Exchange and Delocalization Effects in [Fe6S6]2+ Superclusters

A theoretical study of Heisenberg exchange and double exchange (delocalization) effects in the iron-sulphur supercluster is presented. Such clusters can play important role in biological systems (proteins and enzymes) acting as so-called active centres. The cluster with valence 2+ can be modelled by two Fe(III) and four Fe(II) ions. An idealized structure of double cubane has been considered instead of a more realistic defected double cubane structure of lower symmetry. Energies of the lowest spin states have been calculated numerically depending on the Heisenberg exchange J i and double exchange b parameters. Possible spin ground states (S=0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5) have been predicted. The ground state of a given total spin Sis usually achieved for the intermediate spin value of S56=4 in the case of fully antiferromagnetic as well as partially ferromagnetic spin interactions. In the case of no double exchange, the ground state with the total spin S=3 should always be observed, while a nonzero hopping effect results in narrowing a parameter region of the ground state. If the double exchange is taken into account, then the spin values depend on the Heisenberg integrals. The model results can be applied in order to interpret many structural and magnetic properties of proteins and enzymes possessing the Fe-S active centres.