Fe-H Bond Research Articles

The adsorption behaviors of CO and H2 on FeO surface: A density functional theory study

Density functional theory (DFT) calculations have been employed to investigate the adsorption behaviors of CO and H2 on various FeO surfaces in order to explore the mechanism process in the conversion of FeO to Fe and predict the main growth orientation of metallic iron precipitated on FeO surfaces. For adsorption of CO onto the FeO(100) and FeO(110) surfaces, the CO tends to adsorb to the Fe sites through the C-Fe bonds formed on both surfaces. For adsorption of CO onto the FeO(111) surface, both Fe and O sites are active enough for the chemisorptions of CO. Moreover, the CO2 species is generated on the surface when CO adsorbs to the O top site. For adsorption of H2 onto three FeO surfaces, the least and most stable configurations are the adsorptions of H2 onto the FeO(100) and FeO(111) surfaces, respectively. Especially, the H2 molecule dissociates heterolytically and forms one O-H bond and one Fe-H bond when H2 adsorbs to the FeO(110) surface. In addition, the H2O species is generated on the surface when H2 adsorbs to the O top site on FeO(111) surface.

Mechanism of H2 Production by Models for the [NiFe]-Hydrogenases: Role of Reduced Hydrides.

The intermediacy of a reduced nickel-iron hydride in hydrogen evolution catalyzed by Ni-Fe complexes was verified experimentally and computationally. In addition to catalyzing hydrogen evolution, the highly basic and bulky (dppv)Ni(μ-pdt)Fe(CO)(dppv) ([1](0); dppv = cis-C2H2(PPh2)2) and its hydride derivatives have yielded to detailed characterization in terms of spectroscopy, bonding, and reactivity. The protonation of [1](0) initially produces unsym-[H1](+), which converts by a first-order pathway to sym-[H1](+). These species have C1 (unsym) and Cs (sym) symmetries, respectively, depending on the stereochemistry of the octahedral Fe site. Both experimental and computational studies show that [H1](+) protonates at sulfur. The S = 1/2 hydride [H1](0) was generated by reduction of [H1](+) with Cp*2Co. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations indicate that [H1](0) is best described as a Ni(I)-Fe(II) derivative with significant spin density on Ni and some delocalization on S and Fe. EPR spectroscopy reveals both kinetic and thermodynamic isomers of [H1](0). Whereas [H1](+) does not evolve H2 upon protonation, treatment of [H1](0) with acids gives H2. The redox state of the "remote" metal (Ni) modulates the hydridic character of the Fe(II)-H center. As supported by DFT calculations, H2 evolution proceeds either directly from [H1](0) and external acid or from protonation of the Fe-H bond in [H1](0) to give a labile dihydrogen complex. Stoichiometric tests indicate that protonation-induced hydrogen evolution from [H1](0) initially produces [1](+), which is reduced by [H1](0). Our results reconcile the required reductive activation of a metal hydride and the resistance of metal hydrides toward reduction. This dichotomy is resolved by reduction of the remote (non-hydride) metal of the bimetallic unit.

Structural stability and magnetic properties of WFeH phases

First principles calculation reveals that hydrogen at the tetrahedral site of B2 W50Fe50 is energetically unstable and will relax to the octahedral site, which is quite different from the stable tetrahedral site of BCC W and Fe. It is also shown that the WH bond is generally stronger with lower bond energy than the FeH bond, and that zero-point energy of hydrogen has a negligible effect on structural stability of WH, FeH, and W50Fe50H phases. Moreover, both W and H atoms have important effects to reduce magnetic moments of W50Fe50 and Fe, while their intrinsic mechanisms are quite different, i.e., the addition of W induces the decrease of the bond number of FeFe, and the addition of H brings about the decrease of FeFe bond length. The calculated results are in good agreements with experimental observations in the literature, and are discussed in terms of electronic structures and bond characteristics.

Mechanism of the Iron(II)-Catalyzed Hydrosilylation of Ketones: Activation of Iron Carboxylate Precatalysts and Reaction Pathways of the Active Catalyst.

