Fabricating Dual‐Atom Iron Catalysts for Efficient Oxygen Evolution Reaction: A Heteroatom Modulator Approach

Understanding the thermal aggregation behavior of metal atoms is important for the synthesis of supported metal clusters. Here, derived from a metal–organic framework encapsulating a trinuclear Fe^III₂Fe^II complex (denoted as Fe₃) within the channels, a well‐defined nitrogen‐doped carbon layer is fabricated as an ideal support for stabilizing the generated iron nanoclusters. Atomic replacement of Fe^II by other metal(II) ions (e.g., Zn^II/Co^II) via synthesizing isostructural trinuclear‐complex precursors (Fe₂Zn/Fe₂Co), namely the “heteroatom modulator approach”, is inhibiting the aggregation of Fe atoms toward nanoclusters with formation of a stable iron dimer in an optimal metal–nitrogen moiety, clearly identified by direct transmission electron microscopy and X‐ray absorption fine structure analysis. The supported iron dimer, serving as cooperative metal–metal site, acts as efficient oxygen evolution catalyst. Our findings offer an atomic insight to guide the future design of ultrasmall metal clusters bearing outstanding catalytic capabilities.     

Air‐Free Synthesis of a Ferrous Metal‐Organic Framework Featuring HKUST‐1 Structure and its Mössbauer Spectrum

Single crystals of the Fe^II metal‐organic framework (MOF) with 1,3,5‐benzenetricarboxylate (BTC) as a linker were solvothermally obtained under air‐free conditions. X‐ray diffraction analysis of the crystals demonstrated a structure for Fe^II‐MOF analogous to that of [Cu₃(BTC)₂] (HKUST‐1). Unlike HKUST‐1, however, the Fe^II‐MOF did not retain permanent porosity after exchange of guest molecules. The Mössbauer spectrum of the Fe^II‐MOF was recorded at 80 K in zero field yielding an apparent quadrupole splitting of ΔE_Q = 2.43 mm · s^–1, and an isomer shift of δ = 1.20 mm · s^–1, consistent with high‐spin central iron(II) atoms. Air exposure of the Fe^II‐MOF was found to result in oxidation of the metal atoms to afford Fe^III. These results demonstrate that Fe^II‐based MOFs can be prepared in similar fashion to the [Cu₃(BTC)₂], but that they lack permanent porosity when degassed.     

Planar Iron Hydride Nanoclusters: Combined Spectroscopic and Theoretical Insights into Structures and Building Principles

The controlled assembly of well-defined planar nanoclusters from molecular precursors is synthetically challenging and often plagued by the predominant formation of 3D-structures and nanoparticles. Herein, we report planar iron hydride nanoclusters from reactions of main group element hydrides with iron(II) bis(hexamethyldisilazide). The structures and properties of isolated Fe₄, Fe₆, and Fe₇ nanoplatelets and calculated intermediates enable an unprecedented insight into the underlying building principle and growth mechanism of iron clusters, metal monolayers, and nanoparticles.     

Catalytic conversions of chloroolefines over iron oxide nanoparticles 3. Electronic and magnetic properties of γ-Fe2O3 nanoparticles immobilized on different silicas

Catalytic properties of superparamagnetic γ-ferric oxide nanoclusters, which are uniform in terms of size and magnetic properties were studied. The catalysts were supported on the activated silica gel matrix (AGM) prepared from the KSK-2 silica gel of globular structure and on the activated silica matrix (ASM) prepared from layered natural vermiculite. The clusters are active in some reactions of chloroolefin conversions: isomerization of dichlorobutenes and alkylation of benzene with allyl chloride. Their activity in these reactions is many times higher that of usual supported catalysts based on α-ferric oxide. Analysis of the Mössbauer spectra of the 2.5 wt.% Fe/AGM and 2.5 wt.%Fe/ASM samples before and after the reaction at T = 3–300 K shows that during the reaction some Fe^III ions arranged in ～2–3-nm γ-Fe₂O₃ nanoclusters magnetically ordered at 6 K are reduced to form a high-spin Fe^II complex in the paramagnetic state. According to the macroscopic magnetization data (SQUID) of the initial clusters, curves with hysteresis are observed at 2 K in the plots of forward and backward magnetization, while the 2.5 wt.%Fe/ASM catalyst after the reaction at T = 2 K demonstrates a linear field dependence of the magnetization passing through the coordinate origin. Analysis of the Mössbauer spectra and magnetic properties suggests that during the catalytic reaction the Fe^III ions in the γ-Fe₂O₃ nanoclusters interact with chloroolefin with the allylic structure to be partially reduced to the Fe^II ions that are bound in a complex containing chloride ions and O^II ion(s) of the silicate matrix as ligands. This is a reason, probably, for the high catalytic activity of γ-Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles.     

