H2 Binding, Splitting, and Net Hydrogen Atom Transfer at a Paramagnetic Iron Complex

While diamagnetic transition metal complexes that bind and split H2 have been extensively studied, paramagnetic complexes that exhibit this behavior remain rare. The square planar S = 1/2 FeI(P4N2)+ cation (FeI+) reversibly binds H2/D2 in solution, exhibiting an inverse equilibrium isotope effect of KH2/KD2 = 0.58(4) at −5.0 °C. In the presence of excess H2, the dihydrogen complex FeI(H2)+ cleaves H2 at 25 °C in a net hydrogen atom transfer reaction, producing the dihydrogen-hydride trans-FeII(H)­(H2)+. The proposed mechanism of H2 splitting involves both intra- and intermolecular steps, resulting in a mixed first- and second-order rate law with respect to initial [FeI+]. The key intermediate is a paramagnetic dihydride complex, trans-FeIII(H)2+, whose weak FeIII–H bond dissociation free energy (calculated BDFE = 44 kcal/mol) leads to bimetallic H–H homolysis, generating trans-FeII(H)­(H2)+. Reaction kinetics, thermodynamics, electrochemistry, EPR spectroscopy, and DFT calculations support the proposed mechanism.