Skip to main content

Iron-Molybdenum-Sulfur Clusters

  • Chapter
Book cover Nitrogen Fixation

Abstract

The recognition that molybdenum is present in the nitrogenase enzymes as an extraetable cofactor, containing iron, molybdenum, and sulfur in the approximate ratios 7:1:6,1-4 stimulated much interest in the synthesis and study of compounds containing these three elements. This article describes those compounds presently known to contain an Fe-Mo-S framework; their physical properties are then compared with those of the iron-molybdenum cofactor, with particular emphasis being given to systems containing Fe3MoS4 cubane-like clusters.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 84.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  1. V. K. Shah and W. J. Brill, Isolation of an Iron-Molybdenum Cofactor from Nitrogenase, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 74:3249 (1977).

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. B. E. Smith, Studies on the Iron-Molybdenum Cofactor from the Nitrogenase Molybdenum-Iron Protein of Klebsiella pneumoniae in: “Molybdenum Chemistry of Biological Significance,” W. E. Newton and S. Otsuka, eds., Plenum Press, New York, p. 179 (1979)

    Google Scholar 

  3. B. K. Burgess, D. B. Jacobs, and E. I. Stiefel, Large-Scale Purification of High Activity Azotobacter vinelandii Nitrogenase, Biochim. Biophys. Acta 614:196 (1980).

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. B. K. Burgess, E. I. Stiefel, and W. E. Newton, Oxidation-Reduction Properties and Complexation Reactions of the Iron-Molybdenum Cofactor of Nitrogenase, J. Biol. Chem. 255:353 (1980).

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. D. Coucouvanis, N. C. Baenziger, E. D. Simhon, P. Stremple, D. Swenson, A. Kostikas, A. Simopoulos, V. Petrouleas, and V. Papaefthmiou, Heterodinuclear Di-y-sulfido Bridged Dimers Containing Iron and Molybdenum or Tungsten. Structures of (Ph4P)2(FeMS9) Complexes (M = Mo, W), J. Am. Chem. Soc. 102:1730 (1980).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. R. H. Tieckelmann and B. A. Averill, Preparation and Properties of the Bis(phenylmercapto)iron(III)-di-y-sulfidoiron(II)-di-μ-sulfidomolybdate(VI) Ion, [(PhS)2FeS2FeS2MoS2]3-, Inorg. Chim. Acta 46:L35 (1980).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. A. Müller and S. Sarkar, Thioheteroanions — Unusual Metal-Ligand Interactions and Reactions, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. Engl. 16:705 (1977).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. D. Coucouvanis, E. D. Simhon, D. Swenson, and N. C. Baenziger, X-Ray Crystal Structure of Bis(tetraethylammonium) Di-μ-thio-bis(phenylthio)ferrate(III)-dithiomolybdate(V), [Et4N]2[(PhS)2FeMbS4] : A Dinuclear Complex with the FeS2Mo Core, J. Chem. Soc., Chem. Coram. 316 (1979).

    Google Scholar 

  9. R. H. Tieckelmann, H. C. Silvis, T. A. Kent, B. H. Huynh, J. V. Waszczak, B.- K. Teo, and B. A. Averill, Synthetic Moly-bdenum-Iron-Sulfur Clusters. Preparation, Structures, and Properties of the [S2MoS2Fe(SC6H5)2]2- and [S2MoS2FeCl2]2-Ions, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 102:5550 (1980).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. A. Müller, H. Bögge, H.- G. Tölle, R. Jostes, U. Schimanski and M. Dartmann, MoS4 2- and MoOS3 2- as Structurally Versatile and Biochemically Interesting Ligands in Crystalline Multinuclear Cu- and Fe- Complexes, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. Engl, 19:654 (1980).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. J. W. McDonald, G. D. Friesen and W. E. Newton, Synthesis and Characterization of [Et4N]3[Fe(MbS4)2]. A New Fe-Mo-S Complex, Inorg. Chim, Acta 46:L79 (1980);

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. D. Coucouvanis, E. D. Simhon, N. C. Baenziger, Successful Isolation of a Reduced Tetrathiometallate Complex. Synthesis and Structural Characterization of the [(MoS4)2Fe]3- Trianion, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 102:6644 (1980).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. D. Coucouvanis, N. C. Baenziger, E. D. Simhon, P. Stremple, D. Swenson, A. Simopoulos, A. Kostikas, V. Petrouleas, and V. Papaefthymiou, Synthesis and Structural Characterization of the (Ph4P)2[Cl2FeS2MS2FeCl2] Complexes (M = Mo, W). First Example of a Doubly Bridging MoS4 Unit and its Possible Relevance as a Structural Feature in the Nitrogenase Active Site, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 102:1732 (1980).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. H. C. Silvis, R. H. Tieckelmann, and B. A. Averill, Preparation and Properties of the Tetrakis[tetrathiomolybdato(VI)-μ3-sulfidoiron] Cluster, [Fe4Mo4S20]6-, Inorg. Chim. Acta 36:1423 (1979).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. S. R. Acott, C. D. Garner, and T. J. King, unpublished results.