Catalytic conversions of chloroolefins over iron oxide nanoparticles 1. Isomerization of dichlorobutenes in the presence of iron oxide nanopaticles immobilized on silicas with different structures

The influence of the support nature and electronic state of iron oxide nanoclusters on the catalytic properties of supported systems was studied for dichlorobutene isomerization. A sample with a Fe content of 2.5 wt.% on the activated silica matrix containing Fe^III and Fe^II ions in the paramagnetic state exhibits the highest activity. The activity of iron on silica gel enhances with the appearance of magnetically ordered nanoclusters of γ-iron oxide formed at the iron content on the catalyst as high as 15 wt.%. An increase in the catalyst activity is favored by the formation of two states of iron (Fe^III and Fe^II) that occurs under the synthesis conditions or during the action of a reactant. Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 6, pp. 1376–1382, June, 2005.     

Bimetallic Au2Cu6 Nanoclusters: Strong Luminescence Induced by the Aggregation of Copper(I) Complexes with Gold(0) Species

The concept of aggregation‐induced emission (AIE) has been exploited to render non‐luminescent Cu^ISR complexes strongly luminescent. The Cu^ISR complexes underwent controlled aggregation with Au⁰. Unlike previous AIE methods, our strategy does not require insoluble solutions or cations. X‐ray crystallography validated the structure of this highly fluorescent nanocluster: Six thiolated Cu atoms are aggregated by two Au atoms (Au₂Cu₆ nanoclusters). The quantum yield of this nanocluster is 11.7 %. DFT calculations imply that the fluorescence originates from ligand (aryl groups on the phosphine) to metal (Cu^I) charge transfer (LMCT). Furthermore, the aggregation is affected by the restriction of intramolecular rotation (RIR), and the high rigidity of the outer ligands enhances the fluorescence of the Au₂Cu₆ nanoclusters. This study thus presents a novel strategy for enhancing the luminescence of metal nanoclusters (by the aggregation of active metal complexes with inert metal atoms), and also provides fundamental insights into the controllable synthesis of highly luminescent metal nanoclusters.     

Controlled Expansion of a Strong‐Field Iron Nitride Cluster: Multi‐Site Ligand Substitution as a Strategy for Activating Interstitial Nitride Nucleophilicity

Multimetallic clusters have long been investigated as molecular surrogates for reactive sites on metal surfaces. In the case of the μ₄‐nitrido cluster [Fe₄(μ₄‐N)(CO)₁₂]^?, this analogy is limited owing to the electron‐withdrawing effect of carbonyl ligands on the iron nitride core. Described here is the synthesis and reactivity of [Fe₄(μ₄‐N)(CO)₈(CNAr^Mes2)₄]^?, an electron‐rich analogue of [Fe₄(μ₄‐N)(CO)₁₂]^?, where the interstitial nitride displays significant nucleophilicity. This characteristic enables rational expansion with main‐group and transition‐metal centers to yield unsaturated sites. The resulting clusters display surface‐like reactivity through coordination‐sphere‐dependent atom rearrangement and metal–metal cooperativity.     

Low‐Spin Pseudotetrahedral Iron(I) Sites in Fe2(μ‐S) Complexes

Fe^I centers in iron–sulfide complexes have little precedent in synthetic chemistry despite a growing interest in the possible role of unusually low valent iron in metalloenzymes that feature iron–sulfur clusters. A series of three diiron [(L₃Fe)₂(μ‐S)] complexes that were isolated and characterized in the low‐valent oxidation states Fe^II? S? Fe^II, Fe^II? S? Fe^I, and Fe^I? S? Fe^I is described. This family of iron sulfides constitutes a unique redox series comprising three nearly isostructural but electronically distinct Fe₂(μ‐S) species. Combined structural, magnetic, and spectroscopic studies provided strong evidence that the pseudotetrahedral iron centers undergo a transition to low‐spin S=1/2 states upon reduction from Fe^II to Fe^I. The possibility of accessing low‐spin, pseudotetrahedral Fe^I sites compatible with S^2? as a ligand was previously unknown.     

