Nuclear resonance vibrational spectroscopy and electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy of 57Fe-enriched [FeFe] hydrogenase indicate stepwise assembly of the H-cluster.

The [FeFe] hydrogenase from Clostridium pasteurianum (CpI) harbors four Fe-S clusters that facilitate the transfer of an electron to the H-cluster, a ligand-coordinated six-iron prosthetic group that catalyzes the redox interconversion of protons and H(2). Here, we have used (57)Fe nuclear resonance vibrational spectroscopy (NRVS) to study the iron centers in CpI, and we compare our data to that for a [4Fe-4S] ferredoxin as well as a model complex resembling the [2Fe](H) catalytic domain of the H-cluster. To enrich the hydrogenase with (57)Fe nuclei, we used cell-free methods to post-translationally mature the enzyme. Specifically, inactive CpI apoprotein with (56)Fe-labeled Fe-S clusters was activated in vitro using (57)Fe-enriched maturation proteins. This approach enabled us to selectively label the [2Fe](H) subcluster with (57)Fe, which NRVS confirms by detecting (57)Fe-CO and (57)Fe-CN normal modes from the H-cluster nonprotein ligands. The NRVS and iron quantification results also suggest that the hydrogenase contains a second (57)Fe-S cluster. Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy indicates that this (57)Fe-enriched metal center is not the [4Fe-4S](H) subcluster of the H-cluster. This finding demonstrates that the CpI hydrogenase retained an (56)Fe-enriched [4Fe-4S](H) cluster during in vitro maturation, providing unambiguous evidence of stepwise assembly of the H-cluster. In addition, this work represents the first NRVS characterization of [FeFe] hydrogenases.

Precursors to [FeFe]-hydrogenase models: syntheses of Fe2(SR)2(CO)6 from CO-free iron sources.

This report describes routes to iron dithiolato carbonyls that do not require preformed iron carbonyls. The reaction of FeCl 2, Zn, and Q 2S 2C n H 2 n (Q (+) = Na (+), Et 3NH (+)) under an atmosphere of CO affords Fe 2(S 2C n H 2 n )(CO) 6 ( n = 2, 3) in yields >70%. The method was employed to prepare Fe 2(S 2C 2H 4)( (13)CO) 6. Treatment of these carbonylated mixtures with tertiary phosphines, instead of Zn, gave the ferrous species Fe 3(S 2C 3H 6) 3(CO) 4(PR 3) 2, for R = Et, Bu, and Ph. Like the related complex Fe 3(SPh) 6(CO) 6, these compounds consist of a linear arrangement of three conjoined face-shared octahedral centers. Omitting the phosphine but with an excess of dithiolate, we obtained the related mixed-valence triiron species [Fe 3(S 2C n H 2 n ) 4(CO) 4] (-). The highly reducing all-ferrous species [Fe 3(S 2C n H 2 n ) 4(CO) 4] (2-) is implicated as an intermediate in this transformation. Reactive forms of iron, prepared by the method of Rieke, also combined with dithiols under a CO atmosphere to give Fe 2(S 2C n H 2 n )(CO) 6 in modest yields under mild conditions. Studies on the order of addition indicate that ferrous thiolates are formed prior to the onset of carbonylation. Crystallographic characterization demonstrated that the complexes Fe 3(S 2C 3H 6) 3(CO) 4(PEt 3) 2 and PBnPh 3[Fe 3(S 2C 3H 6) 4(CO) 4] feature high-spin ferrous and low-spin ferric as the central metal, respectively.

Diferrous cyanides as models for the Fe-only hydrogenases.

The first systematic study of diferrous dicyano dithiolates is described. Oxidation of [Fe2(S2C2H4)(CN)2(CO)4](2-) in the presence of cyanide and tertiary phosphines and of Fe2(S2C2H4)(CO)4(PMe3)2 in the presence of cyanide affords a series of diferrous cyanide derivatives that bear a stoichiometric, structural, and electronic relationship to the H(ox)(air) state of the Fe-only hydrogenases. With PPh3 as the trapping ligand, we obtained an unsymmetrical isomer of Fe2(S2C2H4)(mu-CO)(CN)2(PPh3)2(CO)2, as confirmed crystallographically. This diferrous cyanide features the semibridging CO-ligand, with Fe-muC bond lengths of 2.15 and 1.85 A. Four isomers of Fe2(S2C2H4)(mu-CO)(CN)2(PMe3)2(CO)2 were observed, the initial product again being unsymmetrical but more stable isomers being symmetrical. DFT calculations confirm that the most stable isomers of Fe2(S2C2H4)(mu-CO)(CN)2(PMe3)2(CO)2 have cyanide trans to mu-CO. Oxidative decarbonylation also afforded the new tetracyanide [Fe2(S2C2H4)(mu-CO)(CN)4(CO)2]2-. Insights into the oxidative decarbonylation mechanism of these syntheses come from the spectroscopic characterization of the tetracarbonyl [Fe2(S2C2H4)(mu-CO)(CN)3(CO)3](-). This species reacts with PEt3 to produce the stable adduct [Fe2(S2C2H4)(mu-CO)(CN)3(CO)2(PEt3)](-).

[Fe2(SR)2(mu-CO)(CNMe)6]2+ and analogues: a new class of diiron dithiolates as structural models for the H(ox)Air state of the fe-only hydrogenase.

Low-temperature oxidation of Fe(2)(S(2)C(n)H(2n)(CNMe)(6-x)(CO)x (n = 2, 3; x = 2, 3) affords a family of mixed carbonyl-isocyanides of the type [Fe(2)(S(2)C(n)H(2n)(CO)x(CNMe)(7-x)](2+). The degree of substitution is controlled by the RNC/Fe ratio, as well as the degree of initial substitution at iron, with tricarbonyl derivatives favoring more highly carbonylated products. The structures of the monocarbonyl derivatives [Fe(2)(S(2)C(n)H(2n))(mu-CO)(CNMe)(6)](PF(6))(2) (n = 2,3) established crystallographically and spectroscopically, are quite similar, with Fe---Fe distances of ca. 2.5 A, although the mu-CO is unsymmetrical in the propanedithiolate derivative. Isomeric forms of [Fe(2)(S(2)C(3)H(6))(CO)(CNMe)(6)](PF(6))(2) were characterized where the CO is bridging or terminal, the greatest structural difference being the 0.1 A elongation of the Fe---Fe distance when MeNC (vs CO) is bridging. In the dicarbonyl species, [Fe(2)(S(2)C(2)H(4))(mu-CO)(CO)(CNMe)(5)](PF(6))(2), the terminal CO ligand is situated at one of the basal sites, not trans to the Fe---Fe vector. Oxidation of Fe(2)(S(2)C(2)H(4))(CNMe)(3)(CO)(3) under 1 atm CO gives the deep pink tricarbonyl [Fe(2)(S(2)C(2)H(4))(CO)(3)(CNMe)(4)](PF(6))(2). DFT calculations show that a bridging CO or MeNC establishes a 3-center, 2-electron bond within the two Fe(II) centers, which would otherwise be nonbonding.