[Fe4] and [Fe6] Hydride Clusters Supported by Phosphines: Synthesis, Characterization, and Application in N2 Reduction

Multiple iron atoms bridged by hydrides is a common structural feature of the active species that have been postulated in the biological and industrial reduction of N2. In this study, the reactions of an Fe­(II) amide complex with pinacolborane in the presence/absence of phosphines afforded a series of hydride-supported [Fe4] and [Fe6] clusters Fe4(μ-H)4(μ3-H)2{N­(SiMe3)2}2(PR3)4 (PR3 = PMe3 (2a), PMe2Ph (2b), PEt3 (2c)), Fe6(μ-H)10(μ3-H)2(PMe3)10 (3), and (η6-C7H8)­Fe4(μ-H)2{μ-N­(SiMe3)2}2{N­(SiMe3)2}2 (4), which were characterized crystallographically and spectroscopically. Under ambient conditions, these clusters catalyzed the silylation of N2 to furnish up to 160 ± 13 equiv of N­(SiMe3)3 per 2c (40 equiv per Fe atom) and 183 ± 18 equiv per 3 (31 equiv per Fe atom). With regard to the generation of the reactive species, dissociation of phosphine and hydride ligands from the [Fe4] and [Fe6] clusters was indicated, based on the results of the mass spectrometric analysis on the [Fe6] cluster, as well as the formation of a diphenylsilane adduct of the [Fe4] cluster.