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Novel square arrangements in tetranuclear and octanuclear iron(III) complexes with asymmetric iron environments created by the unsymmetric bridging ligand N,N,N{prime}-tris((N-methyl)-2-benzimidazolylmethyl)-N{prime}-methyl-1,3-diamino-2-propanol

Journal Article · · Inorganic Chemistry
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/ic9802404· OSTI ID:316225
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  1. Lawrence Livermore National Lab., CA (United States)
  2. Univ. of California, Davis, CA (United States). Dept. of Chemistry
  3. Catholic Univ. of America, Washington, DC (United States)

The synthesis and characterization of novel tetranuclear and octanuclear iron(III) complexes with structures based on a nearly square arrangement of four iron ions are reported. Reaction of ferric nitrate, sodium acetate, and the unsymmetrical binucleating ligand HBMDP, where HBMDP is N,N,N{prime}-tris((N-methyl)-2-benzimidazolylmethyl)-N{prime}-methyl-1,3-diamino-2-propanol, in acetone/water yields the tetranuclear iron complex [Fe{sub 4}({mu}-O){sub 2}({mu}-BMDP){sub 2}-({mu}-OAc){sub 2}]{sup 4+}, which exhibits coordination number asymmetry. The structure of [Fe{sub 4}({mu}-O){sub 2}({mu}-BMDP){sub 2}({mu}-OAc){sub 2}](NO{sub 3}){sub 3}(OH){center_dot}12H{sub 2}O has been determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Each ({mu}-BMDP) ligand spans two iron(III) ions and causes these ions to become structurally distinct. Within this binuclear unit one iron atom is five-coordinate with distorted square pyramidal geometry and an N{sub 2}O{sub 3} donor set, while the other iron is six-coordinate with distorted octahedral geometry and an N{sub 3}O{sub 3} donor set. Two of these binuclear units are linked through a pair of oxo and acetato bridges to form the centrosymmetric tetranuclear complex. Efforts to increase the solubility of [Fe{sub 4}({mu}-O){sub 2}({mu}-BMDP){sub 2}({mu}-OAc){sub 2}]{sup 4+} by metathesis with sodium tetrafluoroborate resulted in the isolation of crystals of a new octanuclear iron species, which has also been characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction.

Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
DOE Contract Number:
W-7405-ENG-48
OSTI ID:
316225
Journal Information:
Inorganic Chemistry, Journal Name: Inorganic Chemistry Journal Issue: 26 Vol. 37; ISSN 0020-1669; ISSN INOCAJ
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English