Protonation of an Oxo‐Bridged Diiron Unit Gives Two Different Iron Centers: Synthesis and Structure of a New Class of Diiron(III)‐μ‐hydroxo Bisporphyrins and the Control of Spin States by Using Counterions

Reported herein is a hitherto unknown family of diiron(III)‐μ‐hydroxo bisporphyrins in which two different spin states of Fe are stabilized in a single molecular framework, although both cores have identical molecular structures. Protonation of the oxo‐bridged dimer ( 2 ) by using strong Brønsted acids, such as HI, HBF₄, and HClO₄, produce red μ‐hydroxo complexes with I₃^? ( 3 ), BF₄^? ( 4 ), and ClO₄^? ( 5 ) counterions, respectively. The X‐ray structure of the molecule reveals that the Fe? O bond length increases on going from the μ‐oxo to the hydroxo complex, whereas the Fe‐O(H)‐Fe unit becomes more bent, which results in the smallest known Fe‐O(H)‐Fe angles of 142.5(2) and 141.2(1)° for 3 and 5 , respectively. In contrast, the Fe‐O(H)‐Fe angle remains unaltered in 4 from the corresponding μ‐oxo complex. The close approach of two rings in a molecule results in unequal core deformations in 3 and 4 , whereas the cores are deformed almost equally but to a lesser extent in 5 . Although 3 was found to have nearly high‐spin and admixed intermediate Fe spin states in cores I and II, respectively, two admixed intermediate spin states were observed in 4 . Even though the cores have identical chemical structures, crucial bond parameters, such as the Fe? N_p, Fe? O, and Fe???Ct_p bond lengths and the ring deformations, are all different between the two Fe^III centers in 3 and 4 , which leads to an eventual stabilization of two different spin states of Fe in each molecule. In contrast, the two Fe centers in 5 are equivalent and assigned to high and intermediate spin states in the solid and solution states, respectively. The spin states are thus found to be dependent on the counterions and can also be reversibly interconverted. Upon protonation, the strong antiferromagnetic coupling in the μ‐oxo dimer (J, ?126.6 cm^?1) is attenuated to almost zero in the μ‐hydroxo complex with the I₃^? counterion, whereas the values of J are ?36 and ?42 cm^?1, respectively, for complexes with BF₄^? and ClO₄^? counterions.     

A Unified Treatment of the Relationship Between Ligand Substituents and Spin State in a Family of Iron(II) Complexes

The influence of ligands on the spin state of a metal ion is of central importance for bioinorganic chemistry, and the production of base‐metal catalysts for synthesis applications. Complexes derived from [Fe(bpp)₂]²⁺ (bpp=2,6‐di{pyrazol‐1‐yl}pyridine) can be high‐spin, low‐spin, or spin‐crossover (SCO) active depending on the ligand substituents. Plots of the SCO midpoint temperature (T ) in solution vs. the relevant Hammett parameter show that the low‐spin state of the complex is stabilized by electron‐withdrawing pyridyl (“X”) substituents, but also by electron‐donating pyrazolyl (“Y”) substituents. Moreover, when a subset of complexes with halogeno X or Y substituents is considered, the two sets of compounds instead show identical trends of a small reduction in T for increasing substituent electronegativity. DFT calculations reproduce these disparate trends, which arise from competing influences of pyridyl and pyrazolyl ligand substituents on Fe‐L σ and π bonding.     

Low‐Spin Pseudotetrahedral Iron(I) Sites in Fe2(μ‐S) Complexes

Fe^I centers in iron–sulfide complexes have little precedent in synthetic chemistry despite a growing interest in the possible role of unusually low valent iron in metalloenzymes that feature iron–sulfur clusters. A series of three diiron [(L₃Fe)₂(μ‐S)] complexes that were isolated and characterized in the low‐valent oxidation states Fe^II? S? Fe^II, Fe^II? S? Fe^I, and Fe^I? S? Fe^I is described. This family of iron sulfides constitutes a unique redox series comprising three nearly isostructural but electronically distinct Fe₂(μ‐S) species. Combined structural, magnetic, and spectroscopic studies provided strong evidence that the pseudotetrahedral iron centers undergo a transition to low‐spin S=1/2 states upon reduction from Fe^II to Fe^I. The possibility of accessing low‐spin, pseudotetrahedral Fe^I sites compatible with S^2? as a ligand was previously unknown.     

