Nitrogen Reduction by the Fe Sites of Synthetic [Mo3S4Fe] Cubes

Abstract

N2 fixation by Nature, which is a crucial process to supply bio-available forms of nitrogen, is performed by nitrogenase. This enzyme employs a unique transition metal-sulfur-carbon cluster as its active-site cofactor ([(R-homocitrate)MoFe7S9C], FeMoco), and the sulfur-surrounded Fe atoms have been postulated to capture and reduce N2. Whereas synthetic counterparts of FeMoco, metal-sulfur clusters, have displayed binding of N2 in a few examples, the reduction of N2 by any synthetic metal-sulfur clusters or even by the extracted form of FeMoco have remained elusive despite a near-50-year history of research. Here we show that the Fe atoms in our synthetic [Mo3S4Fe] cubes capture an N2 molecule and catalyze N2 silylation to form N(SiMe3)3 under treatment with excess Na and Me3SiCl. These results exemplify the first catalytic N2 reduction by a synthetic metal-sulfur cluster with an Fe center supported only by S ligands. This work demonstrates the N2-reducing capability of Fe atoms in a S-rich environment, which Nature has selected to accomplish a similar purpose. This work also suggests some critical features for successful by metal-sulfur compounds, which serve as clues to understand the origin of N2 fixation on Earth.