Ligand Displacement Reaction Paths in a Diiron Hydrogenase Active Site Model Complex.

The mechanism and energetics of CO, 1-hexene, and 1-hexyne substitution from the complexes (SBenz)2 [Fe2 (CO)6 ] (SBenz=SCH2 Ph) (1-CO), (SBenz)2 [Fe2 (CO)5 (η(2) -1-hexene)] (1-(η(2) -1-hexene)), and (SBenz)2 [Fe2 (CO)5 (η(2) -1-hexyne)] (1-(η(2) -1-hexyne)) were studied by using time-resolved infrared spectroscopy. Exchange of both CO and 1-hexyne by P(OEt)3 and pyridine, respectively, proceeds by a bimolecular mechanism. As similar activation enthalpies are obtained for both reactions, the rate-determining step in both cases is assumed to be the rotation of the Fe(CO)2 L (L=CO or 1-hexyne) unit to accommodate the incoming ligand.

Iron(0) mediated C-H activation of 1-hexyne: a mechanistic study using time-resolved infrared spectroscopy.

Photolysis of an iron tricarbonyl complex in the presence of 1-hexyne results in the activation of the terminal C-H bond to yield an iron-alkynyl species. The reaction proceeds through a single transition state with an activation enthalpy of 13.5 kcal mol(-1).

Catalysis and Mechanism of H2 Release from Amine-Boranes by Diiron Complexes.

Studies focused on the dehydrogenation of amine-borane by diiron complexes that serve as well-characterized rudimentary models of the diiron subsite in [FeFe]-hydrogenase are reported. Complexes of formulation (μ-SCH2XCH2S)[Fe(CO)3]2, with X = CH2, CMe2, CEt2, NMe, NtBu, and NPh, 1-CO through 6-CO, respectively, were determined to be photocatalysts for release of H2 gas from a solution of H3B ← NHMe2 (B:A(s)), dissolved in THF. The thermal displacement of the tertiary amine-borane, H3B ← NEt3 (B:A(t)) from photochemically generated (μ-SCH2XCH2S)[Fe(CO)3][Fe(CO)2(μ-H)(BH2-NEt3)], 1-B:A(t) through 6-B:A(t), by P(OEt)3 was monitored by time-resolved FTIR spectroscopy.

Redox kinetics of ceria-based mixed oxides in selective hydrogen combustion.

Ceria-based mixed oxides, in which about 10 mol % of the cerium is replaced by another metal, catalyze the selective combustion of hydrogen from a mixture of hydrogen, propane, and propene at 550 degrees C. This makes them attractive catalysts for the oxidative dehydrogenation of propane. Hydrogen combustion shifts the equilibrium to the products side, supplies energy for the endothermic dehydrogenation, and simplifies product separation.

A "green route" to propene through selective hydrogen oxidation.

The pros and cons of oxidative dehydrogenation of propane are outlined and a new catalytic system based on metal-doped cerianite catalysts is introduced. These novel materials catalyze the selective combustion of hydrogen from a mixture of hydrogen, propane, and propene at 550 degrees C. This gives three key advantages: energy is supplied directly where needed, product separation is made easier, and the dehydrogenation equilibrium is shifted to the desired products.