    Google Scholar 

  16. G. Christou and C. D. Garner, Synthesis and Proton Magnetic Resonance Properties of Fe3MS4 (M = Mo or W) Cubane-like Cluster Dimers, J. Chem. Soc. (Dalton), 2354 (1980).

    Google Scholar 

  17. T. E. Wolff, J. M. Berg, K. O. Hodgson, R. B. Frankel, and R. H. Holm, Synthetic Approaches to the Molybdenum Site in Nitrogenase. Preparation and Structural Properties of the Molybdenum-Iron-Sulfur “Double-Cubane” Cluster Complexes [Mo2Fe6S8(SC2H5)9]3- and [Mo2Fe6S9(SC2H5)8]3-, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 101:4140 (1979).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. T. E. Wolff, P. P. Power, R. B. Frankel, and R. H. Holm, Synthesis and Electronic and Redox Properties of “Double-Cubane” Cluster Complexes Containing MoFe3S4 and WFe3S4 Cores, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 102:4694 (1980).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. G. Christou, C. D. Garner, F. E. Mabbs and T. J. King, Crystal Structure of Tris(tetra-n-butylammonium) Tri-u-benzenethio-lato-bis{tri-}-sulfido-[μ3-sulfido-tris(benzenethiolatoiron) iron)]molybdenum, [Bu4N]3[{(PhSFe)3MoS4}2(SPh)3]; an Fe3MoS4 Cubic Cluster Dimer, J. Chem. Soc., Chem. Comm. 740 (1978).

    Google Scholar 

  20. G. Christou, C. D. Garner, F. E. Mabbs and M. G. B. Drew, Thiol Exchange Reactions of Iron-Molybdenum-Sulfur Clusters; Preparation and X-Ray Crystal Structure of [Et4N]3[Fe6Mo2S8 (SCH2CH2OH)9], a Water Soluble Iron-Molybdenum-Sulfur Cluster, J. Chem. Soc., Chem. Comm. 91 (1979).

    Google Scholar 

  21. S. R. Acott, G. Christou, C. D. Garner, T. J. King, F. E. Mabbs and R. M. Miller, Isolation and Crystal Structure of [Et4N]3[Fe6Mo2S8(SEt)9], Inorg. Chim. Acta 35:L337 (1979).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. G. Christou, C. D. Garner, T. J. King, C. E. Johnson, and J. D. Rush, Isolation and Characterization by X-Ray Crystallography and Mössbauer Measurements of [NEt4]3[Fe6W2S8(SPh)6 (OMe)3], and Iron-Tungsten-Cubic Cluster Dimer, J. C. S., Chem. Comm., 503 (1979).

    Google Scholar 

  23. C. D. Garner, S. R. Acott, G. Christou, D. Collison, F. E. Mabbs and R. M. Miller, Studies of Iron-Molybdenum-Sulfur Clusters, in: “Current Perspectives in Nitrogen Fixation,” A. H. Gibson and W. E. Newton, eds., Australian Academy of Science, Canberra, p. 40 (1981); G. Christou, C. D. Garner and T. J. King, unpublished results.

    Google Scholar 

  24. T. E. Wolff, J. M. Berg, C. Warrick, K. O. Hodgson, R. H. Holm and R. B. Frankel, The Molybdenum-Iron-Sulfur Cluster Complex [Mp2Fe6S9(SC2H5)8]3-. A Synthetic Approach to the Molybdenum Site in Nitrogenase, J. Am. Chenu Soc. 100:4630 (1978).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. T. E. Wolff, J. M. Berg, P. P. Power, K. O. Hodgson and R. H. Holm, Structural Characterization of the Iron-Bridged “Double Cubane” Cluster Complexes [Mo2Fe7S8(SC2H5)12]3-and [M2Fe7S8(SCH2C6H5)12]4- (M = Mo, W) Containing MFe3S4 Cores, Inorg. Chem. 19:430 (1980).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. T. E. Wolff, J. M. Berg, and R. H. Holm, Synthesis, Structure and Properties of the Cluster Complex [MoFe4S4(SC2H5)3 (C6H4O2)3]3-, Containing a Single Cubane-Type MoFe3S4 Core, Inorg. Chem. 20:174 (1981).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. G. Christou and C. D. Garner, Ligand Substitution Reactions of Iron-Molybdenum-Sulfur Cubane-like Cluster Dimers; Selective Halide Incorporation, J. Chem. Soc., Chem. Comm. 613 (1980)

    Google Scholar 

  28. Further investigations to those described in Ref. 19 have shown that this thiolate exchange proceeds only at the iron atoms.

    Google Scholar 

  29. L. Que Jr., M. A. Bobrik, J. A. Ibers, and R. H. Holm, Synthetic Analogs of the Active Sites of the Iron-Sulfur Proteins. VII. Ligand Substitution Reactions of the Tetranuclear Clusters [Fe4S4(SR)4]2- and the Structure of [(CH3)4N]2[Fe4S4(SC6H5)4], J. Am. Chem. Soc. 96:4168 (1974).

