Phosphine-substituted diiron 1,2-dithiolate complexes as the models for the active site of [FeFe]-hydrogenases

In this article, five diiron 1,2-dithiolate complexes containing phosphine ligands are reported. Treatment of complex [Fe₂(CO)₆(μ-SCH₂CH₂S)] (1) with the phosphine ligands tris(4-methylphenyl)phosphine, tris(4-methoxyphenyl)phosphine, tris(3-chlorophenyl)phosphine, tris(3-methylphenyl)phosphine, or 2-(diphenylphosphino)biphenyl in the presence of Me₃NO·2H₂O as the decarbonylating agent afforded the target products [Fe₂(CO)₅(L)(μ-SCH₂CH₂S)] [L = P(4-C₆H₄CH₃)₃, 2; P(4-C₆H₄OCH₃)₃, 3; P(3-C₆H₄Cl)₃, 4; P(3-C₆H₄CH₃)₃, 5; Ph₂P(2-C₆H₄Ph), 6] in 80–93% yields. Complexes 2–6 have been characterized by elemental analysis, spectroscopy, and X-ray crystallography. Additionally, the electrochemical properties were studied by cyclic voltammetry.