Conversion of a Fleeting Open‐Shell Iron Nitride into an Iron Nitrosyl

Terminal metal nitrides have been proposed as key intermediates in a series of pivotal chemical transformations. However, exploring the chemical activity of transient tetragonal iron(V) nitrides is largely impeded by their facile dimerization in fluid solutions. Herein, in situ EPR and Mössbauer investigations are presented of unprecedented oxygenation of a paramagnetic iron(V) nitrido intermediate, [Fe^VN(cyclam‐ac)]⁺ ( 2 , cyclam‐ac^?=1,4,8,11‐tetraazacyclotetradecane‐1‐acetate anion), yielding an iron nitrosyl complex, [Fe(NO)(cyclam‐ac)]⁺ ( 3 ). Further theoretical studies suggest that during the reaction a closed‐shell singlet O atom is transferred to 2 . Consequently, the N?O bond formation does not follow a radical coupling mechanism proposed for the N?N bond formation but is accomplished by three mutual electron‐transfer pathways between 2 and the O atom donor, thanks to the ambiphilic nature of 2 .     

Synthesis and Reactivity of an End‐Deck cyclo‐P4 Iron Complex

Reduction of the Fe^II complex [(^PhPP₂^Cy)FeCl₂] ( 2 ) generated an electron‐rich and unsaturated Fe⁰ species, which was reacted with white phosphorus. The resulting new complex, [(^PhPP₂^Cy)Fe(η⁴‐P₄)] ( 3 ), is the first iron cyclo‐P₄ complex and the only known stable end‐deck cyclo‐P₄ complex outside Group V. Complex 3 features an Fe^II center, as shown by Mössbauer spectroscopy, associated to a P₄^2? fragment. The distinct reactivity of complex 3 was rationalized by analysis of the molecular orbitals. Reaction of complex 3 with H⁺ afforded the unstable complex [(^PhPP₂^Cy)Fe(η⁴‐P₄)(H)]⁺ ( 4 ), whereas with CuCl and BCF, the complexes [(^PhPP₂^Cy)Fe(η⁴:η¹‐P₄)(μ‐CuCl)]₂ ( 5 ) and [(^PhPP₂^Cy)Fe(η⁴:η¹‐P₄)B(C₆F₅)₃] ( 6 ) were formed.     

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.     

Low‐Voltage Gaseous HCl Electrolysis with an Iron Redox‐Mediated Cathode for Chlorine Regeneration

Gaseous HCl as a by‐product is often produced from chlorination processes using Cl₂ gas. Onsite Cl₂ regeneration from HCl is highly desirable as it eliminates the need to buy new Cl₂ and dispose HCl waste. A gaseous HCl electrolysis with Fe³⁺/Fe²⁺ redox‐mediated cathode is demonstrated for Cl₂ regeneration. HCl is oxidized to generate Cl₂ and protons in the anode while Fe³⁺ is reduced to Fe²⁺ in the cathode. Simultaneously Fe³⁺ is regenerated by chemical oxidation of Fe²⁺ by oxygen (air) that also produces water. A low operational voltage and high coulombic efficiency are achieved by using a novel composite porous membrane and hydrophobic anode. Specifically, a cell voltage of only 0.64 V is needed at the typical current density of 4 kA m⁻², leading to a low energy consumption of 483 kWh per ton of Cl₂ (124 kJ mol ⁻¹) which is about 50–55 % of state‐of‐the‐art HCl electrolysis processes.     

Z‐Selective (Cross‐)Dimerization of Terminal Alkynes Catalyzed by an Iron Complex

Efficient iron‐catalyzed homocoupling of terminal alkynes and cross‐dimerization of aryl acetylenes with trimethylsilylacetylene is reported. The complex [Fe(H)(BH₄)(iPr‐PNP)] ( 1 ) catalyzed the (cross‐)dimerization of alkynes at room temperature, with no need for a base or other additives, to give the corresponding dimerized products with Z selectivity in excellent yields (79–99 %).     

