Iron–dinitrogen coordination chemistry: Dinitrogen activation and reactivity

Understanding the coordination of dinitrogen to iron is important for understanding biological nitrogen fixation as well as for designing synthetic systems that are capable of reducing N₂ to NH₃ under mild conditions. This review discusses recent advances in iron–dinitrogen coordination complexes and describes the factors that contribute to the degree of activation of the coordinated N₂. The reactivity of the N₂ ligand is also reviewed, with an emphasis on protonation reactions that yield ammonia and/or hydrazine. Coordination complexes containing N₂ reduction intermediates such as diazene (N₂H₂), hydrazido (N₂H₂^2?), hydrazine (N₂H₄), nitride (N^3?), imide (NH^2?), and amide (NH₂^?) are also discussed in the context of the mechanism of N₂ reduction to NH₃ mediated by iron coordination complexes.     

REVIEW: SOME CONSIDERATIONS ABOUT COORDINATION COMPOUNDS WITH END-ON DINITROGEN

Abstract

There have been several reviews on dinitrogen coordination compounds but no special attention has been paid to correlate the electron configuration of the metal ions with the main features of the ligands in order to establish an electron configuration-stability relationship. In this article we consider nearly 200 complexes with terminal dinitrogen to find common characteristics that lead to the synthesis of other stable dinitrogen compounds. This survey shows that for coordination number 6 there is a strong tendency for a d ⁶ configuration in the metals, with oxidation states between 1- and 2.

On the basis of quantum chemistry, dinitrogen as a ligand can be compared with the isoelectronic species CO, CN^?, NO⁺. The MO and orbital energy diagrams indicate that N₂ is not a good donor neither a good acceptor, but with the appropriate symmetry and in the presence of a good π-donor metal it forms an N₂← M π-bond strengthened by an N₂→ M σ-back-bonding.     

New Developments in Nitrogen Fixation

The production of ammonia from atmospheric dinitrogen at room temperature and ambient pressure in analogy to nature is a long-term goal for coordination chemists. Novel reactions of N₂-containing transition metal complexes with H₂, the first side-on N₂-bridged structure of an actinide complex, and an interesting variation of synthetic N₂ fixation are the key points addressed in this contribution. The results are related to the known chemistry of N₂ complexes, and their significance is discussed with respect to enzymatic N₂ fixation.     

Unusual Stabilization of an Intermediate Spin State of Iron upon the Axial Phenoxide Coordination of a Diiron(III)–Bisporphyrin: Effect of Heme–Heme Interactions

The binding of a series of substituted phenols as axial ligands onto a diiron(III)? bisporphyrin framework have been investigated. Spectroscopic characterization revealed high‐spin states of the iron centers in all of the phenolate complexes, with one exception in the 2,4,6‐trinitrophenolate complex of diiron(III)? bisporphyrin, which only stabilized the pure intermediate‐spin (S=3/2) state of the iron centers. The average Fe? N (porphyrin) and Fe? O (phenol) distances that were observed with the 2,4,6‐trinitrophenolate complex were 1.972(3) Å and 2.000(2) Å, respectively, which are the shortest and longest distances reported so far for any Fe^III? porphyrin with phenoxide coordination. The alternating shift pattern, which shows opposite signs of the chemical shifts for the meta versus ortho/para protons, is attributed to negative and positive spin densities on the phenolate carbon atoms, respectively, and is indicative of π‐spin delocalization onto the bound phenolate. Electrochemical data reveals that the E_1/2 value for the Fe^III/Fe^II couple is positively shifted with increasing acidity of the phenol. However, a plot of the E_1/2 values for the Fe^III/Fe^II couple versus the pK_a values of the phenols shows a linear relationship for all of the complexes, except for the 2,4,6‐trinitrophenolate complex. The large deviation from linearity is probably due to the change of spin for the complex. Although 2,4,6‐trinitrophenol is the weakest axial ligand in the series, its similar binding with the corresponding Fe^III? monoporphyrin only results in stabilization of the high‐spin state. The porphyrin macrocycle in the 2,4,6‐trinitrophenolate complex of diiron(III)? bisporphyrin is the most distorted, whilst the “ruffling” deformation affects the energy levels of the iron d orbitals. The larger size and weaker binding of 2,4,6‐trinitrophenol, along with heme? heme interactions in the diiron(III)? bisporphyrin, are responsible for the larger ring deformations and eventual stabilization of the pure intermediate‐spin states of the iron centers in the complex.     

