Use of 1,10-phenanthroline in diiron dithiolate derivatives related to the [Fe-Fe] hydrogenase active site

Treatment of [Fe-2(mu-pdt)( CO) 6] (pdt = S(CH2)(3)S) with 1,10-phenanthroline (phen) in refluxing toluene affords the asymmetric complex [Fe-2(mu-pdt)(CO)(4)( phen)] (1); the protonation of 1 with HBF4 center dot OEt2 in CD2Cl2 at 203 K has been monitored by H-1 NMR.