Single‐Atom Iron Boosts Electrochemiluminescence

The traditional luminol–H₂O₂ electrochemiluminescence (ECL) sensing platform suffers from self‐decomposition of H₂O₂ at room temperature, hampering its application for quantitative analysis. In this work, for the first time we employ iron single‐atom catalysts (Fe‐N‐C SACs) as an advanced co‐reactant accelerator to directly reduce the dissolved oxygen (O₂) to reactive oxygen species (ROS). Owing to the unique electronic structure and catalytic activity of Fe‐N‐C SACs, large amounts of ROS are efficiently produced, which then react with the luminol anion radical and significantly amplify the luminol ECL emission. Under the optimum conditions, a Fe‐N‐C SACs–luminol ECL sensor for antioxidant capacity measurement was developed with a good linear range from 0.8 μm to 1.0 mm of Trolox.     

Iron Polyoxometalate Single‐Molecule Magnets

Iron sandwich on a tungstate bun : Two new polyoxotungstates with paramagnetic iron(III) heteroatoms (see structure, W blue, Fe yellow, O red) possess S=15/2 and S=5 ground states. Both compounds are single‐molecule magnets, and the hexairon species shows large hysteresis (see picture) and quantum tunneling effects at low temperature. Electrochemical studies indicate that these species are stable in solution for a wide range of pH values.

     

Functional Hydride Transfer by a Thiolate‐Containing Model of Mono‐Iron Hydrogenase featuring an Anthracene Scaffold

We report the synthesis, X‐ray structure and functional biomimetic activity of a model complex of mono‐iron hydrogenase (Hmd). To achieve the desired biomimetic fac‐CNS(thiolate) ligation motif, an anthracene framework is used to provide the requisite donors in a single chelate. A bulky aryl thiolate (ortho dimethylphenyl) is included to achieve mononuclearity. In addition to exhibiting structural (X‐ray) and spectroscopic (NMR, IR) similarity to the enzyme, the complex is competent for H₂ activation (heterolysis) and hydride transfer to a model substrate—mimicking the functional behavior of the enzyme in a biomimetic CNS coordination sphere for the first time.     

Heteroatom‐Free Arene‐Cobalt and Arene‐Iron Catalysts for Hydrogenations

75 years after the discovery of hydroformylation, cobalt catalysts are now undergoing a renaissance in hydrogenation reactions. We have evaluated arene metalates in which the low‐valent metal species is—conceptually different from heteroatom‐based ligands—stabilized by π coordination to hydrocarbons. Potassium bis(anthracene)cobaltate 1 and ‐ferrate 2 can be viewed as synthetic precursors of quasi‐“naked” anionic metal species; their aggregation is effectively impeded by (labile) coordination to the various π acceptors present in the hydrogenation reactions of unsaturated molecules (alkenes, arenes, carbonyl compounds). Kinetic studies, NMR spectroscopy, and poisoning studies of alkene hydrogenations support the formation of a homogeneous catalyst derived from 1 which is stabilized by the coordination of alkenes. This catalyst concept complements the use of complexes with heteroatom donor ligands for reductive processes.     

Iron Oxide Nanoparticles Labeled with an Excited‐State Intramolecular Proton Transfer Dye

Excited‐state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT) is a particularly well known reaction that has been very little studied in magnetic environments. In this work, we report on the photophysical behavior of a known ESIPT dye of the benzothiazole class, when in solution with uncoated superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles, and when grafted to silica‐coated iron oxide nanoparticles. Uncoated iron oxide nanoparticles promoted the fluorescence quenching of the ESIPT dye, resulting from collisions during the lifetime of the excited state. The assembly of iron oxide nanoparticles with a shell of silica provided recovery of the ESIPT emission, due to the isolation promoted by the silica shell. The silica network gives protection against the fluorescence quenching of the dye, allowing the nanoparticles to act as a bimodal (optical and magnetic) imaging contrast agent with a large Stokes shift.     

