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.     

Iron 10‐Thiacorroles: Bioinspired Iron(III) Complexes with an Intermediate Spin (S=3/2) Ground State

A first systematic study upon the preparation and exploration of a series of iron 10‐thiacorroles with simple halogenido (F, Cl, Br, I), pseudo‐halogenido (N₃, I₃) and solvent‐derived axial ligands (DMSO, pyridine) is reported. The compounds were prepared from the free‐base octaethyl‐10‐thiacorrole by iron insertion and subsequent ligand‐exchange reactions. The small N₄ cavity of the ring‐contracted porphyrinoid results in an intermediate spin (i.s., S=3/2) state as the ground state for the iron(III) ion. In most of the investigated cases, the i.s. state is found unperturbed and independent of temperature, as determined by a combination of X‐ray crystallography and magnetometry with ¹H NMR‐, EPR‐, and Mössbauer spectroscopy. Two exceptions were found. The fluorido iron(III) complex is inhomogenous in the solid and contains a thermal i.s. (S=3/2)→high spin (h.s., S=5/2) crossover fraction. On the other side, the cationic bis(pyridine) complex resides in the expected low spin (l.s., S=1/2) state. Chemically, the iron 10‐thiacorroles differ from the iron porphyrins mainly by weaker axial ligand binding and by a cathodic shift of the redox potentials. These features make the 10‐thiacorroles interesting ligands for future research on biomimetic catalysts and model systems for unusual heme protein active sites.     

The Equatorial Ligand Effect on the Properties and Reactivity of Iron(V) Oxo Intermediates

High-valent metal oxo oxidants are common catalytic-cycle intermediates in enzymes and known to be highly reactive. To understand which features of these oxidants affect their reactivity, a series of biomimetic iron(V) oxo oxidants with peripherally substituted biuret-modified tetraamido macrocyclic ligands were synthesized and characterized. Major shifts in the UV/Vis absorption as a result of replacing a group in the equatorial plane of the iron(V) oxo species were found. Further characterization by EPR spectroscopy, ESI-MS, and resonance Raman spectroscopy revealed differences in structure and the electronic configuration of these complexes. A systematic reactivity study with a range of substrates was performed and showed that the reactions are affected by electron-withdrawing substituents in the equatorial ligand, which enhance the reaction rate by almost 10¹⁶ orders of magnitude. Thus, the long-range electrostatic perturbations have a major influence on the rate constant. Finally, computational studies identified the various electronic contributions to the rate-determining reaction step and explained how the equatorial ligand periphery affects the properties of the oxidant.     

Non-Heme FeII Diastereomeric Complexes Bearing a Hexadentate Ligand: Unexpected Consequences for the Spin State and Catalytic Oxidation Properties

The reactivity and selectivity of non-heme Fe^II complexes as oxidation catalysts can be substantially modified by alteration of the ligand backbone or introduction of various substituents. In comparison with the hexadentate ligand N,N,N′,N′-tetrakis(pyridin-2-ylmethyl)ethane-1,2-diamine (TPEN), N,N′-bis[1-(pyridin-2-yl)ethyl]-N,N′-bis(pyridin-2-ylmethyl)ethane-1,2-diamine (_2MeL₆²) has a methyl group on two of the four picolyl positions. Fe^II complexation by _2MeL₆² yields two diastereomeric complexes with very similar structures, which only differ in the axial/equatorial positions occupied by the methylated pyridyl groups. In solution, these two isomers exhibit different magnetic behaviors. Whereas one isomer exhibits temperature-dependent spin-state conversion between the S=0 and S=2 states, the other is more reluctant towards this spin-state equilibrium and is essentially diamagnetic at room temperature. Their catalytic properties for the oxidation of anisole by H₂O₂ are very different and correlate with their magnetic properties, which reflect their lability/inertness. These different properties most likely depend on the different steric constraints of the methylated pyridyl groups in the two complexes.     