A Strongly Spin‐Frustrated FeIII7 Complex with a Canted Intermediate Spin Ground State of S=7/2 or 9/2

A disk‐shaped [Fe^III₇(Cl)(MeOH)₆(μ₃‐O)₃(μ‐OMe)₆ (PhCO₂)₆]Cl₂ complex with C₃ symmetry has been synthesised and characterised. The central tetrahedral Fe^III is 0.733 Å above the almost co‐planar Fe^III₆ wheel, to which it is connected through three μ₃‐oxide bridges. For this iron‐oxo core, the magnetic susceptibility analysis proposed a Heisenberg–Dirac–van Vleck (HDvV) mechanism that leads to an intermediate spin ground state of S=7/2 or 9/2. Within either of these ground state manifolds it is reasonable to expect spin frustration effects. The ⁵⁷Fe Mössbauer (MS) analysis verifies that the central Fe^III ion easily aligns its magnetic moment antiparallel to the externally applied field direction, whereas the other six peripheral Fe^III ions keep their moments almost perpendicular to the field at stronger fields. This unusual canted spin structure reflects spin frustration. The small linewidths in the magnetic Mössbauer spectra of polycrystalline samples clearly suggest an isotropic exchange mechanism for realisation of this peculiar spin topology.     

Effect of Heme–Heme Interactions and Modulation of Metal Spins by Counter Anions in a Series of Diiron(III)‐μ‐hydroxo Bisporphyrins: Unusual Stabilization of Two Different Spins in a Single Molecular Framework

A new family of five ethene‐bridged diiron(III)‐μ‐hydroxo bisporphyrins with the same core structure but different counter anions, represented by the general formula [Fe₂(bisporphyrin)]OH ? X (X=counter anion), is reported herein. In these complexes, two different spin states of Fe are stabilized in a single molecular framework. Protonation of the oxo‐bridged dimer 1 by strong Brønsted acids such as HI, HBF₄, HPF₆, HSbF₆, and HClO₄ produces the μ‐hydroxo complexes with I₅^? ( 2 ), BF₄^? ( 3 ), PF₆^? ( 4 ), SbF₆^? ( 5 ), and ClO₄^? ( 6 ) as counter anions, respectively. The X‐ray structures of 2 and 6 have been determined, which provide a rare opportunity to investigate structural changes upon protonation. Spectroscopic characterization has revealed that the two iron(III) centers in 2 are nonequivalent with nearly high and admixed‐intermediate spins in both the solid state and solution. Moreover, the two different Fe^III centers of 3 – 5 are best described as having admixed‐high and admixed‐intermediate spins with variable contributions of S=5/2 and 3/2 for each state in the solid, but two different admixed‐intermediate spins in solution. In contrast, the two Fe^III centers in 6 are equivalent and are assigned as having high and intermediate spin states in the solid and solution, respectively. The X‐ray structures reveal that the Fe? O bond length increases on going from the μ‐oxo to the μ‐hydroxo complexes, and the Fe‐O(H)‐Fe unit becomes more bent, with the dihedral angle decreasing from 150.9(2)° in 1 to 142.3(3)° and 143.85(2)° in 2 and 6 , respectively. Variable‐temperature magnetic data have been subjected to a least‐squares fitting using the expressions derived from the spin Hamiltonians H=?2JS₁?S₂?μ?B+D[${S{{2\hfill \atop z\hfill}}}$ ?1/3S(S+1)] (for 2 , 3 , 4 , and 5 ) and H=?2JS₁?S₂ (for 6 ). The results show that strong antiferromagnetic coupling between the two Fe^III centers in 1 is attenuated to nearly zero (?2.4 cm^?1) in 2 , whereas the values are ?46, ?32.6, ?33.5, and ?34 cm^?1 for 3 , 4 , 5 , and 6 , respectively.     

Spin-State Variations of Iron(III) Complexes with Tetracarbene Macrocycles

Starting from their six-coordinate iron(II) precursor complexes [L^8RFe(MeCN)]²⁺, a series of iron(III) complexes of the known macrocyclic tetracarbene ligand L^8H and its new octamethylated derivative L^8Me, both providing four imidazol-2-yliden donors, were synthesized. Several five- and six-coordinate iron(III) complexes with different axial ligands (Cl⁻, OTf⁻, MeCN) were structurally characterized by X-ray diffraction and analyzed in detail with respect to their spin state variations, using a bouquet of spectroscopic methods (NMR, UV/Vis, EPR, and ⁵⁷Fe Mößbauer). Depending on the axial ligands, either low-spin (S=1/2) or intermediate-spin (S=3/2) states were observed, whereas high-spin (S=5/2) states were inaccessible because of the extremely strong in-plane σ-donor character of the macrocyclic tetracarbene ligands. These findings are reminiscent of the spin state patterns of topologically related ferric porphyrin complexes. The ring conformations and dynamics of the macrocyclic tetracarbene ligands in their iron(II), iron(III) and μ-oxo diiron(III) complexes were also studied.     