A detailed mechanistic study of the catalytic hydrosilylation of ketones with the highly active and enantioselective iron(II) boxmi complexes as catalysts (up to >99% ee) was carried out to elucidate the pathways for precatalyst activation and the mechanism for the iron-catalyzed hydrosilylation. Carboxylate precatalysts were found to be activated by reduction of the carboxylate ligand to the corresponding alkoxide followed by entering the catalytic cycle for the iron-catalyzed hydrosilylation. An Eyring-type analysis of the temperature dependence of the enantiomeric ratio established a linear relationship of ln(S/R) and T(-1), indicating a single selectivity-determining step over the whole temperature range from -40 to +65 °C (ΔΔG(‡)sel,233K = 9 ± 1 kJ/mol). The rate law as well as activation parameters for the rate-determining step were derived and complemented by a Hammett analysis, radical clock experiments, kinetic isotope effect (KIE) measurements (kH/kD = 3.0 ± 0.2), the isolation of the catalytically active alkoxide intermediate, and DFT-modeling of the whole reaction sequence. The proposed reaction mechanism is characterized by a rate-determining σ-bond metathesis of an alkoxide complex with the silane, subsequent coordination of the ketone to the iron hydride complex, and insertion of the ketone into the Fe-H bond to regenerate the alkoxide complex.

Details of the Mechanism of the Asymmetric Transfer Hydrogenation of Acetophenone Using the Amine(imine)diphosphine Iron Precatalyst: The Base Effect and The Enantiodetermining Step

The excellent ketone asymmetric transfer hydrogenation (ATH) systems using the precatalysts (S,S)-trans-[FeCl(CO)(PPh2CH2CH2NHCHPhCHPhNCHCH2PAr2)]BPh4 (Ar = Ph (1), p-tolyl (2)) have a fascinating dependence of activity on the base concentration, which is investigated here. The reaction of complex 1 or 2 with 1 equiv of the strong base potassium tert-butoxide in THF for 2–7 days produces the neutral amine(ene-amido) complexes [FeCl(CO)(PPh2CH2CH2NHCHPhCHPhNCHCHPAr2)] (8 and 9). These monodeprotonated complexes have been completely characterized by NMR, EA, and FT-IR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry, and the structure of 9 has been further confirmed by single-crystal X-ray diffraction to reveal a structure with the NH and FeCl bonds parallel and the proton and chloride ligands next to each other. The structures of 8 and 9 and their 1H NMR patterns are similar to those of the active catalyst for the ATH of ketones that is postulated to have NH and FeH bonds parallel with the protonic and hydridic hydrogens adjacent. Identical key nuclear Overhauser effect (NOE) correlations in both 8 and the hydrido complex provide further evidence for the postulated structure of the amine iron hydride intermediate. The catalyst system is not active for the transfer hydrogenation of acetophenone, unless greater than 2 equiv of base is added to activate the precatalyst. The addition of base (up to 8 equiv per iron) increases the reaction rate, while a further increase of the base concentration shows a reduction of activity. The loss of activity with less than 2 equiv of base results from a side reaction of the active amido(ene-amido) complexes with 2-propanol to form an inactive neutral bis(amido) iron complex, which was characterized by NMR spectroscopy. Structural evidence for this was provided by the X-ray crystal structure determination of an analogous bis(amino) iron(II) complex, generated from the reaction of the amine(ene-amido) iron complex with methanol in C6D6 in the presence of BF4–. The presence of excess base prevents this side reaction, thereby favoring the reaction which forms the active amine iron hydride species that is in the catalytic cycle. The structure of the transition state for the reaction of the amine hydrido iron catalyst with acetophenone has been successfully modeled using density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The (R) configuration of the product 1-phenylethanol is induced by the position of the phenyl groups on the catalyst and a π–π stabilizing interaction between the aryl ring on the ketone and the ene-amido moiety on the ligand.

Exploiting metal-ligand bifunctional reactions in the design of iron asymmetric hydrogenation catalysts.