Decoupled Spin Crossover and Structural Phase Transition in a Molecular Iron(II) Complex

Crystalline [Fe(bppSMe)₂][BF₄]₂ ( 1 ; bppSMe=4‐(methylsulfanyl)‐2,6‐di(pyrazol‐1‐yl)pyridine) undergoes an abrupt spin‐crossover (SCO) event at 265±5 K. The crystals also undergo a separate phase transition near 205 K, involving a contraction of the unit‐cell a axis to one‐third of its original value (high‐temperature phase 1; Pbcn, Z=12; low‐temperature phase 2; Pbcn, Z=4). The SCO‐active phase 1 contains two unique molecular environments, one of which appears to undergo SCO more gradually than the other. In contrast, powder samples of 1 retain phase 1 between 140–300 K, although their SCO behaviour is essentially identical to the single crystals. The compounds [Fe(bppBr)₂][BF₄]₂ ( 2 ; bppBr=4‐bromo‐2,6‐di(pyrazol‐1‐yl)pyridine) and [Fe(bppI)₂][BF₄]₂ ( 3 ; bppI=4‐iodo‐2,6‐di(pyrazol‐1‐yl)‐pyridine) exhibit more gradual SCO near room temperature, and adopt phase 2 in both spin states. Comparison of 1 – 3 reveals that the more cooperative spin transition in 1 , and its separate crystallographic phase transition, can both be attributed to an intermolecular steric interaction involving the methylsulfanyl substituents. All three compounds exhibit the light‐induced excited‐spin‐state trapping (LIESST) effect with T(LIESST=70–80 K), but show complicated LIESST relaxation kinetics involving both weakly cooperative (exponential) and strongly cooperative (sigmoidal) components.     

Luminescent Cyclometalated Alkynylplatinum(II) Complexes with a Tridentate Pyridine‐Based N‐Heterocyclic Carbene Ligand: Synthesis,Characterization, Electrochemistry,Photophysics, and Computational Studies

A new class of luminescent alkynylplatinum(II) complexes with a tridentate pyridine‐based N‐heterocyclic carbene (2,6‐bis(1‐butylimidazol‐2‐ylidenyl)pyridine) ligand, [Pt^II(C^N^C)(C?CR)][PF₆], and their chloroplatinum(II) precursor complex, [Pt^II(C^N^C)Cl][PF₆], have been synthesized and characterized. One of the alkynylplatinum(II) complexes has also been structurally characterized by X‐ray crystallography. The electrochemistry, electronic absorption and luminescence properties of the complexes have been studied. Nanosecond transient absorption (TA) spectroscopy has also been performed to probe the nature of the excited state. The origin of the absorption and emission properties has been supported by computational studies.     

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.     

Spontaneous Reduction of Mononuclear High‐Spin Iron(III) Complexes to Mononuclear Low‐Spin Iron(II) Complexes in Aqueous Media and Nuclease Activity via Self‐Activation

Mononuclear high‐spin [Fe^III(Pyimpy)Cl₃]?2 CH₂Cl₂ ( 1 ?2 CH₂Cl₂) and [Fe^III(Me‐Pyimpy)Cl₃] ( 2 ), as well as low‐spin Fe^II(Pyimpy)₂](ClO₄)₂ ( 3 ) and [Fe^II(Me‐Pyimpy)₂](ClO₄)₂ ( 4 ) complexes of tridentate ligands Pyimpy and Me‐Pyimpy have been synthesized and characterized by analytical techniques, spectral, and X‐ray structural analyses. We observed an important type of conversion and associated spontaneous reduction of mono‐chelated high‐spin Fe^III ( 1 ?2 CH₂Cl₂ and 2 ) complexes to low‐spin bis‐chelated Fe^II complexes 3 and 4 , respectively. This process has been explored in detail by UV/Vis, fluorescence, and ¹H NMR spectroscopic measurements. The high positive potentials observed in electrochemical studies suggested a better stabilization of Fe^II centers in 3 and 4 . Theoretical studies by density functional theory (DFT) calculations supported an increased stabilization for 3 in polar solvents. Self‐activated nuclease activity of complexes 1 ?2CH₂Cl₂ and 2 during their spontaneous reduction was examined for the first time and the mechanism of nuclease activity was investigated.     

Photomagnetism of a Series of Dinuclear Iron(II) Complexes

Spin crossover : The photomagnetic properties of a series of [{Fe(NCS)(py‐X)}₂(bpypz)₂] (NCS=thiocyanate, py=pyridine, X=4‐Mepy, py, 3‐Mepy, 3‐Clpy and 3‐Brpy, and bpypz=3,5‐bis(pyridine‐2‐yl)pyazolate) binuclear complexes are close to the antiferromagnetic response of [{Fe(NCS)(3,5‐dmpy)}₃(bpypz)₂] (3,5‐dmpy=3,5‐dimethylpyrazine), which is characterised by two iron(II) metal ions in a high‐spin (HS) electronic configuration (see figure).