Single-Atom Catalysis Using Chromium Embedded in Divacant Graphene for Conversion of Dinitrogen to Ammonia

Reduction of dinitrogen to ammonia under ambient conditions is a long-standing challenge. The few metal-based catalysts proposed have conspicuous disadvantages such as high cost, high energy consumption, and being hazardous to the environment. Single-atom catalysis has emerged as a new frontier in heterogeneous catalysis and metal atoms atomically dispersed on supports receive more and more attention owing to rapid advances in synthetic methodologies and computational modeling. Herein, we propose metal atoms embedded in divacant graphene as a catalyst for N₂ fixation based on density functional calculations. We systematically investigate the potential of using transition metal like Cr, Mn, Fe, Mo and Ru as catalysts and our study reveals that Cr embedded in graphene exhibit good catalytic activity for N₂ fixation. The synergy between the metal atoms and graphene surface provides a stable support to the metal center that has a high spin density to promote adsorption of N₂ and activation of its N≡N triple bond. Our study deciphers the mechanism of conversion of N₂ to ammonia following two possible reaction pathways, distal and enzymatic routes, via sequential protonation and reduction of activated N₂. The study provides a rational framework for conversion of dinitrogen to ammonia using single atom catalyst.     

Terminal N2 Dissociation in [(PNN)Fe(N2)]2(μ-N2) Leads to Local Spin-State Changes and Augmented Bridging N2 Activation

Nitrogen fixation at iron centres is a fundamental catalytic step for N₂ utilisation, relevant to biological (nitrogenase) and industrial (Haber-Bosch) processes. This step is coupled with important electronic structure changes which are currently poorly understood. We show here for the first time that terminal dinitrogen dissociation from iron complexes that coordinate N₂ in a terminal and bridging fashion leaves the Fe-N₂-Fe unit intact but significantly enhances the degree of N₂ activation (Δν≈180 cm⁻¹, Raman spectroscopy) through charge redistribution. The transformation proceeds with local spin state change at the iron centre (S= →S=³/₂). Further dissociation of the bridging N₂ can be induced under thermolytic conditions, triggering a disproportionation reaction, from which the tetrahedral (PNN)₂Fe could be isolated. This work shows that dinitrogen activation can be induced in the absence of external chemical stimuli such as reducing agents or Lewis acids.     

Semiempirical local spin: Theory and implementation of the ZILSH method for predicting Heisenberg exchange constants of polynuclear transition metal complexes