Unusual Stabilization of an Intermediate Spin State of Iron upon the Axial Phenoxide Coordination of a Diiron(III)–Bisporphyrin: Effect of Heme–Heme Interactions

The binding of a series of substituted phenols as axial ligands onto a diiron(III)? bisporphyrin framework have been investigated. Spectroscopic characterization revealed high‐spin states of the iron centers in all of the phenolate complexes, with one exception in the 2,4,6‐trinitrophenolate complex of diiron(III)? bisporphyrin, which only stabilized the pure intermediate‐spin (S=3/2) state of the iron centers. The average Fe? N (porphyrin) and Fe? O (phenol) distances that were observed with the 2,4,6‐trinitrophenolate complex were 1.972(3) Å and 2.000(2) Å, respectively, which are the shortest and longest distances reported so far for any Fe^III? porphyrin with phenoxide coordination. The alternating shift pattern, which shows opposite signs of the chemical shifts for the meta versus ortho/para protons, is attributed to negative and positive spin densities on the phenolate carbon atoms, respectively, and is indicative of π‐spin delocalization onto the bound phenolate. Electrochemical data reveals that the E_1/2 value for the Fe^III/Fe^II couple is positively shifted with increasing acidity of the phenol. However, a plot of the E_1/2 values for the Fe^III/Fe^II couple versus the pK_a values of the phenols shows a linear relationship for all of the complexes, except for the 2,4,6‐trinitrophenolate complex. The large deviation from linearity is probably due to the change of spin for the complex. Although 2,4,6‐trinitrophenol is the weakest axial ligand in the series, its similar binding with the corresponding Fe^III? monoporphyrin only results in stabilization of the high‐spin state. The porphyrin macrocycle in the 2,4,6‐trinitrophenolate complex of diiron(III)? bisporphyrin is the most distorted, whilst the “ruffling” deformation affects the energy levels of the iron d orbitals. The larger size and weaker binding of 2,4,6‐trinitrophenol, along with heme? heme interactions in the diiron(III)? bisporphyrin, are responsible for the larger ring deformations and eventual stabilization of the pure intermediate‐spin states of the iron centers in the complex.     

Mononuclear Nonheme High‐Spin (S=2) versus Intermediate‐Spin (S=1) Iron(IV)–Oxo Complexes in Oxidation Reactions

Mononuclear nonheme high‐spin (S=2) iron(IV)–oxo species have been identified as the key intermediates responsible for the C?H bond activation of organic substrates in nonheme iron enzymatic reactions. Herein we report that the C?H bond activation of hydrocarbons by a synthetic mononuclear nonheme high‐spin (S=2) iron(IV)–oxo complex occurs through an oxygen non‐rebound mechanism, as previously demonstrated in the C?H bond activation by nonheme intermediate (S=1) iron(IV)–oxo complexes. We also report that C?H bond activation is preferred over C=C epoxidation in the oxidation of cyclohexene by the nonheme high‐spin (HS) and intermediate‐spin (IS) iron(IV)–oxo complexes, whereas the C=C double bond epoxidation becomes a preferred pathway in the oxidation of deuterated cyclohexene by the nonheme HS and IS iron(IV)–oxo complexes. In the epoxidation of styrene derivatives, the HS and IS iron(IV) oxo complexes are found to have similar electrophilic characters.     

Spin Crossover,Polymorphism and Porosity to Liquid Solvent in Heteroleptic Iron(III) {Quinolylsalicylaldimine/Thiosemicarbazone‐Salicylaldimine} Complexes

Heteroleptic iron(III) complexes of formula [Fe(qsal)(thsa)]?solvent have been synthesized: [Fe(qsal)(thsa)]?0.4 BuOH ( 1 ), [Fe(qsal)(thsa)]?0.5 MeCN ( 2 ) and [Fe(qsal)(thsa)]?0.5 THF, ( 3 ). The latter two show partial solvent loss at room temperature to yield [Fe(qsal)(thsa)]?0.1 MeCN ( 2′ ) and [Fe(qsal)(thsa)]?0.1 THF ( 3′ ), respectively. This family maintains a structural integrity which is analogous over different degrees of solvation, a rare occurrence in discrete molecular species. Uniquely, removal of MeCN from compound 2 leads to retention of crystallinity yielding the isostructural, fully desolvated compound [Fe(qsal)(thsa)] ( 2′′ ) and a new high spin polymorph, 4 . To the best of our knowledge, this is the first compound that forms polymorphs through a desolvation process. The desolvated mixture, 2′′ and 4 , is porous and can reabsorb MeCN and give rise to 2′ again. This illustrates the reversible single‐crystal‐to‐single‐crystal transformation of two polymorphs back to a purely original phase, 2′′ + 4 ? 2′ . The structural, magnetic and M?ssbauer features of the various samples are described in terms of spin crossover.     

