Structure, reactivity, and spectroscopy of nitrogenase-related synthetic and biological clusters

The reduction of dinitrogen (N2) is essential for its incorporation into nucleic acids and amino acids, which are vital to life on earth. Nitrogenases convert atmospheric dinitrogen to two ammonia molecules (NH3) under ambient conditions. The catalytic active sites of these enzymes (known as FeM-cofactor clusters, where M = Mo, V, Fe) are the sites of N2 binding and activation and have been a source of great interest for chemists for decades. In this review, recent studies on nitrogenase-related synthetic molecular complexes and biological clusters are discussed, with a focus on their reactivity and spectroscopic characterization. The molecular models that are discussed span from simple mononuclear iron complexes to multinuclear iron complexes and heterometallic iron complexes. In addition, recent work on the extracted biological cofactors is discussed. An emphasis is placed on how these studies have contributed towards our understanding of the electronic structure and mechanism of nitrogenases.