The local spin formalism ( 3 ) for computing expectation values 〈S_A · S_B〉 that appear in the Heisenberg spin model has been extended to semiempirical single determinant wave functions. An alternative derivation of expectation values in restricted and unrestricted cases is given that takes advantage of the zero differential overlap (ZDO) approximation. A formal connection between single determinant wave functions (which are not in general spin eigenfunctions) and the Heisenberg spin model was established by demonstrating that energies of single determinants that are eigenfunctions of the local spin operators with eigenvalues corresponding to high‐spin radical centers are given by the same Heisenberg coupling constants {J_AB} that describe the true spin states of the system. Unrestricted single determinant wave functions for transition metal complexes are good approximations of local spin eigenfunctions when the metal d orbitals are local in character and all unpaired electrons on each metal have the same spin (although spins on different metals might be reversed). Good approximations of the coupling constants can then be extracted from local spin expectation values 〈S_A · S_B〉 energies of the single determinant wave functions. Once the coupling constants are obtained, diagonalization of the Heisenberg spin Hamiltonian provides predictions of the energies and compositions of the spin states. A computational method is presented for obtaining coupling constants and spin‐state energies in this way for polynuclear transition metal complexes using the intermediate neglect of differential overlap Hamiltonian parameterized for optical spectroscopy (INDO/S) in the ZINDO program. This method is referred to as ZILSH, derived from ZINDO, Davidson's local spin formalism, and the Heisenberg spin model. Coupling constants and spin ground states obtained for 10 iron complexes containing from 2 to 6 metals are found to agree well with experimental results in most cases. In the case of the complex [Fe₆O₃(OAc)₉(OEt)₂(bpy)₂]⁺, a priori predictions of the coupling constants yield a ground‐state spin of zero, in agreement with variable‐temperature magnetization data, and corroborate spin alignments proposed earlier on the basis of structural considerations. This demonstrates the potential of the ZILSH method to aid in understanding magnetic interactions in polynuclear transition metal complexes. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2003     

Capturing photochemical and photophysical transformations in iron complexes with ultrafast X-ray spectroscopy and scattering

Light-driven chemical transformations provide a compelling approach to understanding chemical reactivity with the potential to use this understanding to advance solar energy and catalysis applications. Capturing the non-equilibrium trajectories of electronic excited states with precision, particularly for transition metal complexes, would provide a foundation for advancing both of these objectives. Of particular importance for 3d metal compounds is characterizing the population dynamics of charge-transfer (CT) and metal-centered (MC) electronic excited states and understanding how the inner coordination sphere structural dynamics mediate the interaction between these states. Recent advances in ultrafast X-ray laser science has enabled the electronic excited state dynamics in 3d metal complexes to be followed with unprecedented detail. This review will focus on simultaneous X-ray emission spectroscopy (XES) and X-ray solution scattering (XSS) studies of iron coordination and organometallic complexes. These simultaneous XES-XSS studies have provided detailed insight into the mechanism of light-induced spin crossover in iron coordination compounds, the interaction of CT and MC excited states in iron carbene photosensitizers, and the mechanism of Fe–S bond dissociation in cytochrome c.

Ultrafast X-ray scattering and spectroscopy captures photophysical and photochemical transformations of 3d transition metal complexes with atomistic detail.     

Spin‐State‐Controlled Photodissociation of Iron(III) Azide to an Iron(V) Nitride Complex

The generation of iron(V) nitride complexes, which are targets of biomimetic chemistry, is reported. Temperature‐dependent ion spectroscopy shows that this reaction is governed by the spin‐state population of their iron(III) azide precursors and can be tuned by temperature. The complex [(MePy₂TACN)Fe(N₃)]²⁺ (MePy₂TACN=N ‐methyl‐N ,N ‐bis(2‐picolyl)‐1,4,7‐triazacyclononane) exists as a mixture of sextet and doublet spin states at 300 K, whereas only the doublet state is populated at 3 K. Photofragmentation of the sextet state complex leads to the reduction of the iron center. The doublet state complex photodissociates to the desired iron(V) nitride complex. To generalize these findings, we show results for complexes with cyclam‐based ligands.     

A novel crystal structure of {tris[4‐(1H‐pyrazol‐3‐yl‐κN2)‐3‐azabut‐3‐enyl]amine‐κN}iron(II) bis(tetrafluoridoborate) methanol monosolvate featuring a low‐spin configuration

Mononuclear complexes are good model systems for evaluating the effects of different ligand systems on the magnetic properties of iron(II) centres. A novel crystal structure of the title compound, [Fe(C₁₈H₂₄N₁₀)](BF₄)₂·CH₃OH, with one molecule of methanol per formula unit exhibits a strictly sixfold coordination sphere associated with a low‐spin configuration at the metal centre. The incorporated methanol solvent molecule promotes extended hydrogen‐bonding networks between the tetrafluoridoborate anions and the cationic units. A less constrained crystal structure regarding close contacts between the tetrafluoridoborate anions and the cationic units allows a spin transition which is inhibited in the previously published hydrate of the title compound.     

