Iron(III) complexes of certain tetradentate phenolate ligands as functional models for catechol dioxygenases

Catechol 1,2-dioxygenase (CTD) and protocatechuate 3,4-dioxygenase (PCD) are bacterial non-heme iron enzymes, which catalyse the oxidative cleavage of catechols tocis, cis-muconic acids with the incorporation of molecular oxygen via a mechanism involving a high-spin ferric centre. The iron(III) complexes of tripodal phenolate ligands containing N₃O and N₂O₂ donor sets represent the metal binding region of the iron proteins. In our laboratory iron(III) complexes of mono- and bisphenolate ligands have been studied successfully as structural and functional models for the intradiol-cleaving catechol dioxygenase enzymes. The single crystal X-ray crystal structures of four of the complexes have been determined. One of thebis-phenolato complexes contains a FeN₂O₂Cl chromophore with a novel trigonal bipyramidal coordination geometry. The Fe-O-C bond angle of 136.1‡ observed for one of the iron(III) complex of a monophenolate ligand is very similar to that in the enzymes. The importance of the nearby sterically demanding coordinated -NMe₂ group has been established and implies similar stereochemical constraints from the other ligated amino acid moieties in the 3,4-PCD enzymes, the enzyme activity of which is traced to the difference in the equatorial and axial Fe-O(tyrosinate) bonds (Fe-O-C, 133, 148‡). The nature of heterocyclic rings of the ligands and the methyl substituents on them regulate the electronic spectral features, Fe^III/Fe^II redox potentials and catechol cleavage activity of the complexes. Upon interacting with catecholate anions, two catecholate to iron(III) charge transfer bands appear and the low energy band is similar to that of catechol dioxygenase-substrate complex. Four of the complexes catalyze the oxidative cleavage of H₂DBC by molecular oxygen to yield intradiol cleavage products. Remarkably, the more basic N-methylimidazole ring in one of the complexes facilitates the rate-determining productreleasing phase of the catalytic reaction. The present study provides support to the novel substrate activation mechanism proposed for the intradiol-cleavage enzymes.     

Iron(III)-catecholato complexes as structural and functional models of the intradiol-cleaving catechol dioxygenases

The structural and spectroscopic characterization of mononuclear iron(III)-catecholato complexes of ligand L4 (methyl bis(1-methylimidazol-2-yl)(2-hydroxyphenyl)methyl ether, HL4) are described, which closely mimic the enzyme-substrate complex of the intradiol-cleaving catechol dioxygenases. The tridentate, tripodal monoanionic ligand framework of L4 incorporates one phenolato and two imidazole donor groups and thus well reproduces the His2Tyr endogenous donor set. In fact, regarding the structural features of [FeIII(L4)(tcc)(H2O)] (5.H2O, tcc = tetrachlorocatechol) in the solid state, the complex constitutes the closest structural model reported to date. The iron(III)-catecholato complexes mimic both the structural features of the active site and its spectroscopic characteristics. As part of its spectroscopic characterization, the electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectra were successfully simulated using a simple model that accounts for D strain. The simulation procedure showed that the observed g = 4.3 line is an intrinsic part of the EPR envelope of the studied complexes and should not necessarily be attributed to a highly rhombic impurity. [FeIII(L4)(dtbc)(H2O)] (dtbc = 3,5-di-tert-butylcatechol) was studied with respect to its dioxygen reactivity, and oxidative cleavage of the substrate was observed. Intradiol- and extradiol-type cleavage products were found in roughly equal amounts. This shows that an accurate structural model of the first-coordination sphere of the active site is not sufficient for obtaining regioselectivity.     