This is an Account of our development of iron-based catalysts for the asymmetric transfer hydrogenation (ATH) and asymmetric pressure hydrogenation (AH) of ketones and imines. These chemical processes provide enantiopure alcohols and amines for use in the pharmaceutical, agrochemical, fragrance, and other fine chemical industries. Fundamental principles of bifunctional reactivity obtained by studies of ruthenium catalysts by Noyori's group and our own with tetradentate ligands with tertiary phosphine and secondary amine donor groups were applied to improve the performance of these first iron(II) catalysts. In particular the correct positioning of a bifunctional H-Fe-NH unit in an iron hydride amine complex leads to exceptional catalyst activity because of the low energy barrier of dihydrogen transfer to the polar bond of the substrate. In addition the ligand structure with this NH group along with an asymmetric array of aryl groups orients the incoming substrate by hydrogen-bonding, and steric interactions provide the hydrogenated product in high enantioselectivity for several classes of substrates. Enantiomerically pure diamines or diphenylphosphino-amine compounds are used as the source of the asymmetry in the tetradentate ligands formed by the condensation of the amines with dialkyl- or diaryl-phosphinoaldehydes, a synthesis that is templated by Fe(II). The commercially available ortho-diphenylphosphinobenzaldehyde was used in the initial studies, but then diaryl-phosphinoacetaldehydes were found to produce much more effective ligands for iron(II). Once the mechanism of catalysis became clearer, the iron-templated synthesis of (S,S)-PAr2CH2CH2NHCHPhCHPhNH2 ligand precursors was developed to specifically introduce a secondary amine in the precatalyst structures. The reaction of a precatalyst with strong base yields a key iron-amido complex that reacts with isopropanol (in ATH) or dihydrogen (in AH) to generate an iron hydride with the Fe-H bond parallel to the secondary amine N-H. In the AH reactions, the correct acidity of the intermediate iron-dihydrogen complex and correct basicity of the amide are important factors for the heterolytic splitting of the dihydrogen to generate the H-Fe-N-H unit; the acidity of dihydrogen complexes including those found in hydrogenases can be estimated by a simple additive ligand acidity constant method. The placement of the hydridic-protonic Fe-H···HN interaction in the asymmetric catalyst structure influences the enantioinduction. The sense of enantioinduction is predictable from the structure of the H-Fe-N-H-containing catalyst interacting with the ketone in the same way as related H-Ru-N-H-containing catalysts. The modular construction of the catalysts permits large variations in order to produce alcohol or amine products with enantiomeric excess in the 90-100% range in several cases.

Hydrogens detected by subatomic resolution protein crystallography in a [NiFe] hydrogenase.

The enzyme hydrogenase reversibly converts dihydrogen to protons and electrons at a metal catalyst. The location of the abundant hydrogens is of key importance for understanding structure and function of the protein. However, in protein X-ray crystallography the detection of hydrogen atoms is one of the major problems, since they display only weak contributions to diffraction and the quality of the single crystals is often insufficient to obtain sub-ångström resolution. Here we report the crystal structure of a standard [NiFe] hydrogenase (∼91.3kDa molecular mass) at 0.89Å resolution. The strictly anoxically isolated hydrogenase has been obtained in a specific spectroscopic state, the active reduced Ni-R (subform Ni-R1) state. The high resolution, proper refinement strategy and careful modelling allow the positioning of a large part of the hydrogen atoms in the structure. This has led to the direct detection of the products of the heterolytic splitting of dihydrogen into a hydride (H(-)) bridging the Ni and Fe and a proton (H(+)) attached to the sulphur of a cysteine ligand. The Ni-H(-) and Fe-H(-) bond lengths are 1.58Å and 1.78Å, respectively. Furthermore, we can assign the Fe-CO and Fe-CN(-) ligands at the active site, and can obtain the hydrogen-bond networks and the preferred proton transfer pathway in the hydrogenase. Our results demonstrate the precise comprehensive information available from ultra-high-resolution structures of proteins as an alternative to neutron diffraction and other methods such as NMR structural analysis.

Iron-catalyzed directed C2-alkylation and alkenylation of indole with vinylarenes and alkynes.

An iron-N-heterocyclic carbene catalyst generated from an iron(III) salt, an imidazolinium salt, and a Grignard reagent promotes alkylation and alkenylation reactions at the indole C2-position with vinylarenes and internal alkynes, respectively, via imine-directed C-H activation. The former reaction affords 1,1-diarylalkane derivatives with exclusive regioselectivity. Deuterium-labeling experiments suggest that these reactions involve oxidative addition of the C-H bond to the iron center, insertion of the unsaturated bond into the Fe-H bond, and C-C reductive elimination.

