Methylene insertion into an Fe2S2 cluster: formation of a thiolate-bridged diiron complex containing an Fe–CH2–S moiety

Abstract

Reduction of a thiolate-bridged Fe^IIFe^III complex leads to the cleavage of an Fe–S bond by the insertion of the methylene unit from CH₂Cl₂ to give a neutral Fe^IIFe^III complex with a novel Fe–CH₂–S fragment. The structural and electrochemical differences of the alkylated and the non-alkylated Fe₂S₂ complexes are also examined.