Iron(III) complexes with a tripodal N3O ligand containing an internal base as a model for catechol intradiol-cleaving dioxygenases

A bis(mu-alkoxo)-bridged dinuclear iron(III) complex [Fe(L)(NO3)]2(NO3)2 [1; HL = N,N-bis(2-pyridylmethyl)-N-(2-hydroxyethyl)amine] of the tripodal N3O ligand was prepared as a biomimetic model for the intradiol-cleaving dioxygenase enzymes. The reaction of 1 and catechol in the presence of excess triethylamine gave the catecholate (CAT) chelate bis(mu-alkoxo)-bridged dinuclear iron(III) complex [Fe(L)(CAT)]2 (2). The molecular structures of complexes 1 and 2 were determined by X-ray crystallography. Diiron complexes 1 and 2 contain the same bis(mu-alkoxo)diiron diamond core. All heteroatoms (N3O) of the ligand are coordinated to the iron center in complex 1 with two pyridine nitrogen atoms on the axial bonds, while one of the pyridyl arms of the ligand is left uncoordinated in complex 2. The interaction of the diiron complex 1 and 3,5-di-tert-butylcatechol (H2DBC) was investigated by electronic and mass spectroscopy. Complex 1 displays the intradiol-cleaving dioxygenase activity, and the coordinate ethoxyl arm of the ligand is capable of accepting the proton from catechol, which mimics the function of Tyr447 in the protocatechuate 3,4-dioxygenase as an internal base. The spectrophotometric titration experiment indicates the relatively low demand of the external base (0.8 equiv based on Fe(3+)) for attaining the highest dioxygenase activity of complex 1. The reaction rate of the reactive intermediate [Fe(HL)(DBC)]+ with dioxygen is 0.38 M(-1) s(-1) determined by kinetic studies.     

Rhodium complexes bearing tetradentate diamine-bis(phenolate) ligands

Using tetradentate, dianionic ligands, several new rhodium complexes have been prepared. Some of these diamine-bis(phenolate) compounds, are active for C-H activation of benzene. These complexes are air and thermally stable. All four complexes were characterized by X-ray diffraction.     

Four copper(II) complexes with potentially tetradentate tripodal ligands

The four title Cu^II compounds are chloro­[(2‐furyl­methyl)­bis(2‐pyridyl­methyl)­amine‐N,N′,N′′]copper(II) perchlorate, [CuCl(C₁₇H₁₇N₃O)]ClO₄, (I), chloro{2‐[bis(2‐pyridyl­methyl)­amino]­ethano­lato‐N,N′,N′′,O}­copper(II) hemi­[tetra­chloro­copper(II)], [CuCl(C₁₄H₁₇N₃O)][CuCl₄]_1/2, (II), chloro­[(2‐morpholino­ethyl)­bis(2‐pyridyl­methyl)­amine‐N,N′,N′′,N′′′]copper(II) perchlorate, [CuCl(C₁₈H₂₄N₄O)]ClO₄, (III), and chloro­[(2‐piperidinyl­ethyl)­bis(2‐pyridyl­methyl)­amine‐N,N′,N′′,N′′′]­copper(II) hexa­fluoro­phosphate, [CuCl(C₁₉H₂₆N₄)]­PF₆, (IV). They have tripodal potentially tetradentate ligands. In (I), the O atom of the furan moiety weakly coordinates to the Cu atom at a distance of 2.750 (3) Å.     

Non-heme iron(II) complexes containing tripodal tetradentate nitrogen ligands and their application in alkane oxidation catalysis

