Synthesis and electrochemistry of phenyl-functionalized diiron propanedithiolate complexes with bidentate phosphine ligands.

Carbonyl substitution reactions of [ μ-(SCH)CHCH]Fe(CO) with bidentate phosphine ligands, cis-1,2-bis(diphenylphosphine)ethylene ( cis-dppv) and N, N-bis(diphenylphosphine)propylamine [(PhP)N-Pr- n], yielded an asymmetrically substituted chelated complex [( μ-SCH)CHCH]Fe(CO)( k-dppv) and a symmetrically substituted bridging complex [( μ-SCH)CHCH]Fe(CO)[ μ-(PPh)N-Pr- n] under different reaction conditions. Both complexes were fully characterized by spectroscopic methods and by X-ray crystallography. Their electrochemical behaviors were observed by cyclic voltammetry, and the catalytic electrochemical reduction of protons from acetic or trifluoroacetic acid to give dihydrogen mediated by complex [( μ-SCH)CHCH]Fe(CO)( k-dppv) was investigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]