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Title: Chemical evolution of a nitrogenase model. X. Reduction of coordinated cyanide ion in cyano complexes of molybdenum(IV) and their use as catalysts for the reduction of molecular nitrogen and of other substrates

Journal Article · · J. Am. Chem. Soc., v. 97, no. 24, pp. 7069-7076
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/ja00857a018· OSTI ID:4130101

The complex anions [Mo(O)$sub 2$(CN)$sub 4$$]$$sup 4-$ (1), [MO(O)(OH)(CN)$sub 4$$]$$sup 3-$ (2), and [Mo(O)(H$sub 2$O)(CN)$sub 4$$]$$sup 2-$ (3) represent rare examples of defined monomeric complexes of oxomolybdate(IV) and may be regarded as models of substrate-catalyst complexes in the reduction of CN$sup -$ by molybdothiol catalyst systems. The reduction of coordinated CN$sup - $ in 3 to NH$sub 3$, CH$sub 4$, C$sub 2$$H$$sub 6$, and C$sub 2$$H$$sub 4$ was demonstrated with BH$sub 4$$sup -$, S$sub 2$$O$$sub 4$$sup 2-$, and reduced ferredoxin model compounds as reducing agents. Evidence for a significant stimulatory effect of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) was also obtained. The reduction of coordinated CN$sup -$ is inhibited by O$sub 2$, CO, and the known substrates of nitrogenase enzymes. The latter are reduced under the reaction conditions, involving coordinatively unsaturated cyano complexes of oxomolybdate(IV) as the catalysts. The reduction of molecular N$sub 2$ to NH$sub 3$ and traces of N$sub 2$$H$$sub 4$ was also observed and proceeds more efficiently than in the molybdothiol model systems of nitrogenase. ATP causes a significant stimulation of CN$sup -$ reduction in H$sub 2$O, but not in D$sub 2$O. (auth)

Research Organization:
Univ. of California, San Diego
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE
NSA Number:
NSA-33-014281
OSTI ID:
4130101
Journal Information:
J. Am. Chem. Soc., v. 97, no. 24, pp. 7069-7076, Other Information: Orig. Receipt Date: 30-JUN-76
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English