Favorable Protonation of the (?-edt)[Fe(2)(PMe(3))(4)(CO)(2)(H-terminal)](+) Hydrogenase Model Complex Over Its Bridging ?-H Counterpart: A Spectroscopic and DFT Study.
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ABSTRACT: The mechanism of hydrogen production in [FeFe] hydrogenase remains elusive. However, a species featuring a terminal hydride bound to the distal Fe is thought to be the key intermediate leading to hydrogen production. In this study, density functional theory (DFT) calculations on the terminal (H-term) and bridging (?-H) hydride isomers of (?-edt)-[Fe(2)(PMe(3))(4)(CO)(2)H](+) are presented in order to understand the factors affecting their propensity for protonation. Relative to H-term, ?-H is 12.7 kcal/mol more stable, which contributes to its decreased reactivity towards an acid. Potential energy surface (PES) calculations for the reaction of the H-term isomer with 4-nitropyridinium, a proton source, further reveal a lower activation energy barrier (14.5 kcal/mol) for H-term than for ?-H (29 kcal/mol). Besides these energetic considerations, the H-term isomer displays a key molecular orbital (MO <139>) that has a relatively strong hydride (1s) contribution (23%), which is not present in the ?-H isomer. This indicates a potential orbital control of the reaction of the hydride complexes with acid. The lower activation energy barrier and this key MO together control the overall catalytic activity of (?-edt)[Fe(2)(PMe(3))(4)(CO)(2)(H-term)](+). Lastly, Raman and IR spectroscopy were performed in order to probe the ?(Fe-H) stretching mode of the two isomers and their deuterated counterparts. A ?(Fe-H) stretching mode was observed for the ?-H complex at 1220 cm(-1). However, the corresponding mode is not observed for the less stable H-term isomer.
SUBMITTER: Galinato MG
PROVIDER: S-EPMC3498055 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Mar
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
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