Fe3s X-ray photoelectron spectra of polynuclear iron complexes

Specific features of the electronic structure and spin magnetic state of iron atoms in bi-, tri-, and hexanuclear iron trimethylacetate complexes were studied by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. A correlation was found between the ionicity (of the spin state of iron atoms) and Fe3s binding energies, exchange splitting of the final photoionization state, and the energy position and intensity of charge-transfer satellites. Nonequivalent iron states were identified in tri- and hexanuclear complexes. The overall magnetic moment of the complexes was found to decrease with an increase of the individual magnetic moments of iron atoms, which is evidence of complicated mutual orientation of atomic magnetic moments in the complexes.     

Electrochemical N2 splitting at well-defined metal complexes

In this short review, we discuss recent examples of well-defined metal complexes capable to split dinitrogen electrochemically. Large progress has been made in the chemical dinitrogen splitting with molecular complexes during the last couple of years; however, electrochemical N₂ splitting remains scarce. Herein, three distinct examples, which were investigated in depth, are discussed. The iron complex 2⁺ converts N₂ to ammonia via an associative mechanism. With the rhenium pincer complex 3, N₂ is cleaved via a dissociative mechanism forming a very stable Re^V-nitride complex. The aluminium complex 6 also converts N₂ electrochemically to ammonia; however, the mechanism is distinctly different to that in 2⁺ or 3, as there is no evidence for a metal–N₂ interaction and likely the ligand acts as a hydride donor.     

A Heteroleptic Push–Pull Substituted Iron(II) Bis(tridentate) Complex with Low‐Energy Charge‐Transfer States

A heteroleptic iron(II) complex [Fe(dcpp)(ddpd)]²⁺ with a strongly electron‐withdrawing ligand (dcpp, 2,6‐bis(2‐carboxypyridyl)pyridine) and a strongly electron‐donating tridentate tripyridine ligand (ddpd, N,N′‐dimethyl‐N,N′‐dipyridine‐2‐yl‐pyridine‐2,6‐diamine) is reported. Both ligands form six‐membered chelate rings with the iron center, inducing a strong ligand field. This results in a high‐energy, high‐spin state (⁵T₂, (t_2g)⁴(e_g*)²) and a low‐spin ground state (¹A₁, (t_2g)⁶(e_g*)⁰). The intermediate triplet spin state (³T₁, (t_2g)⁵(e_g*)¹) is suggested to be between these states on the basis of the rapid dynamics after photoexcitation. The low‐energy π^* orbitals of dcpp allow low‐energy MLCT absorption plus additional low‐energy LL′CT absorptions from ddpd to dcpp. The directional charge‐transfer character is probed by electrochemical and optical analyses, Mößbauer spectroscopy, and EPR spectroscopy of the adjacent redox states [Fe(dcpp)(ddpd)]³⁺ and [Fe(dcpp)(ddpd)]⁺, augmented by density functional calculations. The combined effect of push–pull substitution and the strong ligand field paves the way for long‐lived charge‐transfer states in iron(II) complexes.     

Photochemically Induced Reductive Elimination as a Route to a Zirconocene Complex with a Strongly Activated N2 Ligand

The zirconocene dinitrogen complex [{(η⁵‐C₅Me₄H)₂Zr}₂(μ₂,η²,η²‐N₂)] was synthesized by photochemical reductive elimination from the corresponding zirconium bis(aryl) or aryl hydride complexes, providing a high‐yielding, alkali metal‐free route to strongly activated early‐metal N₂ complexes. Mechanistic studies support the intermediacy of zirconocene arene complexes that in the absence of sufficient dinitrogen promote C? H activation or undergo comproportion to formally Zr^III complexes. When N₂ is in excess arene displacement gives rise to strong dinitrogen activation.     