     

Structural and Electronic Control of the Bidentate 1-(2-pyridyl)benzotriazole Ligand in Copper Chemistry with Application to Catalysis in the A3 Coupling Reaction

The hybrid bidentate 1-(2-pyridyl)benzotriazole (pyb) ligand was introduced into 3d transition metal catalysis. Specifically, [Cu^II(OTf)₂(pyb)₂] ⋅ 2 CH₃CN ( 1 ) enables the synthesis of a wide range of propargylamines by the A³ coupling reaction at room temperature in the absence of additives. Experimental and high-level theoretical calculations suggest that the bridging N atom of the ligand imposes exclusive trans coordination at Cu and allows ligand rotation, while the N atom of the pyridine group modulates charge distribution and flux, and thus orchestrates structural and electronic precatalyst control permitting alkyne binding with simultaneous activation of the C−H bond via a transient Cu^I species.     

Unraveling the Mechanism of Water Oxidation Catalyzed by Nonheme Iron Complexes

Density functional theory (DFT) is employed to: 1) propose a viable catalytic cycle consistent with our experimental results for the mechanism of chemically driven (Ce^IV) O₂ generation from water, mediated by nonheme iron complexes; and 2) to unravel the role of the ligand on the nonheme iron catalyst in the water oxidation reaction activity. To this end, the key features of the water oxidation catalytic cycle for the highly active complexes [Fe(OTf)₂(Pytacn)] (Pytacn: 1‐(2′‐pyridylmethyl)‐4,7‐dimethyl‐1,4,7‐triazacyclononane; OTf: CF₃SO₃^?) ( 1 ) and [Fe(OTf)₂(mep)] (mep: N,N′‐bis(2‐pyridylmethyl)‐N,N′‐dimethyl ethane‐1,2‐diamine) ( 2 ) as well as for the catalytically inactive [Fe(OTf)₂(tmc)] (tmc: N,N′,N′′,N′′′‐tetramethylcyclam) ( 3 ) and [Fe(NCCH₃)(^MePy₂CH‐tacn)](OTf)₂ (^MePy₂CH‐tacn: N‐(dipyridin‐2‐yl)methyl)‐N′,N′′‐dimethyl‐1,4,7‐triazacyclononane) ( 4 ) were analyzed. The DFT computed catalytic cycle establishes that the resting state under catalytic conditions is a [Fe^IV(O)(OH₂)(LN₄)]²⁺ species (in which LN₄=Pytacn or mep) and the rate‐determining step is the O?O bond‐formation event. This is nicely supported by the remarkable agreement between the experimental (ΔG^≠=17.6±1.6 kcal mol^?1) and theoretical (ΔG^≠=18.9 kcal mol^?1) activation parameters obtained for complex 1 . The O?O bond formation is performed by an iron(V) intermediate [Fe^V(O)(OH)(LN₄)]²⁺ containing a cis‐Fe^V(O)(OH) unit. Under catalytic conditions (Ce^IV, pH 0.8) the high oxidation state Fe^V is only thermodynamically accessible through a proton‐coupled electron‐transfer (PCET) process from the cis‐[Fe^IV(O)(OH₂)(LN₄)]²⁺ resting state. Formation of the [Fe^V(O)(LN₄)]³⁺ species is thermodynamically inaccessible for complexes 3 and 4 . Our results also show that the cis‐labile coordinative sites in iron complexes have a beneficial key role in the O?O bond‐formation process. This is due to the cis‐OH ligand in the cis‐Fe^V(O)(OH) intermediate that can act as internal base, accepting a proton concomitant to the O?O bond‐formation reaction. Interplay between redox potentials to achieve the high oxidation state (Fe^V?O) and the activation energy barrier for the following O?O bond formation appears to be feasible through manipulation of the coordination environment of the iron site. This control may have a crucial role in the future development of water oxidation catalysts based on iron.     