Controlled Incorporation of Nitrides into W‐Fe‐S Clusters

Incorporation of monatomic 2p ligands into the core of iron–sulfur clusters has been researched since the discovery of interstitial carbide in the FeMo cofactor of Mo‐dependent nitrogenase, but has proven to be a synthetic challenge. Herein, two distinct synthetic pathways are rationalized to install nitride ligands into targeted positions of W‐Fe‐S clusters, generating unprecedented nitride‐ligated iron–sulfur clusters, namely [(Tp*)₂W₂Fe₆(μ₄‐N)₂S₆L₄]^2? (Tp*=tris(3,5‐dimethyl‐1‐pyrazolyl)hydroborate(1?), L=Cl^? or Br^?). ⁵⁷Fe Mössbauer study discloses metal oxidation states of W^IV₂Fe^II₄Fe^III₂ with localized electron distribution, which is analogous to the mid‐valent iron centres of FeMo cofactor at resting state. Good agreement of Mössbauer data with the empirical linear relationship for Fe–S clusters indicates similar ligand behaviour of nitride and sulfide in such clusters, providing useful reference for reduced nitrogen in a nitrogenase‐like environment.     

A Myoglobin Functional Model Composed of a Ferrous Porphyrin and a Cyclodextrin Dimer with an Imidazole Linker

A 1:1 inclusion complex (Fe^IIPImCD) of 5,10,15,20‐tetrakis‐ (4‐sulfonatophenyl)porphinatoiron(II) (Fe^IIP) and an O‐methylated β‐cyclodextrin dimer with an imidazole linker (ImCD) was found to bind dioxygen in aqueous solution. The half‐saturation pressure of dioxygen (P_1/2^O2) is 1.7 torr at 25 °C, which is 10 times lower than that for a previous myoglobin functional model (hemoCD) with a pyridine linker. Meanwhile, the half‐life of oxygenated Fe^IIPImCD is 3 h, which is 10 times shorter than that of oxygenated hemoCD. The covering of the iron(II) center by a microscopic environment is essential for preventing autoxidation of oxygenated ferrous porphyrin, which is promoted by nucleophilic attack of H₂O and/or nucleophiles such as inorganic anions. Due to structural requirements, covering of the Fe^II center of Fe^IIPImCD is insufficient compared with the case of hemoCD. As a result, water molecules can penetrate more easily the cleft of the O₂–Fe^IIPImCD complex and act as an autoxidation inducer. This structure also causes poorer selectivity against carbon monoxide (M=1040). In contrast, the dioxygen affinity of Fe^IIPImCD is much higher than that of hemoCD because the imidazole moiety is a stronger electron donor than pyridine.     

Crystal Structure Analysis of the Repair of Iron Centers Protein YtfE and Its Interaction with NO

Molecular mechanisms underlying the repair of nitrosylated [Fe–S] clusters by the microbial protein YtfE remain poorly understood. The X‐ray crystal structure of YtfE, in combination with EPR, magnetic circular dichroism (MCD), UV, and ¹⁷O‐labeling electron spin echo envelope modulation measurements, show that each iron of the oxo‐bridged Fe^II–Fe^III diiron core is coordinatively unsaturated with each iron bound to two bridging carboxylates and two terminal histidines in addition to an oxo‐bridge. Structural analysis reveals that there are two solvent‐accessible tunnels, both of which converge to the diiron center and are critical for capturing substrates. The reactivity of the reduced‐form Fe^II–Fe^II YtfE toward nitric oxide demonstrates that the prerequisite for N₂O production requires the two iron sites to be nitrosylated simultaneously. Specifically, the nitrosylation of the two iron sites prior to their reductive coupling to produce N₂O is cooperative. This result suggests that, in addition to any repair of iron centers (RIC) activity, YtfE acts as an NO‐trapping scavenger to promote the NO to N₂O transformation under low NO flux, which precedes nitrosative stress.     

Ligand-Protected Ultrasmall Pd Nanoclusters Supported on Metal Oxide Surfaces for CO Oxidation: Does the Ligand Activate or Passivate the Pd Nanocatalyst?