Proton‐Coupled Reduction of an Iron Cyanide Complex to Methane and Ammonia

Nitrogenase enzymes mediate the six‐electron reductive cleavage of cyanide to CH₄ and NH₃. Herein we demonstrate for the first time the liberation of CH₄ and NH₃ from a well‐defined iron cyanide coordination complex, [SiP^iPr₃]Fe(CN) (where [SiP^iPr₃] represents a tris(phosphine)silyl ligand), on exposure to proton and electron equivalents. [SiP^iPr₃]Fe(CN) additionally serves as a useful entry point to rare examples of terminally‐bound Fe(CNH) and Fe(CNH₂) species that, in accord with preliminary mechanistic studies, are plausible intermediates of the cyanide reductive protonation to generate CH₄ and NH₃. Comparative studies with a related [SiP^iPr₃]Fe(CNMe₂) complex suggests the possibility of multiple, competing mechanisms for cyanide activation and reduction.     

Direct Observation of Ordered High‐Spin–Low‐Spin Intermediate States of an Iron(III) Three‐Step Spin‐Crossover Complex

A neutral mononuclear Fe^III complex [Fe^III(H‐5‐Br‐thsa‐Me)(5‐Br‐thsa‐Me)]?H₂O ( 1 ; H₂‐5‐Br‐thsa‐Me=5‐bromosalicylaldehyde methylthiosemicarbazone) was prepared that exhibited a three‐step spin‐crossover (SCO) with symmetry breaking and a 14 K hysteresis loop owing to strong cooperativity. Two ordered intermediate states of 1 were observed, 4HS–2LS and 2HS–4LS, which exhibited reentrant phase‐transition behavior. This study provides a new platform for examining multistability in SCO complexes.     

Mechanism of Iron Oxide Formation from Iron Pentacarbonyl‐Doped Low‐Pressure Hydrogen/Oxygen Flames

A chemical reaction mechanism was developed for the formation of iron oxide (Fe₂O₃) from iron pentacarbonyl (Fe(CO)₅) in a low‐pressure hydrogen–oxygen flame reactor. In this paper, we describe an extensive approach for the flame‐precursor chemistry and the development of a novel model for the formation of Fe₂O₃ from the gas phase. The detailed reaction mechanism is reduced for the implementation in two‐dimensional, reacting flow simulations. The comprehensive simulation approach is completed by a model for the formation and growth of the iron oxide nanoparticles. The exhaustive and compact reaction mechanism is validated using experimental data from iron‐atom laser‐induced fluorescence imaging. The particle formation and growth model are verified with new measurements from particle mass spectrometry.     

Electronic Structure Modulation in an Exceptionally Stable Non‐Heme Nitrosyl Iron(II) Spin‐Crossover Complex

The highly stable nitrosyl iron(II) mononuclear complex [Fe(bztpen)(NO)](PF₆)₂ (bztpen=N‐benzyl‐N,N′,N′‐tris(2‐pyridylmethyl)ethylenediamine) displays an S=1/2?S=3/2 spin crossover (SCO) behavior (T_1/2=370 K, ΔH=12.48 kJ mol^?1, ΔS=33 J K^?1 mol^?1) stemming from strong magnetic coupling between the NO radical (S=1/2) and thermally interconverted (S=0?S=2) ferrous spin states. The crystal structure of this robust complex has been investigated in the temperature range 120–420 K affording a detailed picture of how the electronic distribution of the t_2g–e_g orbitals modulates the structure of the {FeNO}⁷ bond, providing valuable magneto–structural and spectroscopic correlations and DFT analysis.     

Coupling of an N‐Heterocyclic Carbene on Iron with Alkynes to Form η5‐Cyclopentadienyl‐Diimine Ligands

A cyclometalated N‐heterocyclic carbene ligand in a half‐sandwich iron complex was found to couple with alkynes, leading to a unique type of ring opening of the carbene ligand and the formation of ferrocenyl–diimine complexes. An intermediary iron complex obtained from the reaction with phenylacetylene reveals that the ring opening follows the formation of a fused heterocycle consisting of an imidazole ring and two alkynes.