A series of iron(II) bis(triflate) complexes containing tripodal tetradentate nitrogen ligands with pyridine and dimethylamine donors of the type [N(CH(2)Pyr)(3-n)()(CH(2)CH(2)NMe(2))(n)] [n = 0 (tpa, 1), n = 1 (iso-bpmen, 3), n = 2 (Me(4)-benpa, 4), n = 3 (Me(6)-tren, 5)] and the linear tetradentate ligand [(CH(2)Pyr)MeN(CH(2)CH(2))NMe(CH(2)Pyr), (bpmen, 2)] has been prepared. The preferred coordination geometry of these complexes in the solid state and in CH(2)Cl(2) solution changes from six- to five-coordinate in the order from 1 to 5. In acetonitrile, the triflate ligands of all complexes are readily displaced by acetonitrile ligands. The complex [Fe(1)(CH(3)CN)(2)](2+) is essentially low spin at room temperature, whereas ligands with fewer pyridine donors increase the preference for high-spin Fe(II). Both the number of pyridine donors and the spin state of the metal center strongly affect the intensity of a characteristic MLCT band around 400 nm. The catalytic properties of the complexes for the oxidation of alkanes have been evaluated, using cyclohexane as the substrate. Complexes containing ligands 1-3 are more active and selective catalysts, possibly operating via a metal-based oxidation mechanism, whereas complexes containing ligands 4 and 5 give rise to Fenton-type chemistry.     

Aggregation control by homologous tripodal tetradentate amino acid ligands in oxo-bridged diiron(III) aquo complexes

Isoelectronic oxo-bridged diiron(III) aquo complexes of the homologous tripodal tetradentate amino acid ligands, N,N'-bis(2-pyridylmethyl)-3-aminoacetate (bpg(-)) and N,N'-bis(2-pyridylmethyl)-3-aminopropionate (bpp(-)), containing [(H(2)O)Fe(III)-(mu-O)-Fe(III)(H(2)O)](4+) cores, oligomerise, respectively, by dehydration and deprotonation, or by dehydration only, in reversible reactions. In the solid state, [Fe(2)(O)(bpp)(2)(H(2)O)(2)](ClO(4))(2) (1(ClO(4))(2)) exhibits stereochemistry identical to that of [Fe(2)(O)(bpg)(2)(H(2)O)(2)](ClO(4))(2) (2(ClO(4))(2)), with the ligand carboxylate donor oxygen atoms and the water molecules located cis to the oxo bridge and the tertiary amine group trans to it. Despite their structural similarity, 1(2+) and 2(2+) display markedly different aggregation behaviour in solution. In the absence of significant water, 1(2+) dehydrates and dimerises to give the tetranuclear complex, [Fe(4)(O)(2)(bpp)(4)](ClO(4))(4) (3(ClO(4))(4)), in which the carboxylate groups of the four bpp(-) ligands act as bridging groups between two [Fe(2)(O)(bpp)(2)](2+) units. Under similar conditions, 2(2+) dehydrates and deprotonates to form dinuclear and trinuclear oligomers, [Fe(2)(O)(OH)(bpg)(2)](ClO(4)) (4ClO(4)) and [Fe(3)(O)(2)(OH)(bpg)(3)](ClO(4)) (5(ClO(4))), related by addition of 'Fe(O)(bpg)' units. The trinuclear 5(ClO(4)), characterised crystallographically as two solvates 5(ClO(4)).3H(2)O and 5(ClO(4)).2MeOH, is based on a hexagonal [Fe(3)(O)(2)(OH)(bpg)(3)](+) unit, formally containing one hydroxo and two oxo bridges. The different aggregation behaviour of 1(ClO(4))(2) and 2(ClO(4))(2) results from the difference of one methylene group in the pendant carboxylate arms of the amino acid ligands.     

New functional model complexes of intradiol-cleaving catechol dioxygenases: properties and reactivity of CuII(L)(O2Ncat)

