Transfer of hydrosulfide from thiols to iron(ii): a convenient synthetic route to nonheme diiron(ii)–hydrosulfide complexes

Abstract

While the attempted synthesis of diiron(II)–hydrosulfide complexes using HS⁻ produced an insoluble precipitate, the reaction of Fe(BF₄)₂·6H₂O, Et₃N and HN-Et-HPTB with RSH (R = ^tBu, CH₂Ph) yielded the desired complex, [Fe₂(N-Et-HPTB)(SH)(H₂O)](BF₄)₂ (1a). The synthesis, one electron oxidation and dioxygen activity of 1a in comparison with an analogous chloride complex, [Fe₂(N-Et-HPTB)(Cl)(DMF)₂](BF₄)₂ (2), are described.