Metalloenzyme mimic: diironhexacarbonyl cluster coupled to redox-active 4-mercapto-1,8-naphthalic anhydride ligands

Abstract

The non-innocent redox-active ligand, 4-mercapto-1,8-naphthalic anhydride (HS-NAH), has been used in the design and synthesis of a diironhexacarbonyl complex, [μ-(S-NAH)2Fe2(CO)6]. [μ-(S-NAH)2Fe2(CO)6] has been characterized by spectroscopic methods and cyclic voltammetry. Infrared spectrum of [μ-(S-NAH)2Fe2(CO)6] displays peaks corresponding to terminal metal CO groups (2081, 2044, 2006 cm−1) and peaks assigned to C=O of the naphthalic anhydrides (1780, 1740 cm−1). Electrochemical measurements of [μ-(S-NAH)2Fe2(CO)6] feature redox events that are metal-based (irreversible, Epc: − 1.13 V, − 1.60 V vs Fc/Fc+) and naphthalic anhydride centered (partially chemically reversible, Epc: − 1.99 V; Epa: − 1.90 V vs Fc/Fc+). Cyclic voltammetric analysis of [μ-(S-NAH)2Fe2(CO)6] in the presence of acetic acid show that the complex mimics the active site of [Fe–Fe]-hydrogenase by catalyzing the electrochemical reduction of protons to hydrogen with an overpotential of − 0.67 V. The bi-functional model, [μ-(S-NAH)2Fe2(CO)6], exhibits electronic coupling with synergistic metal–ligand interactions leading to transformation of protons to molecular hydrogen.