Processes of H2 adsorption on Fe(1 1 0) surface: A density functional theory study

Processes of H2 adsorption on Fe(110) surface have been studied by the density functional theory, properties such as surface structure, adsorption position, and adsorption energies are discussed as well. To investigate the atomic geometries and stability under different hydrogen coverages for this adsorption, the hydrogen coverages ranging from 0.125 to 1.000 are prepared by using different surface supercells. It is found that with the reduction of coverage, the average iron atomic energy and the adsorption energy are increased, leading to the system more stable; while coverage has little effect on the Fe(110) surface structure and the hydrogen adsorption process. The most stable absorption site is found to be the on-top site. Our calculations show that it is a weak adsorption and the adsorption energy barriers under 4.4kcal/mol. The final state is H2 molecule dissociated into two hydrogen atoms and interacting with surface iron atoms to form stable FeH bonds.

Characterization of the Fe-H bond in a three-coordinate terminal hydride complex of iron(I).

Three's company: Iron(I) hydride complexes are presented (see picture; N blue, O red) that are the first monomeric open-shell hydride complexes to be crystallographically verified as being three-coordinate at the metal. Backbonding into diketiminate π* orbitals stabilizes the low oxidation state. The FeH bonding has been analyzed using electron-nuclear double resonance (ENDOR).

Unexpected Direct Reduction Mechanism for Hydrogenation of Ketones Catalyzed by Iron PNP Pincer Complexes

The hydrogenation of ketones catalyzed by 2,6-bis(diisopropylphosphinomethyl)pyridine (PNP)-ligated iron pincer complexes was studied using the range-separated and dispersion-corrected ωB97X-D functional in conjunction with the all-electron 6-31++G(d,p) basis set. A validated structural model in which the experimental isopropyl groups were replaced with methyl groups was employed for the computational study. Using this simplified model, the calculated total free energy barrier of a previously postulated mechanism with the insertion of ketone into the Fe-H bond is far too high to account for the observed catalytic reaction. Calculation results reveal that the solvent alcohol is not only a stabilizer of the dearomatized intermediate but also more importantly an assistant catalyst for the formation of trans-(PNP)Fe(H)(2)(CO), the actual catalyst for hydrogenation of ketones. A direct reduction mechanism, which features the solvent-assisted formation of a trans dihydride complex trans-(PNP)Fe(H)(2)(CO), direct transfer of hydride to acetophenone from trans-(PNP)Fe(H)(2)(CO) for the formation of a hydrido alkoxo complex, and direct H(2) cleavage by hydrido alkoxo without the participation of the pincer ligand for the regeneration of trans-(PNP)Fe(H)(2)(CO), was predicted.

Hydride-Containing Models for the Active Site of the Nickel−Iron Hydrogenases

The [NiFe]-hydrogenase model complex NiFe(pdt)(dppe)(CO)(3) (1) (pdt = 1,3-propanedithiolate) has been efficiently synthesized and found to be robust. This neutral complex sustains protonation to give the first nickel-iron hydride [1H]BF(4). One CO ligand in [1H]BF(4) is readily substituted by organophosphorus ligands to afford the substituted derivatives [HNiFe(pdt)(dppe)(PR(3))(CO)(2)]BF(4), where PR(3) = P(OPh)(3) ([2H]BF(4)); PPh(3) ([3H]BF(4)); PPh(2)Py ([4H]BF(4), where Py = 2-pyridyl). Variable temperature NMR measurements show that the neutral and protonated derivatives are dynamic on the NMR time scale, which partially symmetrizes the phosphine complex. The proposed stereodynamics involve twisting of the Ni(dppe) center, not rotation at the Fe(CO)(2)(PR(3)) center. In MeCN solution, 3, which can be prepared by deprotonation of [3H]BF(4) with NaOMe, is about 10(4) stronger base than is 1. X-ray crystallographic analysis of [3H]BF(4) revealed a highly unsymmetrical bridging hydride, the Fe-H bond being 0.40 Å shorter than the Ni-H distance. Complexes [2H]BF(4), [3H]BF(4), and [4H]BF(4) undergo reductions near -1.46 V vs Fc(0/+). For [2H]BF(4), this reduction process is reversible, and we assign it as a one-electron process. In the presence of trifluoroacetic acid, proton reduction catalysis coincides with this reductive event. The dependence of i(c)/i(p) on the concentration of the acid indicates that H(2) evolution entails protonation of a reduced hydride. For [2H](+), [3H](+), and [4H](+), the acid-independent rate constants are 50-75 s(-1). For [2H](+) and [3H](+), the overpotentials for H(2) evolution are estimated to be 430 mV, whereas the overpotential for the N-protonated pyridinium complex [4H(2)](2+) is estimated to be 260 mV. The mechanism of H(2) evolution is proposed to follow an ECEC sequence, where E and C correspond to one-electron reductions and protonations, respectively. On the basis of their values for its pK(a) and redox potentials, the room temperature values of ΔG(H•) and ΔG(H-) are estimated as respectively as 57 and 79 kcal/mol for [1H](+).