Metal‐Mediated Production of Isocyanates,R3ENCO from Dinitrogen,Carbon Dioxide,and R3ECl

A highly efficient and versatile chemical cycle has been developed for the production of isocyanates through the molecular fixation of N₂, CO₂ and R₃ECl (E=C, Si, and Ge). Key steps include a ‘one‐pot’ photolytic N N bond cleavage of a Group 6 dinuclear dinitrogen complex with in situ trapping by R₃ECl to provide a metal terminal imido complex that can engage in simultaneous nitrene‐group transfer and oxygen‐atom transfer to generate an intermediate metal terminal oxo complex with release of the isocyanate product. Reaction of the oxo complex with additional equivalents of R₃ECl regenerates a metal dichloride that is the precursor for dinuclear dinitrogen starting material.     

Metal‐Mediated Production of Isocyanates,R3ENCO from Dinitrogen,Carbon Dioxide,and R3ECl

A highly efficient and versatile chemical cycle has been developed for the production of isocyanates through the molecular fixation of N₂, CO₂ and R₃ECl (E=C, Si, and Ge). Key steps include a ‘one‐pot’ photolytic N? N bond cleavage of a Group 6 dinuclear dinitrogen complex with in situ trapping by R₃ECl to provide a metal terminal imido complex that can engage in simultaneous nitrene‐group transfer and oxygen‐atom transfer to generate an intermediate metal terminal oxo complex with release of the isocyanate product. Reaction of the oxo complex with additional equivalents of R₃ECl regenerates a metal dichloride that is the precursor for dinuclear dinitrogen starting material.     

INDO-Type calculations on the ground state and various ionic states of transition metal tricarbonyls

By means of the ΔSCF and transition operator (TO) methods based on a recently developed INDO extension to the first transition metal series, the first ionization potentials of benzene—chromium tricarbonyl ( I ), cyclopentadienyl manganese tricarbonyl ( II ), the iron—tricarbonyl complexes with trimethylenemethane ( III ), and cyclobutadiene ( IV ) have been calculated and compared with experimental data. It is shown that the electronic structure of I to IV can be rationalized by Hoffmann's fragment approach in both the ground state and the cationic hole states. Within the series I—IV there are remarkable energy differences in the ground state for MOs derived from the 1a₁ and 1e orbitals of the M(CO)₃ fragment. The observation that only one band is associated with the ionization events from MOs predominantly localized at the metal site is traced back to large relaxation effects. In the cationic hole states the split of the M(CO)₃ fragment orbitals 1a₁ and 1e is minute in all four compounds.     

Theoretical study of first-row transition metal porphyrins and their carbonyl complexes

