Diiron species containing a cyclic P(Ph)2N(Ph)2 diphosphine related to the [FeFe]H2ases active site.

A new dissymmetrically disubstituted diiron dithiolate species, [Fe(2)(CO)(4)(κ(2)-P(Ph)(2)N(Ph)(2))(μ-pdt)] (pdt = S(CH(2))(3)S), was prepared by using a flexible cyclic base-containing diphosphine, 1,3,5,7-tetraphenyl 1,5-diaza-3,7-diphosphacyclooctane (P(Ph)(2)N(Ph)(2) = {PhPCH(2)NPh}(2)). Preliminary investigations of proton and electron transfers on the diiron system have been done.