Common relationships of ferrocene oxidation with oxygen and sulfur dioxide in acid solutions and of its direct oxidation with carboxylic acids

Mechanisms of ferrocene oxidation with molecular oxygen and sulfur dioxide in acid solutions and of its direct oxidation with carboxylic acids were suggested on the basis of kinetic and thermodynamic analysis of the published data. All the mechanisms are based on a common proposition: The species reacting with an oxidant is the protonated ferrocene molecule acting as a donor of atomic hydrogen, which is favored by the low energy of the Fe-H bond.

Surface Structure and Energetics of Hydrogen Adsorption on the Fe(111) Surface

Spin-polarized density functional theory calculations have been performed to characterize the hydrogen adsorption and diffusion on the Fe(111) surface at 2/3-, 1-, and 2-monolayer (ML) coverages. It is found that the most favored adsorption site for atomic hydrogen (H) is the top-shallow bridge site (tsb), followed by the quasi 4-fold site (qff) with the energy difference of about 0.1 eV, while the top site (t) is not competitive. Furthermore, the adsorbed atomic hydrogen (H) has a high mobility, as indicated by the small diffusion barriers. The local density of state (LDOS) analysis reveals that the Fe-H (tsb or qff) bond involves mainly the Fe 4s and 4p and H 1s orbitals with less contribution of the Fe 3d orbital, while the Fe 4s, 4p, and 3d orbitals all participate in the Fe-H (top) bond. In addition, the coverage effects on the adsorption configurations and adsorption energies are addressed.

Density functional study of H–Fe vacancy interaction in bcc iron

The Fe–H interaction in the vicinity of a vacancy in bcc iron was studied within theframework of the density functional theory and the findings compared with previous resultsobtained by semiempirical molecular orbital methods. Calculations were performed usingan iron cluster containing 12 atoms and a vacancy. Geometry optimizations wereperformed to find the most stable positions for one and two hydrogen atoms.Changes in the electronic structure of Fe atoms near the vacancy were analysed when oneand two H atoms are added to the iron cluster. Fe atoms surrounding the vacancy weakentheir bond when hydrogen is present. This is interpreted in terms of the formation of Fe–Hbonds.

Metal-hydride bond activation and metal-metal interaction in dinuclear iron complexes with linking dinitriles: a synthetic, electrochemical, and theoretical study.

The dinuclear iron(II)-hydride complexes [[FeH(dppe)(2)](2)(mu-LL)][BF(4)](2) (LL = NCCH=CHCN (1a), NCC(6)H(4)CN (1b), NCCH(2)CH(2)CN (1c); dppe = Ph(2)PCH(2)CH(2)PPh(2)) and the corresponding mononuclear ones, trans-[FeH(LL)(dppe)(2)][BF(4)] (2a-c) were prepared by treatment of trans-[FeHCl(dppe)(2)], in tetrahydrofuran (thf) and in the presence of Tl[BF(4)], with the appropriate dinitrile (in molar deficiency or excess, respectively). Metal-metal interaction was detected by cyclic voltammetry for 1a, which, upon single-electron reversible oxidation, forms the mixed valent Fe(II)/Fe(III) 1a(+) complex. The latter either undergoes heterolytic Fe-H bond cleavage (loss of H(+)) or further oxidation, at a higher potential, also followed by hydride-proton evolution, according to ECECE or EECECEC mechanistic processes, respectively, which were established by digital simulation. Anodically induced Fe-H bond rupture was also observed for the other complexes and the detailed electrochemical behavior, as well as the metal-metal interaction (for 1a), were rationalized by ab initio calculations for model compounds and oxidized derivatives. These calculations were used to generate the structural parameters (full geometry optimization), the most stable isomeric forms, the ionization potentials, the effective atomic charges, and the molecular orbital diagrams, as well as to predict the nature of the other electron-transfer induced chemical steps, i.e. geometric isomerization and nucleophilic addition, by BF(4)(-), to the unsaturated iron center resulting from hydride-proton loss. From the values of the oxidation potential of the complexes, the electrochemical P(L) and E(L) ligand parameters were also estimated for the dinitrile ligands (LL) and for their mononuclear complexes 2 considered as ligands toward a second binding metal center.

