Synthetic and structural studies on new diiron azadithiolate (ADT)-type model compounds for active site of [FeFe]hydrogenases

A series of new diiron azadithiolate (ADT) complexes (1-8), which could be regarded as the active site models of FeFe]hydrogenases, have been synthesized starting from parent complex (μ-SCH(2))(2)NCH(2)CH(2)OH]Fe(2)(CO)(6) (A). Treatment of A with ethyl malonyl chloride or malonyl dichloride in the presence of pyridine afforded the malonyl-containing complexes (μ-SCH(2))(2)NCH(2)CH(2)O(2)CCH(2)CO(2)Et]Fe(2)(CO)(6) (1) and Fe(2)(CO)(6)(μ-SCH(2))(2)NCH(2)CH(2)O(2)C](2)CH(2) (2). Further treatment of 1 and 2 with PPh(3) under different conditions produced the PPh(3)-substituted complexes (μ-SCH(2))(2)NCH(2)CH(2)O(2)CCH(2)CO(2)Et]Fe(2)(CO)(5)(PPh(3)) (3), (μ-SCH(2))(2)NCH(2)CH(2)O(2)CCH(2)CO(2)Et]Fe(2)(CO)(4)(PPh(3))(2) (4), and Fe(2)(CO)(5)(PPh(3))(μ-SCH(2))(2)NCH(2)CH(2)O(2)C](2)CH(2) (5). More interestingly, complexes 1-3 could react with C(60) in the presence of CBr(4) and 1,8-diazabicyclo5.4.0]undec-7-ene (DBU) via Bingel-Hirsch reaction to give the C(60)-containing complexes (μ-SCH(2))(2)NCH(2)CH(2)O(2)CC(C(60))CO(2)Et]Fe(2)(CO)(6) (6), Fe(2)(CO)(6)(μ-SCH(2))(2)NCH(2)CH(2)O(2)C](2)C(C(60)) (7), and (μ-SCH(2))(2)NCH(2)CH(2)O(2)CC(C(60))CO(2)Et]Fe(2)(CO)(5)(PPh(3)) (8). The new ADT-type models 1-8 were characterized by elemental analysis and spectroscopy, whereas 2-4 were further studied by X-ray crystallography and 6-8 investigated in detail by DFT methods.