Roussin's red salt

Roussin's Red Salt
Names
IUPAC name
potassium tetranitrosyl-di-μ-sulfidodiiron(Fe–Fe)(2–)
Other names
Ferrate(2-), tetranitrosyldi-mu-thioxodi-, (Fe-Fe), dipotassium
Identifiers
58204-17-4
Properties
Fe2N4K2O4S2
Molar mass 374.04 g/mol
Appearance Dark red crystals
Except where noted otherwise, data is given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C (77 °F), 100 kPa)
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Infobox references

Roussin’s Red Salt is the inorganic compound with the formula K2[Fe2S2(NO)4]. This metal nitrosyl was first described by Zacharie Roussin in 1858, making it the first synthetic iron-sulfur cluster.[1][2]

Structure and bonding

Roussin's red salt anion is an edge-shared bitetrahedron, wherein a pair Fe(NO)2 units are bridged by a pair of sulfide ligands. The Fe-NO bonds are linear indicating NO is acting as a three electron donor.[3] The diamagnetic compound obeys the 18-electron rule. The dark red colour of the complex is attributed to a number of charge-transfer interactions between the iron core and nitrosyl ligands.[4]

Synthesis

The French chemist M. L. Roussin first prepared this salt while investigating reactions between nitroprusside ion ([Fe(CN)5NO]2−) and sulfur.[5] The salt can be prepared by the reaction of sulfide salts with iron nitrosyl halides:[6]

Fe2I2(NO)4 + 2Li2S → Li2Fe2S2(NO)4 + 2LiI

To obtain the "esters", the salt is alkylated:

Li2Fe2S2(NO)4 + 2 RX → Fe2(SR)2(NO)4 + 2 LiX

Esters can also be easily be prepared from the reaction of Fe2I2(NO)4 with the thiol.

Occurrence and potential applications

It is found in nature as its “esters" with the formula Fe2(SR)2(NO)4, where "R" is any alkyl group [1]. In addition Roussin’s red salt is discussed in the fields of microbiology and food science due to its mutagenic properties.[7]

The ester derivative are being investigated as a nitric oxide donors in biology and medicine. Due to the relatively low toxicity and good stability Roussin’s red salt. Photolysis of the compound induces the release of NO, thereby sensitizing target cells to exposure to radiation [2].

See also

References

  1. ↑ Butler, Anthony R. (July 1982). "The chemist Z. Roussin (1827-94)". Journal of Chemical Education 59 (7): 549. doi:10.1021/ed059p549.
  2. ↑ Roussin, M. L. (1858). "Recherches sur les nitrosulfures doubles de fer (nouvelle classe de sels)". Ann. Chim. Phys. 52: 285–303.
  3. ↑ Thomas, J. T.; Robertson, J. H.; Cox, E. G. (1 September 1958). "The crystal structure of Roussin's red ethyl ester". Acta Crystallographica 11 (9): 599–604. doi:10.1107/S0365110X58001602.
  4. ↑ Jaworska, Maria; Stasicka, Zofia (2005). "Structure and UV-Vis spectroscopy of the iron-sulfur dinuclear nitrosyl complexes [Fe2S2(NO)4]2- and [Fe2(SR)2(NO)4]". New Journal of Chemistry 29 (4): 604. doi:10.1039/B409519G.
  5. ↑ Hans Reihlen, Adolf v. Friedolsheim (1927). "Über komplexe Stickoxydverbindungen und das sogenannte einwertige Eisen". Justus Liebigs Annalen der Chemie 457: 71. doi:10.1002/jlac.19274570103.
  6. ↑ TB Rauchfuss; TD Weatherill (1982). "Roussin's Red Salt revisited: reactivity of Fe2 (μ-E) 2 (NO) 42-(E= S, Se, Te) and related". Inorganic Chemistry 21 (2): 827–830. doi:10.1021/ic00132a071.
  7. ↑ Greenwood, N. N.; & Earnshaw, A. (1997). Chemistry of the Elements (2nd Edn.), Oxford:Butterworth-Heinemann. ISBN 0-7506-3365-4.