Complexes Cu(O2Ncat)(tbeda) (1) and Cu(O2Ncat)(tmeda) (2) (tbeda = N,N,N',N'-tetrabenzylethylenediamine, tmeda=N,N,N',N'-tetramethylethylenenediamine, O2NcatH2=4-nitrocatechol) have been prepared by the reaction of copper(II) perchlorate with 4-nitrocatechol in the presence of triethylamine and the appropriate bidentate ligand. These compounds represent structural and functional model systems for the copper-containing catechol 1,2-dioxygenase. Both complexes have been structurally characterized by X-ray crystallography and by UV-vis, IR, and EPR spectroscopies. Upon protonation of 1 and 2 with perchloric acid, the bidentate coordination of O2Ncat could be reversible converted to the monodentate coordination of O2NcatH. The equilibrium constants were found to be 4200 and 3500, respectively, by measuring the UV-vis spectra in DMF. Back-titration with morpholine proved the reversibility of both reactions. Kinetic data on the oxygenation of 1 and 2 revealed overall second-order rate equations with kinetic parameters: ktbeda=(4.63+/-0.23)x10(-2) mol-1 dm3 s-1, DeltaH=51+/-6 kJ mol-1, DeltaS=-137+/-16 J mol-1 K-1; ktmeda=(0.89+/-0.23) mol-1 dm3 s-1, DeltaH=85+/-7 kJ mol-1, DeltaS=-57+/-19 J mol-1 K-1 at 365.16 K. Oxygenation of 1, 2, and [Cu(O2NcatH)(L)]ClO4 (L=tbeda, tmeda) in DMF solution at ambient conditions gives the corresponding intradiol ring-cleaved (2-nitro-muconato)copper(II) complexes. These data support the assumption that the reaction of the differently coordinated catecholate ligand with dioxygen shows only 1,2-dioxygenase activity.     

Structure and C-C cross-coupling reactivity of iron(III) complexes of halogenated amine-bis(phenolate) ligands

The preparation of tetradentate amine-bis(phenol) proligands with dichloro and difluoro substituted phenol groups and their reaction with FeX₃ (X = Cl or Br) is described. The compounds, 2-pyridylamino-N,N-bis(2-methylene-4,6-dichlorophenol), H₂[L₁]; 2-pyridylamino-N,N-bis(2-methylene-4,6-difluorophenol), H₂[L₂]; dimethylaminoethylamino-N,N-bis(2-methylene-4,6-dichlorophenol), H₂[L₃]; 2-tetrahydrofurfuryl-N,N-bis(2-methylene-4,6-dichlorophenol), H₂[L₄]; and methoxyethylamino-N,N-bis(2-methylene-4,6-dichlorophenol), H₂[L₅] were prepared in aqueous medium and obtained as white powders in good to excellent yield. Ten new iron(III) halide complexes supported by these tetradentate ligands are reported. Representative single crystal X-ray diffraction structures were obtained for H₂[L₁] and a water adduct of the iron(III) complex, aquachloro{2-pyridylamino-N,N-bis(2-methylene-4,6-dichlorophenolato)}iron(III), 2·H₂O. The structure of the proligand H₂[L₁] shows intramolecular hydrogen bonding. In the solid-state structure, the iron complex exhibits intermolecular hydrogen bonding between the water ligand and the phenolate oxygen of a neighbouring complex. The anhydrous complexes were studied for catalytic activity towards C-C cross-coupling of Grignard reagent nucleophiles with alkyl halide electrophiles.     

Structural diversity of indium complexes containing a tetradentate (OSSO)-type bis(phenolate) ligand

Indium bis(phenolato) complexes [{In(CH₃)₂(THF)}₂(L)] (L = 1,4-dithiabutanediylbis(4,6-di-tert-butylphenolato) (etbbp), 2) and [In(cytp)(CH₃)]₂ (L = (1,2-cyclohexanediyldithio)-2,2′-diphenolato (rac-cytp), 3) were prepared from [In(CH₃)₃] and the tetradentate 1,2-dithiaalkanediyl-bridged bis(phenol) LH₂. The nature of the ligand bridging two indium centers was shown by X-ray diffraction studies of the complex [{In(CH₃)₂(THF)}₂(etbbp)] (2) that was synthesized from complex [In(etbbp)(CH₃)(THF)_n] (1) by reaction with a second equivalent of [In(CH₃)₃]. A related ligand without bulky substituents on the aromatic rings leads to the dimeric compound [In(cytp)(CH₃)]₂ (3) with distorted octahedral configuration in the solid state. It was converted into the cation [In(cytp)]⁺ by methyl abstraction with [B(C₆F₅)₃].     

Titanium complexes with sulfur‐linked bis(phenolate) ligands

High‐quality crystals of two bis(phenolate)titanium complexes, namely dichlorido{4,4′‐dimethyl‐2,2′‐[cyclohexane‐1,2‐diylbis(sulfanediyl)]diphenolato}titanium(IV), [Ti(C₂₀H₂₂O₂S₂)Cl₂], (I), and dichlorido{2,2′‐[cyclohexane‐1,2‐diylbis(sulfanediyl)]diphenolato}titanium(IV), [Ti(C₁₈H₁₈O₂S₂)Cl₂], (II), were obtained by reactive crystallization. Depending on the solvent, compound (II) was obtained as unsolvated (IIa) or as the toluene hemisolvate, [Ti(C₁₈H₁₈O₂S₂)Cl₂]·0.5C₇H₈, (IIb). These systems without bulky substituents on the aromatic phenolate rings serve as ideal model compounds for precatalysts. The excellent X‐ray diffraction data will help clarify the nature of the mismatched interactions between the soft S atoms within the ligand and the hard titanium center. Molecule (I) has crystallographic C₂ symmetry.     

Oxygenative cleavage of catechols including protocatechuic acid with molecular oxygen in water catalysed by water-soluble non-heme iron(III) complexes in relevance to catechol dioxygenases

Catechol dioxygenase model oxygenations have been performed for the first time in water by using water-soluble nonheme iron(III) complexes, enabling the oxygenation of protocatechuic acid and other catechols.     

Synthesis and characterization of picolinate-containing nickel(II) complexes with tridentate and tripodal tetradentate ligands

Two picolinate-containing nickel(II) complexes [Ni(bbma)(pic)(H₂O)]ClO₄ · CH₃OH (1) and [Ni(ntb)(pic)]Cl · CH₃OH · 3H₂O (2) were synthesized and characterized by infrared, elemental analysis, UV-Vis, and X-ray diffraction analyses, where bbma is bis(benzimidazol-2-yl-methyl)amine, ntb is tris(2-benzimidazolylmethyl)amine, pic is the anion of picolinic acid. X-ray analysis shows that both complexes are mononuclear with picolinate coordinated to Ni(II) in a μ₂-N,O chelating mode. Both complexes adopt distorted octahedral geometry. Intermolecular N–H ··· O and O–H ··· O hydrogen bonds and π–π interactions in 1 and 2 are important in stabilization of the crystal structures.     

Aerobic oxidation reactions catalyzed by vanadium complexes of bis(phenolate) ligands

Vanadium(V) complexes of the tridentate bis(phenolate)pyridine ligand H(2)BPP (H(2)BPP = 2,6-(HOC(6)H(2)-2,4-(t)Bu(2))(2)NC(5)H(3)) and the bis(phenolate)amine ligand H(2)BPA (H(2)BPA = N,N-bis(2-hydroxy-4,5-dimethylbenzyl)propylamine) have been synthesized and characterized. The ability of the complexes to mediate the oxidative C-C bond cleavage of pinacol was tested. Reaction of the complex (BPP)V(V)(O)(O(i)Pr) (4) with pinacol afforded the monomeric vanadium(IV) product (BPP)V(IV)(O)(HO(i)Pr) (6) and acetone. Vanadium(IV) complex 6 was oxidized rapidly by air at room temperature in the presence of NEt(3), yielding the vanadium(V) cis-dioxo complex [(BPP)V(V)(O)(2)]HNEt(3). Complex (BPA)V(V)(O)(O(i)Pr) (5) reacted with pinacol at room temperature, to afford acetone and the vanadium(IV) dimer [(BPA)V(IV)(O)(HO(i)Pr)](2). Complexes 4 and 5 were evaluated as catalysts for the aerobic oxidation of 4-methoxybenzyl alcohol and arylglycerol β-aryl ether lignin model compounds. Although both 4 and 5 catalyzed the aerobic oxidation of 4-methoxybenzyl alcohol, complex 4 was found to be a more active and robust catalyst for oxidation of the lignin model compounds. The catalytic activities and selectivities of the bis(phenolate) complexes are compared to previously reported catalysts.     

