Scaffold-based [Fe]-hydrogenase model: H(2) activation initiates Fe(0)-hydride extrusion and non-biomimetic hydride transfer

We report the synthesis and reactivity of a model of [Fe]-hydrogenase derived from an anthracene-based scaffold that includes the endogenous, organometallic acyl(methylene) donor. In comparison to other non-scaffolded acyl-containing complexes, the complex described herein retains molecularly well-defined chemistry upon addition of multiple equivalents of exogenous base. Clean deprotonation of the acyl(methylene) C–H bond with a phenolate base results in the formation of a dimeric motif that contains a new Fe–C(methine) bond resulting from coordination of the deprotonated methylene unit to an adjacent iron center. This effective second carbanion in the ligand framework was demonstrated to drive heterolytic H(2) activation across the Fe(ii) center. However, this process results in reductive elimination and liberation of the ligand to extrude a lower-valent Fe–carbonyl complex. Through a series of isotopic labelling experiments, structural characterization (XRD, XAS), and spectroscopic characterization (IR, NMR, EXAFS), a mechanistic pathway is presented for H(2)/hydride-induced loss of the organometallic acyl unit (i.e. pyCH(2)–C[double bond, length as m-dash]O → pyCH(3)+C[triple bond, length as m-dash]O). The known reduced hydride species [HFe(CO)(4)](−) and [HFe(3)(CO)(11)](−) have been observed as products by (1)H/(2)H NMR and IR spectroscopies, as well as independent syntheses of PNP[HFe(CO)(4)]. The former species (i.e. [HFe(CO)(4)](−)) is deduced to be the actual hydride transfer agent in the hydride transfer reaction (nominally catalyzed by the title compound) to a biomimetic substrate ([(Tol)Im](BAr(F)) = fluorinated imidazolium as hydride acceptor). This work provides mechanistic insight into the reasons for lack of functional biomimetic behavior (hydride transfer) in acyl(methylene)pyridine based mimics of [Fe]-hydrogenase.