Bidentate phosphine ligand based Fe2S2-containing macromolecules:: Synthesis, characterization, and catalytic electrochemical hydrogen production

The reaction of [Fe-2(CO)(6)(mu-SCH2)(2)NCH2CH2N(mu-SCH2)(2)Fe-2(CO)(6)] (1) with 1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino) ethane in the presence of Me3NO, 2H(2)O affords two structurally different metallomacromolecules: a dimer of the type [{Fe-2(CO)(5)(mu-SCH2)(2)NCH2CH2N(mu-SCH2) Fe-2(2)(CO)(5)}(Ph2PCH2)(2)] (2) and a tetramer species containing eight iron centers with an overall formula of [{Fe-2(CO)(6)(mu-SCH2)(2)NCH2CH2N( mu-SCH2)(2)Fe-2(CO)(5)}(2)(Ph2PCH2)(2)] (3). Their structures have been determined by X-ray crystallography, showing one macrocyclic complex (2) and one linear complex (3). Electrochemical hydrogen evolution catalyzed by these two complexes with ca. 80-90 single-run turnovers is observed, indicating good potential as catalysts for future applications.