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. G. B. Wong, M. A. Bobrik, and R. H. Holm, Inorganic Derivatives of Iron Sulfide Thiolate Dimers and Tetramers: Synthesis and Properties of the Halide Series [Fe2S2X4]2- and [Fe4S4X4]2- (X = Cl, Br, I), Inorg. Chem. 17:578 (1978).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. J. R. Benemann, G. M. Smith, P. J. Kostel, and C. E. McKenna, Tungsten Incorporation into Azotobacter vinelandii Nitrogenase, FEBS Lett. 29:219 (1973).

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  32. H. H. Nagatani and W. J. Brill, Nitrogenase Vanadium. Effect of Molybdenum, Tungsten, and Vanadiun on the Synthesis of Nitrogenase Compounds in Azotobacter vinelandii, Biochim. Biophys. Acta 362:160 (1974).

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  33. G. Christou, C. D. Garner, R. M. Miller and T. J. King, Preparation and Crystal Structure of [NEt4]3[Fe6W2S8(SEt)9]; Structural and Electrochemical Comparisons with its Molybdenum Analogue, J. Inorg. Biochem. 11:349 (1979).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  34. R. D. Shannon and C. T. Prewitt, Effective Ionic Radii in Oxides and Fluorides, Acta Cryst. B25:925 (1969).

    Google Scholar 

  35. S. P. Cramer, K. O. Hodgson, W. O. Gillum and L. E. Mortenson, The Molybdenum Site of Nitrognease. Preliminary Structural Evidence from X-Ray Absorption Spectroscopy, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 100:3398 (1978).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  36. S. P. Cramer, W. O. Gillum, K. O. Hodgson, L. E. Mortenson, E. I. Stiefel, J. R. Chisnel, J. W. J. Brill, and V. K. Shah, The Molybdenum Site of Nitrogenase. 2. A Comparative Study of Mo-Fe Proteins with the Iron-Molybdenum Cofactor by X-Ray Absorption Spectroscopy, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 100:3814 (1978).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  37. B. K. Burgess, S.- S. Yang, C. B. You, J.- G. Li, G. D. Friesen, W.- H. Pan, E. I. Stiefel, W. E. Newton, S. D. Conradson, and K. O. Hodgson, Iron-Molybdenum Cofactor and its Complementary Protein from Azotobacter vinelandii UW 45 in: “Current Perspectives in Nitrogen Fixation,” A. H. Gibson and W. E. Newton, eds., Australian Academy of Science, Canberra, p. 71 (1981).

    Google Scholar 

  38. G. Christou, C. D. Garner, R. M. Miller, C. E. Johnson, and J. D. Rush, Mössbauer and Electrochemical Studies on Fe3MoS4 and Fe3WS4 Cubane-Like Cluster Dimers, J. Chem. Soc. (Dalton), 2364 (1980).

    Google Scholar 

  39. S. R. Acott, C. D. Garner, and C. J. Pickett, unpublished results.

    Google Scholar 

  40. M. W. W. Adams, K. K. Rao, D. O. Hall, G. Christou and C. D. Garner, Biological Activity of Synthetic Molybdenum-Iron-Sulfur, Iron-Sulfur and Iron-Selenium Analogues of Ferre-doxin-Type Centers, Biochim. Biophys. Acta 589:1 (1980).

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  41. G. Christou, R. V. Hagenan, and R. H. Holm, Hydrogen Evolution from Homogeneous Reaction Systems Containing Reduced Mo-Fe-S Clusters, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 102:7600 (1980).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  42. G. Christou, D. Collison, C. D. Garner, F. E. Mabbs, and V. Petrouleas, Spin-Exchange Interactions in Cubane-Like Cluster Dimers [NEt4]3[Fe6M2S8(SPh)6(OMe)3] (M = Mo or W), Inorg. Nucl. Chem. Letters 17:137 (1981).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  43. D. Collison, C. D. Garner, F. E. Mabbs and V. Petrouleas, unpublished results.

    Google Scholar 

  44. J. Rawlings, V. K. Shah, J. R. Chisnell, W. J. Brill, R. Zimmermann, E. Münck, and W. H. Orme-Johnson, Novel Metal Cluster in the Iron-Molybdenum Cofactor of Nitrogenase; Spectroscopic Evidence, J. Biol. Chem. 253:1001 (1978).

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  45. R. H. Holm and J. A. Ibers, Synthetic Analogues of the Active Sites of Iron-Sulfur Proteins in: “Iron-Sulfur Proteins,” W. Lovenberg, ed., Academic Press, New York, Vol. III, p. 206 (1977).

    Google Scholar 

  46. S. R. Acott, D. Collison, C. D. Garner and F. E. Mabbs, unpublished results.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 1983 Plenum Press, New York

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Garner, C.D. et al. (1983). Iron-Molybdenum-Sulfur Clusters. In: Müller, A., Newton, W.E. (eds) Nitrogen Fixation. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4684-8523-3_10

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4684-8523-3_10

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4684-8525-7

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4684-8523-3

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics