Stepwise and reversible assembly of 2Fe–2S rhombs to 8Fe–8S clusters and their topological interconversions

Abstract Among all enzymatic metallocofactors, those found in nitrogenases, the P and L or M clusters, stand out for their intricate structures. They are assembled by proteins of the Nif gene cluster from Fe 2 S 2 rhombs—the smallest building blocks in FeS cluster chemistry—through a sequence of reactions constructing a Fe 8 S 8 precursor. To advance our understanding of how enzymes selectively build such elaborate inorganic molecules, here we parallel the biosynthetic pathway by reporting the rational stepwise assembly of Fe 8 S 8 m+ ( m = 2, 4, 6) clusters from Fe 2 S 2 2+ rhombs within an extensive cyclic synthetic network. A Fe 8 S 8 4+ cluster of unique topology is identified, for which we coin the term ‘interlocked’ double cubane. As a molecular analogue of the NifB K cluster, a proposed precursor to both the P and L or M clusters, its preparation and the characterization of all related intermediates, offers fundamental insights into the molecular mechanisms governing the assembly of both biogenic and synthetic FeS clusters.