Characterization of a Proposed Terminal Iron(III) Nitride Intermediate of Nitrogen Fixation Stabilized by a Trisphosphine‐Borane Ligand

Abstract

Terminal iron nitrides (Fe≡N) have been proposed as intermediates of Fe-mediated nitrogen fixation, and well-defined synthetic iron nitrides have been characterized in high oxidation states, including Fe(IV), Fe(V), and Fe(VI). This study reports the generation and low temperature characterization of a terminally bound iron(III) nitride, P₃ᴮFe(N) (P₃ᴮ = tris(o-diisopropylphosphinophenyl)borane), which is a proposed intermediate of iron-mediated nitrogen fixation by the P₃ᴮFe-catalyst system. CW- and pulse EPR spectroscopy (HYSCORE and ENDOR), supported by DFT calculations, help to define a 2A ground state electronic structure of this C₃-symmetric nitride species, placing the unpaired spin in a sigma orbital along the B-Fe-N vector; this electronic structure is distinct for an iron nitride. The unusual d⁵-configuration is stabilized by significant delocalization (~50%) of the unpaired electron onto the axial boron and nitrogen ligands, with a majority of the spin residing on boron.