The behavior of [Fe(2)(CO)(4)(κ(2)-PNP(R))(μ-pdt)] (PNP(R) =(Ph(2)PCH(2))(2)NR, R=Me (1), Ph (2); pdt=S(CH(2))(3)S) in the presence of acids is investigated experimentally and theoretically (using density functional theory) in order to determine the mechanisms of the proton reduction steps supported by these complexes, and to assess the role of the PNP(R) appended base in these processes for different redox states of the metal centers. The nature of the R substituent of the nitrogen base does not substantially affect the course of the protonation of the neutral complex by CF(3)SO(3)H or CH(3)SO(3)H; the cation with a bridging hydride ligand, 1 μH(+) (R=Me) or 2 μH(+) (R=Ph) is obtained rapidly. Only 1 μH(+) can be protonated at the nitrogen atom of the PNP chelate by HBF(4)·Et(2)O or CF(3)SO(3)H, which results in a positive shift of the proton reduction by approximately 0.15 V. The theoretical study demonstrates that in this process, dihydrogen can be released from a η(2)-H(2) species in the Fe(I)Fe(II) state. When R=Ph, the bridging hydride cation 2 μH(+) cannot be protonated at the amine function by HBF(4)·Et(2)O or CF(3)SO(3)H, and protonation at the N atom of the one-electron reduced analogue is also less favored than that of a S atom of the partially de-coordinated dithiolate bridge. In this situation, proton reduction occurs at the potential of the bridging hydride cation, 2 μH(+). The rate constants of the overall proton reduction processes are small for both complexes 1 and 2 (k(obs) ≈4-7 s(-1)) because of the slow intramolecular proton migration and H(2) release steps identified by the theoretical study.

A new dissymmetrically disubstituted diiron dithiolate species, [Fe(2)(CO)(4)(κ(2)-P(Ph)(2)N(Ph)(2))(μ-pdt)] (pdt = S(CH(2))(3)S), was prepared by using a flexible cyclic base-containing diphosphine, 1,3,5,7-tetraphenyl 1,5-diaza-3,7-diphosphacyclooctane (P(Ph)(2)N(Ph)(2) = {PhPCH(2)NPh}(2)). Preliminary investigations of proton and electron transfers on the diiron system have been done.

Reaction of the base-containing diphosphine (Ph 2 PCH 2 ) 2 NCH 3 with [Fe 2 (CO) 6 (μ-S 2 )] (1) yielded at room temperature the novel compound [Fe 2 (CO) 4 (μ-κ 1 :κ 1 -SPPh 2 ){μ-κ 2 :κ 2 -SCH 2 N(Me)CH 2 -PPh 2 }] (2) resulting from S-S and P-C bond cleavage concomitant with P-S and C-S bond formation. Experiments at low temperature allowed the isolation of an intermediate species, [Fe 2 (CO) 5 -(μ-κ 1 :κ 1 -SPPh 2 ){μ-κ 2 :κ 1 -SCH 2 N(Me)CH 2 PPh 2 }] (3), differing from 2 by the coordination mode of the PNS ligand and the presence of one additional carbonyl group. When the reaction was performed in the presence of an excess of tBuNC, an analogous compound of 3 was obtained. The X-ray analysis of this species, 4, revealed that an isocyanide replaced a carbonyl ligand in the axial position at one iron center.