Herein, we report on the synthesis of ultrasmall Pd nanoclusters (∼2 nm) protected by L-cysteine [HOCOCH(NH₂)CH₂SH] ligands (Pd_n(L-Cys)_m) and supported on the surfaces of CeO₂, TiO₂, Fe₃O₄, and ZnO nanoparticles for CO catalytic oxidation. The Pd_n(L-Cys)_m nanoclusters supported on the reducible metal oxides CeO₂, TiO₂ and Fe₃O₄ exhibit a remarkable catalytic activity towards CO oxidation, significantly higher than the reported Pd nanoparticle catalysts. The high catalytic activity of the ligand-protected clusters Pd_n(L-Cys)_m is observed on the three reducible oxides where 100 % CO conversion occurs at 93–110 °C. The high activity is attributed to the ligand-protected Pd nanoclusters where the L-cysteine ligands aid in achieving monodispersity of the Pd clusters by limiting the cluster size to the active sub-2-nm region and decreasing the tendency of the clusters for agglomeration. In the case of the ceria support, a complete removal of the L-cysteine ligands results in connected agglomerated Pd clusters which are less reactive than the ligand-protected clusters. However, for the TiO₂ and Fe₃O₄ supports, complete removal of the ligands from the Pd_n(L-Cys)_m clusters leads to a slight decrease in activity where the T_100% CO conversion occurs at 99 °C and 107 °C, respectively. The high porosity of the TiO₂ and Fe₃O₄ supports appears to aid in efficient encapsulation of the bare Pd_n nanoclusters within the mesoporous pores of the support.     

A Heteroleptic Ferrous Complex with Mesoionic Bis(1,2,3‐triazol‐5‐ylidene) Ligands: Taming the MLCT Excited State of Iron(II)

Strongly σ‐donating N‐heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) have revived research interest in the catalytic chemistry of iron, and are now also starting to bring the photochemistry and photophysics of this abundant element into a new era. In this work, a heteroleptic Fe^II complex ( 1 ) was synthesized based on sequentially furnishing the Fe^II center with the benchmark 2,2′‐bipyridine (bpy) ligand and the more strongly σ‐donating mesoionic ligand, 4,4′‐bis(1,2,3‐triazol‐5‐ylidene) (btz). Complex 1 was comprehensively characterized by electrochemistry, static and ultrafast spectroscopy, and quantum chemical calculations and compared to [Fe(bpy)₃](PF₆)₂ and (TBA)₂[Fe(bpy)(CN)₄]. Heteroleptic complex 1 extends the absorption spectrum towards longer wavelengths compared to a previously synthesized homoleptic Fe^II NHC complex. The combination of the mesoionic nature of btz and the heteroleptic structure effectively destabilizes the metal‐centered (MC) states relative to the triplet metal‐to‐ligand charge transfer (³MLCT) state in 1 , rendering it a lifetime of 13 ps, the longest to date of a photochemically stable Fe^II complex. Deactivation of the ³MLCT state is proposed to proceed via the ³MC state that strongly couples with the singlet ground state.     

Accelerated Oxygen Atom Transfer and C−H Bond Oxygenation by Remote Redox Changes in Fe3Mn‐Iodosobenzene Adducts

We report the synthesis, characterization, and reactivity of [LFe₃(PhPz)₃OMn(^sPhIO)][OTf]_x ( 3 : x =2; 4 : x =3), where 4 is one of very few examples of iodosobenzene–metal adducts characterized by X‐ray crystallography. Access to these rare heterometallic clusters enabled differentiation of the metal centers involved in oxygen atom transfer (Mn) or redox modulation (Fe). Specifically, ⁵⁷Fe Mössbauer and X‐ray absorption spectroscopy provided unique insights into how changes in oxidation state ( Fe^III ₂ Fe^IIMn^II vs. Fe^III ₃ Mn^II ) influence oxygen atom transfer in tetranuclear Fe₃Mn clusters. In particular, a one‐electron redox change at a distal metal site leads to a change in oxygen atom transfer reactivity by ca. two orders of magnitude.     

A diketiminate‐bound diiron complex with a bridging carbonate ligand

Reduction of carbon dioxide by a diiron(I) complex gives μ‐carbonato‐κ³O:O′,O′′‐bis{[2,2,6,6‐tetramethyl‐3,5‐bis(2,4,6‐triisopropylphenyl)heptane‐2,5‐diiminate(1−)‐κ²N,N′]iron(II)} toluene disolvate, [Fe₂(C₄₁H₆₅N)₂(CO₃)]·2C₇H₈, a diiron(II) species with a bridging carbonate ligand. The asymmetric unit contains one diiron complex and two cocrystallized toluene solvent molecules that are distributed over three sites, one with atoms in general positions and two in crystallographic sites. Both Fe^II atoms are η²‐coordinated to diketiminate ligands, but η¹‐ and η²‐coordinated to the bridging carbonate ligand. Thus, one Fe^II center is three‐coordinate and the other is four‐coordinate. The bridging carbonate ligand is nearly perpendicular to the iron–diketiminate plane of the four‐coordinate Fe^II center and parallel to the plane of the three‐coordinate Fe^II center.     

