Synthesis of Sulfur- and Nitrogen-Bridged Diiron Complexes and Catalytic Behavior toward Hydrazines

Novel thiolate-bridged diiron complexes bearing diazenido and diazene
ligands in a side-on manner have been prepared and characterized by
X-ray analysis. These sulfur-bridged diiron complexes work as effective
catalysts toward the reduction of hydrazines into amines and ammonia
via a sequential process of protonation and reduction on the sulfur-bridged
diiron skeleton, as is likely observed at the active site of nitrogenase.