Homodinuclear iron thiolate nitrosyl compounds [(ON)Fe(S,S-C6H4)2 Fe(NO)2]- and [(ON)Fe(SO2,S-C6H4)(S,S-C6H4)Fe(NO)2]- with {Fe(NO)}7-{Fe(NO)2}9 electronic coupling: new members of a class of dinitrosyl iron complexes.

Reaction of Fe(CO)2(NO)2 and [(ON)Fe(S,S-C6H3R)2]- (R = H (1), CH3 (1-Me))/[(ON)Fe(SO2,S-C6H4)(S,S-C6H4)]- (4) in THF afforded the diiron thiolate/sulfinate nitrosyl complexes [(ON)Fe(S,S-C6H3R)2 Fe(NO)2]- (R = H (2), CH3 (2-Me)) and [(ON)Fe(S,SO2-C6H4)(S,S-C6H4)Fe(NO)2]- (3), respectively. The average N-O bond lengths ([Fe(NO)2] unit) of 1.167(3) and 1.162(4) A in complexes 2 and 3 are consistent with the average N-O bond length of 1.165 A observed in the other structurally characterized dinitrosyl iron complexes with an {Fe(NO)2}9 core. The lower nu(15NO) value (1682 cm(-1) (KBr)) of the [(15NO)FeS4] fragment of [(15NO)Fe(S,S-C6H3CH3)2 Fe(NO)2]- (2-Me-15N), compared to that of [(15NO)Fe(S,S-C6H3CH3)2]- (1-Me-15N) (1727 cm(-1) (KBr)), implicates the electron transfer from {Fe(NO)2}10 Fe(CO)2(NO)2 to complex 1-Me/1 may occur in the process of formation of complex 2-Me/2. Then, the electronic structures of the [(NO)FeS4] and [S2Fe(NO)2] cores of complexes 2, 2-Me, and 3 were best assigned according to the Feltham-Enemark notation as the {Fe(NO)}7-{Fe(NO)2}9 coupling (antiferromagnetic interaction with a J value of -182 cm(-1) for complex 2) to account for the absence of paramagnetism (SQUID) and the EPR signal. On the basis of Fe-N(O) and N-O bond distances, the dinitrosyliron {L2Fe(NO)2} derivatives having an Fe-N(O) distance of approximately 1.670 A and a N-O distance of approximately 1.165 A are best assigned as {Fe(NO)2}9 electronic structures, whereas the Fe-N(O) distance of approximately 1.650 A and N-O distance of approximately 1.190 A probably imply an {Fe(NO)2}10 electronic structure.