Electron transfer in a triangular FeIII2FeII cluster: Evidence of valence localization in solution

In solution at room temperature the complex [Fe^III₂ Fe^IIO(OOCC(CH₃)₃)₆,L₃], where L = pyridine, has the extra electron delocalized over the three metal atoms on the NMR time scale, but shows evidence of valence trapping on the i.r. time scale.     

Dioxygen Reactivity of Biomimetic Iron–Catecholate and Iron–o‐Aminophenolate Complexes of a Tris(2‐pyridylthio)methanido Ligand: Aromatic C?C Bond Cleavage of Catecholate versus o‐Iminobenzosemiquinonate Radical Formation

An iron(III)–catecholate complex [L¹Fe^III(DBC)] ( 2 ) and an iron(II)–o‐aminophenolate complex [L¹Fe^II(HAP)] ( 3 ; where L¹=tris(2‐pyridylthio)methanido anion, DBC=dianionic 3,5‐di‐tert‐butylcatecholate, and HAP=monoanionic 4,6‐di‐tert‐butyl‐2‐aminophenolate) have been synthesised from an iron(II)–acetonitrile complex [L¹Fe^II(CH₃CN)₂](ClO₄) ( 1 ). Complex 2 reacts with dioxygen to oxidatively cleave the aromatic C? C bond of DBC giving rise to selective extradiol cleavage products. Controlled chemical or electrochemical oxidation of 2 , on the other hand, forms an iron(III)–semiquinone radical complex [L¹Fe^III(SQ)](PF₆) ( 2^ox‐PF₆ ; SQ=3,5‐di‐tert‐butylsemiquinonate). The iron(II)–o‐aminophenolate complex ( 3 ) reacts with dioxygen to afford an iron(III)–o‐iminosemiquinonato radical complex [L¹Fe^III(ISQ)](ClO₄) ( 3^ox‐ClO₄ ; ISQ=4,6‐di‐tert‐butyl‐o‐iminobenzosemiquinonato radical) via an iron(III)–o‐amidophenolate intermediate species. Structural characterisations of 1 , 2 , 2^ox and 3^ox reveal the presence of a strong iron? carbon bonding interaction in all the complexes. The bond parameters of 2^ox and 3^ox clearly establish the radical nature of catecholate‐ and o‐aminophenolate‐derived ligand, respectively. The effect of iron? carbon bonding interaction on the dioxygen reactivity of biomimetic iron–catecholate and iron–o‐aminophenolate complexes is discussed.     

Synthesis,structure and physical properties of trinuclear M3tdt3(PEt3)3 (M = Fe,Co) clusters containing metal–metal bonds

Trinuclear M₃tdt₃(PEt₃)₃ (M = Fe^II for I, Co^II for II) clusters have been synthesized from the reaction between M(PEt₃)₂Cl₂ and Na₂tdt (tdt = toluene-3,4-dithiolate) in MeCN. Both complexes have been characterized by elemental analyses, FT-IR, UV–Vis, FAB-MS, ¹H NMR and cyclic voltammetry. Structures of Fe₃tdt₃(PEt₃)₃ (I) and Co₃tdt₃(PEt₃)₃ (II) were determined by single crystal X-ray crystallography. The Fe₃ triangular core of the 48-electron complex I, with an isosceles triangular geometry, showed very short Fe–Fe distances of 2.4014(13) and 2.4750(12) Å, which are comparable to the extensive M–M frameworks found in the FeMo-cofactor in nitrogenase. The isostructural Co₃tdt₃(PEt₃)₃ (II), with an analogous Co₃ coordination geometry, showed short Co–Co distances of 2.4442(9) and 2.5551(10) Å. The slightly longer M–M distances in complex II were explained by a total valence electron counting argument. Cyclic voltammetry of Fe₃tdt₃(PEt₃)₃ (I) showed robust reduction waves compared to Co₃tdt₃(PEt₃)₃ (II). Temperature-dependent effective magnetic moment measurements of I and II showed both clusters behave similarly and the magnetic property of the M₃ equilateral triangle core with extensive metal–metal interactions was characterized as degenerate frustration.