A Density-Functional Theory Based Study on the 16O/18O-Exchange Reactions of the Prototype Iron-Oxygen Compounds FeO+ and FeOH+ with H218O in the Gas Phase

The mechanism of the degenerate 16O/18O exchange in the reactions of FeO+ and FeOH+ with water is examined by density functional theory. Based on previous experimental work (Chem. Eur. J. 1999, 5, 1176), two possible reaction pathways are investigated for both systems. The first mechanism consists of one (for FeOH+ + H2O) or two (for FeO+ + H2O) 1,3-hydrogen migrations from one oxygen atom to the other; the iron atom is not directly involved in these OH bond activations. The second route comprises a series of two (for FeOH+ + H2O) or four (for FeO+ + H2O) 1,2-hydrogen migration steps which involve the intermediate formations of metal-hydrogen bonds. Both mechanisms are evaluated under consideration of the respective low- and high spin potential-energy surfaces. The computational results show a clear preference for the 1,3-routes occurring on the respective high-spin surfaces bypassing the intermediacy of high-valent iron compounds having FeH bonds.

A density-functional theory based study on the 16O/18O-exchange reactions of the prototype iron-oxygen compounds FeO+ and FeOH+ with H2(18)O in the gas phase

The mechanism of the degenerate 16O/18O exchange in the reactions of FeO+ and FeOH+ with water is examined by density functional theory. Based on previous experimental work (Chem. Eur. J. 1999, 5, 1176), two possible reaction pathways are investigated for both systems. The first mechanism consists of one (for FeOH+ + H20) or two (for FeO+ + H20) 1,3-hydrogen migrations from one oxygen atom to the other; the iron atom is not directly involved in these OH bond activations. The second route comprises a series of two (for FeOH+ + H20) or four (for FeO+ + H20) 1,2-hydrogen migration steps which involve the intermediate formations of metal-hydrogen bonds. Both mechanisms are evaluated under consideration of the respective low- and high spin potential-energy surfaces. The computational results show a clear preference for the 1,3-routes occurring on the respective high-spin surfaces bypassing the intermediacy of high-valent iron compounds having FeH bonds.

Crystal structure of (Et4N) [(µ-H)Fe3(µ3-Se)(CO)9

The crystal structure of (Et4N)[(µ-H)Fe3(µ3-Se)(CO)9] is determined;the crystals are monoclinic, a = 11.172(2), b =32.332(5), c =13.552(3) a, µ =91.86(2)‡, V cell =4893(2) a 3, space group P21/n, Z =8, d calc =1.710 g/cm 3, CAD-4 diffractometer, MoKα radiation;the total number of data collected 4395,including 4086 independent reflections(Rint =0.0701), R(F) =0.0566, wR(F 2) =0.1202 for 1963 F hkl > 4Σ(F). The data were corrected for the 37.8% linear drop of intensities of the control reflections due to crystal decay. The Fe-H bond lengths are 1.5(1)-1.72(9) a. As in the case of three-osmium clusters,the presence of the Μ-H ligand leads to a lengthening of the Fe-Fe bond by approximately 0.1 a and to push-away of the equatorial carbonyl ligands leading to an increase in the FeFeC angle by approximately 5–10‡, whereas the axial CO and (Μ 3-Se) remain unchanged.

CO-Induced ethane formation from ethylene and hydrogen on Fe(100): effects of ligands in surface reactions

When C 2 H 4 alone is adsorbed on a hydrogen-presaturated Fe(100) surface (Fe(100)-H) without coadsorbed CO, reversible formation of ethyl groups (C 2 H 5 ) occurs, and no ethane is observed. Remarkably, the coadsorption of CO with ethylene on Fe(100)-H induces the facile formation of ethane at 170 K. The coadsorption of CO weakens Fe-H bonds and appears to induce ethane formation by reducing the activation barrier for the reductive elimination reaction between H adatoms and adsorbed ethyl groups