A Cu4S model for the nitrous oxide reductase active sites supported only by nitrogen ligands

Abstract

To model the (His)₇Cu₄S_n (n = 1 or 2) active sites of nitrous oxide reductase, the first Cu₄(μ₄-S) cluster supported only by nitrogen donors has been prepared using amidinate supporting ligands. Structural, magnetic, spectroscopic, and computational characterization is reported. Electrochemical data indicates that the 2-hole model complex can be reduced reversibly to the 1-hole state and irreversibly to the fully reduced state.