Blue electrophosphorescent organoplatinum(II) complexes with dianionic tetradentate bis(carbene) ligands

Robust charge-neutral Pt(II) complexes containing dianionic tetradentate bis(N-heterocyclic carbene) ligands exhibit intense blue phosphorescence in fluid solutions and in polymer films, and have been vacuum-deposited as a phosphorescent dopant in organic blue-light-emitting diodes.     

Stability and acidity constants for ternary ligand-zinc-hydroxo complexes of tetradentate tripodal ligands

Four series of tetradentate tripodal ligands containing pyridyl, 2-imidazolyl, 4-imidazolyl, amino, and/or carboxylic groups were synthesized as hydrolytic zinc enzyme models in order to elucidate the effect of various coordination environments on zinc binding and the acidity of zinc-bound water. In aqueous solution, ligands with same charges showed a good correlation between zinc binding (log K(ZnL)) and zinc-bound water acidity (pK(a) of LZnOH(2)); the stronger the zinc binding, the higher the pK(a). The zinc-bound water acidity decreased as pyridyl groups were replaced by carboxylate groups. However, exchanging amino groups for carboxylate groups gave no change in zinc-bound water acidity regardless of the charge of the atoms in the inner coordination sphere of the metal ion. The results are consistent with the conventional notion that negatively charged carboxylate groups inherently increase zinc binding and result in decreasing zinc-bound water acidity, but also suggest that environmental effects may modulate or dominate control of acidity.     

Synthesis of facial cyclometalated iridium(III) complexes triggered by tripodal ligands

The tripodal ligands composed of the 1,3,5-trisubstituted cyclohexyl moiety as a molecular scaffold and 2-phenylpyridyl moieties as a coordination site were designed. The homoleptic cyclometalated fac-Ir(C^N)(3) complexes could be obtained by the reaction of IrCl(3)·nH(2)O with the designed tripodal ligands. The single crystal X-ray structure determination confirmed the fac configuration and a distorted octahedral geometry with three intramolecular cyclometalated 2-phenylpyridyl ligands surrounding the iridium metal center. Also, the cyclohexyl scaffold was found to serve as a flexible scaffold to induce the fac configuration. The thus-obtained homoleptic cyclometalated fac-Ir(C^N)(3) complexes exhibited a broad emission band in the emission spectra at 298 K.     

Gaseous iron(II) and iron(III) complexes with BINOLate ligands

Electrospray ionization (ESI) of dilute solutions of 1,1'-bi-2-naphthol (BINOL) and iron(II) or iron(III) sulfate in methanol/water allows the generation of monocationic complexes of iron and deprotonated BINOL ligands with additional methanol molecules in the coordination sphere, and the types of complexes formed can be controlled by the valence of the iron precursors used in ESI. Thus, iron(II) sulfate leads to [(BINOLate)Fe(CH3OH)n]+ complexes (n=0-3), whereas usage of iron(III) sulfate allows the generation of [(BINOLdiate)-Fe(CH3OH)n]+ cations (n=0-2); here, BINOLate and BINOLdiate stand for singly and doubly deprotonated BINOL, respectively. Upon collision-induced dissociation, the mass-selected ions with n>0 first lose the methanol ligands and then undergo characteristic fragmentations. Bare [(BINOLdiate)Fe]+, a formal iron(III) species, undergoes decarbonylation, which is known as a typical fragmentation of ionized phenols and phenolates either as free species or as the corresponding metal complexes. The bare [(BINOLate)Fe]+ cation, on the other hand, preferentially loses neutral FeOH to afford an organic C20H12O+* cation radical, which most likely corresponds to ionized 1,1'-dinaphthofurane.     

