Comparison of the Catalytic Behaviors of Single Cubane MoFe3S4 and Fe4S4 Clusters toward the Multi-electron Reduction of n-C5H11N3

Abstract

Abstract The reduction of n-C5H11N3 by Na2S2O4 was investigated in an aqueous Triton X-100 micellar solution containing methylviologen and [MoFe3S4(S-p-n-C6H4C8H17)3(O2C6Cl4)(Me2CO)]2− (1) or [Fe4S4(S-p-n-C6H4C8H17)4]2− (2). 1 catalyzes the reduction of n-C5H11N3 not only with two electrons but also with six and eight electrons to afford n-C5H11NH2, N2, N2H4, and NH3, while 2 catalyzes only two electron reduction of n-C5H11N3.