image:Roussins black salt from crystallographic coordinates.tif|thumb|right|Structure of the hydrated ammonium salt of [Fe4S3(NO)7]−. Synthetic Fe–S clusters are laboratory-prepared coordination compounds or chains, often designed to mimic the structural, electronic, or chemical properties of biological Fe–S clusters.
Roussin's black anion, [Fe4S3(NO)7]−, described in 1858, is the first synthetic Fe-S cluster. It has the geometry of an incomplete
cubane-type cluster with
C3v symmetry. The dark color of the complex is attributed to a number of
charge-transfer interactions. Since the 1970s, many of these Fe-S clusters have been described. A key property of Fe–S clusters is their ability to undergo redox.
Organometallic clusters Organometallic Fe–S clusters include the sulfido carbonyls with the formula Fe2S2(CO)6, H2Fe3S(CO)9, and Fe3S2(CO)9. Compounds are also known that incorporate
cyclopentadienyl ligands, such as (C5H5)4Fe4S4. Image:FeS.png|thumb|center|600px|
Figure. Illustrative synthetic Fe–S clusters. From left to right: Fe3S2(CO)9, [Fe3S(CO)9]2−, (C5H5)4Fe4S4, and [Fe4S4Cl4]2−.
Inorganic materials , which features infinite chains of Fe(III) centers.
In maquettes and artificial proteins It is possible to incorporate Fe–S clusters into maquettes (smaller minimal functional proteins designed from biological proteins) and artificial proteins, often abbreviated to MAPs. The first examples of Fe–S MAPs emerged in the early 1970s, as a means to mimic naturally occurring iron-containing proteins like
rubredoxins. These contained [Fe(S-Cys)4] motifs. ==See also==