Mechanism of oxygenative cleavage of catechols by nonheme iron complexes in relevance to catechol dioxygenases studied by quantum chemical calculations

Mechanism of oxygenative cleavage of catechols by nonheme iron complexes was studied by quantum chemical calculations. Calculations based on the density-functional theory indicate that all carbon atoms of the DMC and Cat ligands of [Fe^III(NH₃)₄(DMC)]⁺ (DMC: 3,5-dimethylcatecholate), [Fe^III(NH₃)₄(Cat)]⁺ and [Fe^II(NH₃)₄(Cat)] (Cat: catecholate) are positively charged, that is not favorable for the electrophilic attack. Significant amounts of the spin density, that are greater on oxygen than carbons, appear on the catecholate ligand. The spin density on aromatic carbon atoms is greater in the ferric complex than in the ferrous complex, supporting the Fe(II)-semiquinonate character of the ferric catecholate complexes. Results are obtained to support the probability of the initial binding of molecular oxygen to the iron center rather than to the aromatic carbons. In the step of the oxygen insertion into the C–C bond, formation of an epoxide-like structure is proposed. It is shown that the postulated intermediate can be converted to an oxygen-inserted product in the change of the electronic state from the anionic ligand to the neutral product.     

The encapsulation of ferrocyanide by copper(II) complexes of tripodal tetradentate ligands. Novel H-bonding networks incorporating heptanuclear and pentanuclear heterometallic assemblies

Substitution of the weakly binding aqua ligand in [Cu(tren)OH2](2+) and [Cu(tpa)OH2](2+) (tren = tris(2-aminoethyl)amine; tpa = tris(2-pyridylmethyl)amine) by a cyano ligand on ferricyanide results in the assembly of heteropolynuclear cations around the cyanometalate core. In water, the reduction of the Fe(III) core to Fe(II) generates complexes that feature heteropolycations in which ferrocyanide is encapsulated by the Cu(II) moieties: [(Cu(tpa)CN)6Fe][ClO4]8-3H2O 1, [(Cu(tren)CN)6Fe][ClO4]8-10H2O 2, [(Cu(tren)CN)6Fe][Fe(CN)6]2[ClO4]2-15.8H2O 3, and [(Cu(tren)CN)6Fe][(Cu(tren)CN)4Fe(CN)2][Fe(CN)6)]4-6DMSO-21H2O 4. The formation of discrete molecules, in preference to extended networks or polymeric structures, has been encouraged through the use of branched tetradentate ligands in conjunction with copper(II), a metal center with the propensity to form five-coordinate complexes. Complex 3 crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P2(1)/c (#14) with a = 14.8674(10), b = 25.9587(10), c = 27.5617(10) A, beta = 100.8300(10) degrees, and Z = 4, and it is comprised of almost spherical heptanuclear cations, [(Cu(tren)CN)6Fe](8+), whose charge is balanced by two ferricyanide and two perchlorate counteranions. Complex 4 crystallizes in the triclinic space group P1 (# 1) with a = 14.8094(8), b = 17.3901(7), c = 21.1565(11) A, alpha = 110.750(3), beta = 90.206(2), gamma = 112.754(3) degrees, and Z = 1, and it is comprised of the heptanuclear [(Cu(tren)CN)6Fe](8+) cation and pentanuclear [(Cu(tren)CN)4Fe(CN)2](4+) cation, whose terminal cyano ligands are oriented trans to each other. The charge is balanced exclusively by ferricyanide counteranions. In both complexes, H-bonding interactions between hydrogens on primary amines of the tren ligand, terminal cyano groups of the ferricyanide counterions, and the solvent of crystallization generate intricate 3D H-bonding networks.