Stabilization of the Low‐Spin State in a Mononuclear Iron(II) Complex and High‐Temperature Cooperative Spin Crossover Mediated by Hydrogen Bonding

The tetrapyridyl ligand bbpya (bbpya=N,N‐bis(2,2′‐bipyrid‐6‐yl)amine) and its mononuclear coordination compound [Fe(bbpya)(NCS)₂] ( 1 ) were prepared. According to magnetic susceptibility, differential scanning calorimetry fitted to Sorai’s domain model, and powder X‐ray diffraction measurements, 1 is low‐spin at room temperature, and it exhibits spin crossover (SCO) at an exceptionally high transition temperature of T_1/2=418 K. Although the SCO of compound 1 spans a temperature range of more than 150 K, it is characterized by a wide (21 K) and dissymmetric hysteresis cycle, which suggests cooperativity. The crystal structure of the LS phase of compound 1 shows strong N?H???S intermolecular H‐bonding interactions that explain, at least in part, the cooperative SCO behavior observed for complex 1 . DFT and CASPT2 calculations under vacuum demonstrate that the bbpya ligand generates a stronger ligand field around the iron(II) core than its analogue bapbpy (N,N′‐di(pyrid‐2‐yl)‐2,2′‐bipyridine‐6,6′‐diamine); this stabilizes the LS state and destabilizes the HS state in 1 compared with [Fe(bapbpy)(NCS)₂] ( 2 ). Periodic DFT calculations suggest that crystal‐packing effects are significant for compound 2 , in which they destabilize the HS state by about 1500 cm^?1. The much lower transition temperature found for the SCO of 2 compared to 1 appears to be due to the combined effects of the different ligand field strengths and crystal packing.     

A cis‐Divacant Octahedral and Mononuclear Iron(IV) Imide

A rare, low‐spin Fe^IV imide complex [(pyrr₂py)Fe?NAd] (pyrr₂py^2?=bis(pyrrolyl)pyridine; Ad=1‐adamantyl) confined to a cis‐divacant octahedral geometry, was prepared by reduction of N₃Ad by the Fe^II precursor [(pyrr₂py)Fe(OEt₂)]. The imide complex is low‐spin with temperature‐independent paramagnetism. In comparison to an authentic Fe^III complex, such as [(pyrr₂py)FeCl], the pyrr₂py^2? ligand is virtually redox innocent.     

Hydrogen peroxide decomposition by a non-heme iron(III) catalase mimic: a DFT study

Non-heme iron(III) complexes of 14-membered tetraaza macrocycles have previously been found to catalytically decompose hydrogen peroxide to water and molecular oxygen, like the native enzyme catalase. Here the mechanism of this reaction is theoretically investigated by DFT calculations at the (U)B3LYP/6-31G* level, with focus on the reactivity of the possible spin states of the FeIII complexes. The computations suggest that H2O2 decomposition follows a homolytic route with intermediate formation of an iron(IV) oxo radical cation species (L.+FeIV==O) that resembles Compound I of natural iron porphyrin systems. Along the whole catalytic cycle, no significant energetic differences were found for the reaction proceeding on the doublet (S=1/2) or on the quartet (S=3/2) hypersurface, with the single exception of the rate-determining O--O bond cleavage of the first associated hydrogen peroxide molecule, for which reaction via the doublet state is preferred. The sextet (S=5/2) state of the FeIII complexes appears to be unreactive in catalase-like reactions.     

Theoretical study of rhodium(I) carbene complexes: the structural versatility of phosphino- compared with aminocarbenes

Density functional calculations are reported for complexes of general formula [(carbene)RhClL(2)] featuring model phosphino- and aminocarbenes. Both the cis and trans isomers of the rhodium(I) eta(1)-complexes (1-9) were investigated, and the influence of the rhodium co-ligands (L=ethylene, phosphine, or carbon monoxide) was evaluated. In the case of phosphinocarbenes and carbon monoxide as a ligand, a somewhat unusual coordination mode was observed, in which a significant intramolecular Cl-->C(carbene) interaction is present. The propensity of phosphino- and aminocarbenes to behave as four electron donors was also investigated both structurally and energetically on the related eta(2)-complexes 10-18. These results as a whole emphasize the structural versatility of phosphino- compared with aminocarbene complexes.     

