Interplay between Terminal and Bridging Diiron Hydrides in Neutral and Oxidized States.

Abstract

This study describes the structural, spectroscopic, and electrochemical properties of electronically unsymmetrical diiron hydrides. The terminal hydride Cp*Fe(pdt)Fe(dppe)(CO)H ([1(t-H)]0, Cp*- = Me5C5-, pdt2- = CH2(CH2S-)2, dppe = Ph2PC2H4PPh2) was prepared by hydride reduction of [Cp*Fe(pdt)Fe(dppe)(CO)(NCMe)]+. As established by X-ray crystallography, [1(t-H)]0 features a terminal hydride ligand. Unlike previous examples of terminal diiron hydrides, [1(t-H)]0 does not isomerize to the bridging hydride [1(μ-H)]0. Oxidation of [1(t-H)]0 gives [1(t-H)]+, which was also characterized crystallographically as its BF4- salt. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations indicate that [1(t-H)]+ is best described as containing an Cp*FeIII center. In solution, [1(t-H)]+ isomerizes to [1(μ-H)]+, as anticipated by DFT. Reduction of [1(μ-H)]+ by Cp2Co afforded the diferrous bridging hydride [1(μ-H)]0. Electrochemical measurements and DFT calculations indicate that the couples [1(t-H)]+/0 and [1(μ-H)]+/0 differ by 210 mV. Qualitative measurements indicate that [1(t-H)]0 and [1(μ-H)]0 are close in free energy. Protonation of [1(t-H)]0 in MeCN solution affords H2 even with weak acids via hydride transfer. In contrast, protonation of [1(μ-H)]0 yields 0.5 equiv of H2 by a proposed protonation-induced electron transfer process. Isotopic labeling indicates that μ-H/D ligands are inert.