Ligand versus metal protonation of an iron hydrogenase active site mimic

• The protonation behavior of the iron hydrogenase active-site mimic [Fe2(u-adt)(CO)4(PMe3)2] (1; adt=N-benzyl-azadithiolate) has been investigated by spectroscopic, electrochemical, and computational methods. The combination of an adt bridge and electron-donating phosphine ligands allows protonation of either the adt nitrogen to give [Fe2(μ-Hadt)(CO)4(PMe3)2]+ ([1H]+), the Fe-Fe bond to give [Fe2-(μ-adt)(μ-H)(CO)4(PMe3)2]+ ([1Hy]+), or both sites simultaneously to give [Fe2(μ-Hadt)(μ-H)(CO)4(PMe3)2]2+ ([1HHy]2+). Complex 1 and its protonation products have been characterized in acetonitrile solution by IR, 1H, and 31PNMR spectroscopy. The solution structures of all protonation states feature a basal/basal orientation of the phosphine ligands, which contrasts with the basal/apical structure of 1 in the solid state. Density functional calculations have been performed on all protonation states and a comparison between calculated and experimental spectra confirms the structural assignments. The ligand protonated complex [1H]+ (pKa =12) is the initial, metastable protonation product while the hydride [1Hy]+ (pKa=15) is the thermodynamically stable singly protonated form. Tautomerization of cation [1H]+ to [1Hy]+ does not occur spontaneously. However, it can be catalyzed by HCl (k=2.2M-1s-1), which results in the selective formation of cation [1Hy]+. The protonations of the two basic sites have strong mutual effects on their basicities such that the hydride (pKa=8) and the ammonium proton (pKa=5) of the doubly protonated cationic complex [1HHy]2+ are considerably more acidic than in the singly protonated analogues. The formation of dication [1HHy]2+ from cation [1H]+ is exceptionally slow with perchloric or trifluoromethanesulfonic acid (k= 0.15 M-1s-1), while the dication is formed substantially faster (k > 102 M-1 s-1) with hydrobromic acid. Electrochemically, 1 undergoes irreversible reduction at -2.2V versus ferrocene, and this potential shifts to -1.6, - 1.1, and -1.0 V for the cationic complexes [1H]+, [1Hy]+, and [1HHy]2+, respectively, upon protonation. The doubly protonated form [1HHy]2+ is reduced at less negative potential than all previously reported hydrogenase models, although catalytic proton reduction at this potential is characterized by slow turnover.

Ämnesord

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Kemi (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Chemical Sciences (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

density functional calculations

electrochemistry

enzyme models

hydride ligands

tautomerism

Chemistry

Kemi

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