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With the goal of generating hetero‐redox levels on metals as well as on nitric oxide (NO), metallodithiolate (N₂S₂)Co^III(NO⁻), N₂S₂=N,N‐ dibenzyl‐3,7‐diazanonane‐1,9‐dithiolate, is introduced as ligand to a well‐characterized labile [Ni⁰(NO)⁺] synthon. The reaction between [Ni⁰(NO⁺)] and [Co^III(NO⁻)] has led to a remarkable electronic and ligand redistribution to form a heterobimetallic dinitrosyl cobalt [(N₂S₂)Ni^II∙Co(NO)₂]⁺complex with formal two electron oxidation state switches concomitant with the nickel extraction or transfer as Ni^IIinto the N₂S₂ligand binding site. To date, this is the first reported heterobimetallic cobalt dinitrosyl complex.

 

At some point, all HER (Hydrogen Evolution Reaction) catalysts, important in sustainable H 2 O splitting technology, will encounter O 2 and O 2 -damage. The [NiFeSe]-H 2 ases and some of the [NiFeS]–H 2 ases, biocatalysts for reversible H 2 production from protons and electrons, are exemplars of oxygen tolerant HER catalysts in nature. In the hydrogenase active sites oxygen damage may be extensive (irreversible) as it is for the [FeFe]–H 2 ase or moderate (reversible) for the [NiFe]–H 2 ases. The affinity of oxygen for sulfur, in [NiFeS]–H 2 ase, and selenium, in [NiFeSe]–H 2 ase, yielding oxygenated chalcogens results in maintenance of the core NiFe unit, and myriad observable but inactive states, which can be reductively repaired. In contrast, the [FeFe]–H 2 ase active site has less possibilities for chalcogen-oxygen uptake and a greater chance for O 2 -attack on iron. Exposure to O 2 typically leads to irreversible damage. Despite the evidence of S/Se-oxygenation in the active sites of hydrogenases, there are limited reported synthetic models. This perspective will give an overview of the studies of O 2 reactions with the hydrogenases and biomimetics with focus on our recent studies that compare sulfur and selenium containing synthetic analogues of the [NiFe]–H 2 ase active sites. 

The synthesis of poly(propylene carbonate) with 100% 13C-labeled carbonate carbons is reported. The 𝑣CO3 vibration is shifted 45 cm−1 lower than that observed in its 12C analog. This lowering of the 𝑣CO3 vibrational mode of the copolymer provides a window for observing νNO stretching motions in incorporated dinitrosyl iron complexes. 

Tetradentate N2S2 ligands (such as bismercaptoethanediazacycloheptane in this study) have seen extensive use in combination with transition metals. Well-oriented N2S2 binding sites are ideal for d8 transition metals with square planar preferences, especially NiII, but also as a square pyramidal base for those metals with pentacoordinate preferences, such as [V≡O]2+, [Fe(NO)]2+, and [Co(NO)]2+. Further reactivity at the thiolate sulfurs generates diverse bi, tri, and tetra/heterometallic compounds. Few N2S2 ligands have been explored to investigate the possibility of binding to main group metals, especially group III (MIII) metals, and their utility as synthons for main group/transition metal bimetallic complexes. To open up this area of chemistry, we synthesized three new five-coordinate main group XMN2S2 complexes with methyl as the fifth binding ligand for M = Al, and chloride for M = Ga and In. The seven-membered diazacycle, dach, was engaged as a rigid stabilized connector between the terminal thiolate sulfurs. The pentacoordinate XMN2S2 complexes were characterized by 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR, +ESI-Mass spectra, and X-ray diffraction. Their stabilities and reactivities were probed by adding NiII sources and W(CO)5(THF). The former replaces the main group metals in all cases in the N2S2 coordination environment, demonstrating the weak coordinate bonds of MIII–N/S. The reaction of XMN2S2 (XM = ClGaIII or ClInIII) with the labile ligand W(0) complex W(CO)5(THF) resulted in Ga/In–W bimetallic complexes with a thiolate S-bridge. The synthesis of XMN2S2 complexes provide examples of MIII–S coordination, especially Al–S, which is relatively rare. The bimetallic Ga/In–S–W complex formation indicates that the nucleophilic ability of sulfur is retained in MIII–S–R, resulting in the ability of main group MIII–N2S2 complexes to serve as metalloligands. 

The thiolate ligands of [NiFe]-H2ase enzymes have been implicated as proton-binding sites for the reduction/oxidation of H+/H2. This study examines the ligand effect on reactivity of NiN2S2 complexes with an array of acids in methanol solution. UV–Vis absorption spectroscopy is utilized to observe the transformation from the monomeric species to a trimetallic complex that is formed after proton-induced ligand dissociation. Nickel complexes with a flexible (propyl and ethyl) N to N linker were found to readily form the trimetallic complex with acids as weak as ammonium (pKa = 10.9 in methanol). A more constrained nickel complex with a diazacycloheptane N to N linker required stronger acids such as 2,2-dichloroacetic acid (pKa = 6.38 in methanol) to form the trimetallic complex and featured the formation of an NiN2S2H+ complex with acetic acid (pKa = 9.63 in methanol). The most strained ligand, which featured a diazacyclohexane backbone, readily dissociated from the nickel center upon mixture with acids with pKa ≤ 9.63 and showed no evidence of a trimetallic species with any acid. This research highlights the dramatic differences in reactivity with proton sources that can be imparted by minor alterations to ligand geometry and strain. 

A biomimetic study for S/Se oxygenation in Ni(μ-EPh)(μ-SN 2 )Fe, (E = S or Se; SN 2 = Me-diazacycloheptane-CH 2 CH 2 S); Fe = (η 5 -C 5 H 5 )Fe II (CO) complexes related to the oxygen-damaged active sites of [NiFeS]/[NiFeSe]-H 2 ases is described. Mono- and di-oxygenates (major and minor species, respectively) of the chalcogens result from exposure of the heterobimetallics to O 2 ; one was isolated and structurally characterized to have Ni–O–Se Ph –Fe–S connectivity within a 5-membered ring. A compositionally analogous mono-oxy species was implicated by ν (CO) IR spectroscopy to be the corresponding Ni–O–S Ph –Fe–S complex; treatment with O-abstraction agents such as P( o -tolyl) 3 or PMe 3 remediated the O damage. Computational studies (DFT) found that the lowest energy isomers of mono-oxygen derivatives of Ni(μ-EPh)(μ-SN 2 )Fe complexes were those with O attachment to Ni rather than Fe, a result consonant with experimental findings, but at odds with oxygenates found in oxygen-damaged [NiFeS]/[NiFeSe]-H 2 ase structures. A computer-generated model based on substituting − SMe for the N-CH 2 CH 2 S − sulfur donor of the N 2 S suggested that constraint within the chelate hindered O-atom uptake at that sulfur site.