Synthesis and Properties of Metal-Sulfur Clusters Consisting of Multiple Components

N2和CO的生物转化分别由称为固氮酶和CO-脱氢酶的金属酶介导。它们的活性中心由硫、铁和另一种过渡金属组成，其复杂的结构一直是具有挑战性的合成目标。在本研究项目中，我们开发了在非极性有机溶剂中Fe/S/O和V/Fe/S簇合物的新合成反应。该项目的重要成果之一是合成了模拟固氮酶活性位点的[Fe_8 S_6 O]簇合物。其中心氧原子的成键方式为我们了解酶活性中心的作用机制提供了线索。还应注意的是[VFe 3S 4-Fe]簇的合成，其在结构上与CO-脱氢酶的活性位点相关。

Biological transformations of N2 and CO are mediated by the metallo-enzymes called nitrogenase and CO-dehydrogenase, respectively. Their active sites consist of sulfur, iron, and another transition metal, and their complex structures have been challenging synthetic targets. In this research project, we developed new synthetic reactions for Fe/S/O and V/Fe/S clusters in non-polar organic solvents. One of the important outcomes of this project is the synthesis of the [Fe8S6O] cluster which mimics the active site of nitrogenase. The bonding mode of its central oxygen atom gave us a clue to understand how the enzymatic active site works. Also to be noted is the synthesis of [VFe3S4-Fe] cluster which is structurally relevant to the active site of CO-dehydrogenase.