Mechanistic significance of the preparatory migration of hydrogen atoms around the FeMo-co active site of nitrogenase

The migration of H atoms over S and Fe atoms in the reaction domain of FeMo-co, the active site of nitrogenase is described and used to explain mechanistic data on the catalyzed reductions of [N.sub.2] and [C.sub.2][H.sub.2]. The positions of H atoms influence the binding of substrates [N.sub.2] and [C.sub.2][H.sub.2] and the bound substrate blocks further migration of H atoms past the binding site.