Cover Picture: Photo‐Induced Spin Transition of Iron(III) Compounds with π–π Intermolecular Interactions (Chem. Eur. J. 14/2009)

Introduction of strong intermolecular interactions leads to the observation of the LIESST effect even for iron(III) spin‐crossover (SCO) compounds. For LIESST iron(III) compounds, both stretching and bending modes are considered in the reaction coordinate diagram. The picture depicts the LIESST mechanism in the reaction coordinate diagram considering both stretching and bending modes for SCO iron(III) compounds. For more information see the Full Paper by S. Hayami, O. Sato et al. on page 3497 ff.

     

Spin Crossover in a Family of Iron(II) Complexes with Hexadentate ligands: Ligand Strain as a Factor Determining the Transition Temperature

This paper reports the synthesis of a family of mononuclear complexes [Fe(L)]X₂ (X=BF₄, PF₆, ClO₄) with hexadentate ligands L=Hpy-DAPP ({bis[N-(2-pyridylmethyl)-3-aminopropyl](2-pyridylmethyl)amine}), Hpy-EPPA ({[N-(2-pyridylmethyl)-3-aminopropyl][N-(2-pyridylmethyl)-2-aminoethyl](2-pyridylmethyl)amine}) and Hpy-DEPA ({bis[N-(2-pyridylmethyl)-2-aminoethyl](2-pyridylmethyl)amine}). The systematic change of the length of amino-aliphatic chains in these ligands results in chelate rings of different size: two six-membered rings for Hpy-DAPP, one five- and one six-membered rings for Hpy-EPPA, and two five-membered rings for Hpy-DEPA. The X-ray analysis of three low-spin complexes [Fe(L)](BF₄)₂ revealed similarities in their molecular and crystal structures. The magnetic measurements have shown that all synthesized complexes display spin-crossover behavior. The spin-transition temperature increases upon the change from six-membered to five-membered chelate rings, clearly demonstrating the role of the ligand strain. This effect does not depend on the nature of the counter ion. We discuss the structural features accountable for the strain effect on the spin-transition temperature.     

Spin Crossover and Valence Tautomerism in Neutral Homoleptic Iron Complexes of Bis(pyridylimino)isoindolines

Homoleptic iron complexes of six bis(pyridylimino)isoindoline (bpi) ligands with different substituents (H, Me, Et, tBu, OMe, NMe₂) at the 4‐positions of the pyridine moieties have been prepared and studied with regard to temperature‐dependent spin and redox states by a combination of ⁵⁷Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy, SQUID magnetometry, single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction analysis, X‐band EPR, and ¹H NMR spectroscopy. While the H‐, methyl‐, and ethyl‐substituted complexes remain in a pure high‐spin state irrespective of the temperature, the 4‐tert‐butyl‐substituted derivative shows spin‐crossover behavior. The methoxy‐ and dimethylamino‐substituted compounds were found to easily undergo oxidation. In the crystalline state, valence tautomeric behavior was observed for the methoxy derivative as a thermally activated charge‐transfer transition, accompanied by a spin crossover above 200 K. The valence tautomerism leads to a chelate with one of the bpi ligands as a dianion radical L^2?. and with an effective spin of S=2.     

Allylic Peroxidations with Bis(2‐pyridylimino)isoindolato‐Cobalt and ‐Iron Complexes

Several novel substituted bis(2‐pyridylimino)isoindolato (BPI) cobalt(II) and iron(II) complexes [M(BPI)(OAc)(H₂O)] (M = Co: 1 ‐ 6, Fe: 7) have been synthesized by reaction of bis(2‐pyridylimino)isoindole derivatives with the corresponding metal(II) acetates. Reaction of 1‐6 with 1.5 ‐ 2 molar equivalents of t‐BuOOH gave the corresponding alkylperoxocobalt(III) complexes [Co(BPI)(OAc)(OOtBu)] (10 ‐ 15). Using an aqueous solution of t‐BuOOH (70 %), cyclohexene was selectively catalytically oxidized to the dialkylperoxide cyclohex‐2‐ene‐1‐t‐butylperoxide.