¹⁰ intermediate, key to formation of [Cs(crypt-222)][(TIMEN^Mes)Fe(NO)], (5) featuring a metalacyclic [Fe-(NO-NHC)^3-] nitrosoalkane unit. All complexes were characterized by single-crystal XRD analyses, temperature and field-dependent SQUID magnetization methods, as well as ⁵⁷Fe Mössbauer, IR, UV/vis, multinuclear NMR, and dual-mode EPR spectroscopy. Spectroscopy-based DFT analyses provide insight into the electronic structures of all compounds and allowed assignments of oxidation states to iron and NO ligands. An alternative synthesis to the {Fe-NO}⁸ complex was found via oxygenation of the nitride complex [(TIMEN^Mes)Fe(N)](BF₄). Surprisingly, the resulting {Fe-NO}⁸ species is electronically and structural similar to the [(TIMEN^Mes)Fe(N)]⁺ precursor. Based on the structural and electronic similarities between this nitrosyl/nitride complex couple, we adopted the strategy, developed by Wieghardt et al., of extending the Enemark-Feltham nomenclature to nitrido complexes, rendering [(TIMEN^Mes)Fe(N)]⁺ as a {Fe-N}⁸ species.