Three tridentate ligands H2PhL (Ar =
Ph), H2ToL (Ar = p-tolyl), and
H2NpL (Ar = α-naphthyl) of structural
type
HONC(Ar)NNC6H4CO2H
have been synthesized. These (general abbreviation
H2ArL) react with iron(III)
chloride, affording the pink
Et4N[Fe(ArL)2] (s =
1/2; μeff = 1.98−2.04
μB) in which azo oxime chelation ensures
spin-pairing while carboxylate coordination stabilizes the trivalent
state. The EPR spectra of the complexes in
frozen dimethylformamide−toluene glass (77 K) are rhombic with
g values in the range 1.997−2.173. The
X-ray
structure of
Et4N[Fe(NpL)2]·H2O·CH2Cl2
has been determined, revealing meridional binding of the two
ligands
affording cis-FeN4O2 geometry.
The effect of spin-pairing is expressed in the relatively short
(∼1.90 Å) Fe−O
and Fe−N lengths. The water of crystallization is
hydrogen-bonded to carboxyl O atoms. The
iron(III)−iron(II)
reduction potentials lie near −0.1 V vs SCE. Crystal data for
Et4N[Fe(NpL)2]·H2O·CH2Cl2:
crystal system triclinic,
space group P1̄, a = 11.539(9) Å,
b = 13.306(13) Å, c = 14.60(2) Å,
α = 89.30(9)°, β = 82.65(9)°, γ
=
79.90(8)°, V = 2189(4) Å3,
Z = 2, R = 6.59%, R
w
= 6.23%.