Synthesis and properties of para-substituted NCN-pincer palladium and platinum complexes

A variety of para-substituted NCN-pincer palladium(II) and platinum(II) complexes [MX(NCN-Z)] (M=Pd(II), Pt(II); X=Cl, Br, I; NCN-Z=[2,6-(CH(2)NMe(2))(2)C(6)H(2)-4-Z](-); Z=NO(2), COOH, SO(3)H, PO(OEt)(2), PO(OH)(OEt), PO(OH)(2), CH(2)OH, SMe, NH(2)) were synthesised by routes involving substitution reactions, either prior to or, notably, after metalation of the ligand. The solubility of the pincer complexes is dominated by the nature of the para substituent Z, which renders several complexes water-soluble. The influence of the para substituent on the electronic properties of the metal centre was studied by (195)Pt NMR spectroscopy and DFT calculations. Both the (195)Pt chemical shift and the calculated natural population charge on platinum correlate linearly with the sigma(p) Hammett substituent constants, and thus the electronic properties of predesigned pincer complexes can be predicted. The sigma(p) value for the para-PtI group itself was determined to be -1.18 in methanol and -0.72 in water/methanol (1/1). Complexes substituted with protic functional groups (CH(2)OH, COOH) exist as dimers in the solid state due to intermolecular hydrogen-bonding interactions.     

Pseudo-Octahedral Iron(II) Complexes with Near-Degenerate Charge Transfer and Ligand Field States at the Franck-Condon Geometry

Increasing the metal-to-ligand charge transfer (MLCT) excited state lifetime of polypyridine iron(II) complexes can be achieved by lowering the ligand's π* orbital energy and by increasing the ligand field splitting. In the homo- and heteroleptic complexes [Fe(cpmp)₂]²⁺ ( 1²⁺ ) and [Fe(cpmp)(ddpd)]²⁺ ( 2²⁺ ) with the tridentate ligands 6,2’’-carboxypyridyl-2,2’-methylamine-pyridyl-pyridine (cpmp) and N,N’-dimethyl-N,N’-di-pyridin-2-ylpyridine-2,6-diamine (ddpd) two or one dipyridyl ketone moieties provide low energy π* acceptor orbitals. A good metal-ligand orbital overlap to increase the ligand field splitting is achieved by optimizing the octahedricity through CO and NMe units between the coordinating pyridines which enable the formation of six-membered chelate rings. The push-pull ligand cpmp provides intra-ligand and ligand-to-ligand charge transfer (ILCT, LL'CT) excited states in addition to MLCT excited states. Ground and excited state properties of 1²⁺ and 2²⁺ were accessed by X-ray diffraction analyses, resonance Raman spectroscopy, (spectro)electrochemistry, EPR spectroscopy, X-ray emission spectroscopy, static and time-resolved IR and UV/Vis/NIR absorption spectroscopy as well as quantum chemical calculations.     

A photochemical activation scheme of inert dinitrogen by dinuclear Ru(II) and Fe(II) complexes

A general photochemical activation process of inert dinitrogen coordinated to two metal centers is presented on the basis of high-level DFT and ab initio calculations. The central feature of this activation process is the occupation of an antibonding pi* orbital upon electronic excitation from the singlet ground state S0 to the first excited singlet state S1. Populating the antibonding LUMO weakens the triple bond of dinitrogen. After a vertical excitation, the excited complex may structurally relax in the S1 state and approaches its minimum structure in the S1 state. This excited-state minimum structure features the dinitrogen bound in a diazenoid form, which exhibits a double bond and two lone pairs localized at the two nitrogen atoms, ready to be protonated. Reduction and de-excitation then yield the corresponding diazene complex; its generation represents the essential step in a nitrogen fixation and reduction protocol. The consecutive process of excitation, protonation, and reduction may be rearranged in any experimentally appropriate order. The protons needed for the reaction from dinitrogen to diazene can be provided by the ligand sphere of the complexes, which contains sulfur atoms acting as proton acceptors. These protonated thiolate functionalities bring protons close to the dinitrogen moiety. Because protonation does not change the pi*-antibonding character of the LUMO, the universal and well-directed character of the photochemical activation process makes it possible to protonate the dinitrogen complex before it is irradiated. The pi*-antibonding LUMO plays the central role in the activation process, since the diazenoid structure was obtained by excitation from various occupied orbitals as well as by a direct two-electron reduction (without photochemical activation) of the complex; that is, the important bending of N2 towards a diazenoid conformation can be achieved by populating the pi*-antibonding LUMO.