The equilibrium geometry, relative energies, normal mode frequencies, and electron and spin density distributions for first-row transition metal porphyrins M(P) (M is a transition metal in the oxidation state +2, P = C₂₀H₁₂N₄) and their five-and six-coordinate carbonyl complexes M(P)CO and M(P)(CO)(AB) (AB = CO, CN^?, CS) in different spin states have been calculated by the density functional theory B3LYP method with the 6-31G and 6-31G* basis sets. The energies of binding of the CO group to M(P) molecules D(M-CO) have been estimated. The calculated properties change as a function of the metal, the number of carbonyl groups (shown for Fe(P) as an example), and the multiplicity. Calculations show that, for five-coordinate complexes M(P)CO with M = Ti and V, high-spin states and significant D(M-CO) energies are typical. For Fe(P)CO, a singlet with a small D(M-CO) energy is preferable. For Cr(P)CO and Mn(P)CO (which also have small D(M-CO) energies), the states with different spins, which strongly differ in geometry and electronic structure, are close in energy, within 0.1–02. eV. The energy of binding of CO to M(P)CO (M = Cr, Mn, Fe) is considerably higher than the energy of binding of CO to M(P), which is evidence that the transformation of five-coordinate metalloporphyrins into six-coordinate ones is energetically favorable. The behavior of the D(M-CO) energies is interpreted using a qualitative model that considers not only the effects of participation (or nonparticipation) of “active” $ d_{x^2 - y^2 } The equilibrium geometry, relative energies, normal mode frequencies, and electron and spin density distributions for first-row transition metal porphyrins M(P) (M is a transition metal in the oxidation state +2, P = C₂₀H₁₂N₄) and their five-and six-coordinate carbonyl complexes M(P)CO and M(P)(CO)(AB) (AB = CO, CN⁻, CS) in different spin states have been calculated by the density functional theory B3LYP method with the 6-31G and 6-31G* basis sets. The energies of binding of the CO group to M(P) molecules D(M-CO) have been estimated. The calculated properties change as a function of the metal, the number of carbonyl groups (shown for Fe(P) as an example), and the multiplicity. Calculations show that, for five-coordinate complexes M(P)CO with M = Ti and V, high-spin states and significant D(M-CO) energies are typical. For Fe(P)CO, a singlet with a small D(M-CO) energy is preferable. For Cr(P)CO and Mn(P)CO (which also have small D(M-CO) energies), the states with different spins, which strongly differ in geometry and electronic structure, are close in energy, within 0.1–02. eV. The energy of binding of CO to M(P)CO (M = Cr, Mn, Fe) is considerably higher than the energy of binding of CO to M(P), which is evidence that the transformation of five-coordinate metalloporphyrins into six-coordinate ones is energetically favorable. The behavior of the D(M-CO) energies is interpreted using a qualitative model that considers not only the effects of participation (or nonparticipation) of “active” , and , d _xz , and d _yz AO in bonding of M to the P ring and axial ligands, but also the fraction of the total bond energy consumed for the preparation (promotion) of those “valence states” of the M(P) molecules that are realized in M(P)CO and M(P)(CO)(AB) complexes. For the series of compounds Fe(P)(CO)₂ − Fe(P)(CO)(CS) − Fe(P)(CS)₂ − Fe(P)(CO)(CN⁻) in the singlet, triplet, and ionized states, the trans influence of axial ligands in low-spin metalloporphyrins is shown to follow the same qualitative scheme as is typical of octahedral transition metal complexes: in mixed-ligand complexes (as compared to the symmetric ones), the stronger bond becomes shorter and even stronger, while the weaker bond becomes longer and even weaker. It is assumed that the same scheme will persist for more complicated low-spin six-coordinate metalloporphyrins in the states with the vacant AO and occupied d _xz and d _xz AOs involved in bonding with both axial ligands with the filled shell. Original Russian Text ? O.P. Charkin, A.V. Makarov, and N.M. Klimenko, 2008, published in Zhurnal Neorganicheskoi Khimii, 2008, Vol. 53, No. 5, pp. 781–794.     

Lower rim 1,3-di-amide-derivative of calix[4]arene possessing bis-{N-(2,2′-dipyridylamide)} pendants: a dual fluorescence sensor for Zn and Ni

Single crystal XRD structure of the lower rim 1,3-di-amide-derivative of calix[4]arene possessing bis-{N-(2,2′-dipyridylamide)} pendants (L) exhibit two distinct binding cores, viz., N₄ and O₆. L was found to be selective for Zn²⁺ by switch-on and for Ni²⁺ by switch-off fluorescence by forming 1:1 complexes. The binding and the composition of the complex formed have been addressed based on steady state and time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy in addition to the absorption and ESI MS. As L can detect Zn²⁺ and Ni²⁺ to a concentration as low as 142 and 203 ppb, respectively, L can be a very sensitive molecular probe for these ions. The coordination details of the metal ion-bound complexes have been addressed based on ab initio calculations showing that the stabilization energies are commensurate with the coordination formed.