Reactivity of Molecular Dioxygen towards a Series of Isostructural Dichloroiron(III) Complexes with Tripodal Tetraamine Ligands: General Access to μ-Oxodiiron(III) Complexes and Effect of α-Fluorination on the Reaction Kinetics

Mononuclear iron(ii) complexes containing a tripodal and macrocyclic nitrogen ligand: synthesis, reactivity and application in cyclohexane oxidation catalysis

Two novel tripodal ligands L¹ and L² based on a tris(methylpyridyl)amine (TPA) motif have been prepared and reacted with two different iron(ii) salts. The ligand L¹ contains a bis(amino-phenyl)-TPA group whereas the macrocyclic ligand L² displays two different coordinating cores, namely TPA and pyridine-dicarboxamide. The resulting mononuclear complexes 1-4 have been characterized in the solid state and in solution by spectroscopic and electrochemical methods. All complexes are high spin and mainly pentacoordinated. X-ray diffraction analyses of the crystals of complexes 2 and 3 demonstrate that the coordination sphere of the iron(ii) centre adopts either a distorted bipyramidal-trigonal or square pyramidal geometry. In the absence of an exogenous substrate, oxidation of complex 2 by H₂O₂ induces an intramolecular aromatic hydroxylation, as shown by the X-ray structure of the resulting dinuclear complex 2'. Catalytic studies in the presence of a substrate (cyclohexane) show that the reaction process is strongly impacted by the macrocyclic topology of the ligand and the nature of the counter-ion.

Nonprecious metal catalysts for fuel cell applications: electrochemical dioxygen activation by a series of first row transition metal tris(2-pyridylmethyl)amine complexes

A series of divalent first row triflate complexes supported by the ligand tris(2-pyridylmethyl)amine (TPA) have been investigated as oxygen reduction catalysts for fuel cell applications. [(TPA)M(2+)](n+) (M = Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, and Cu) derivatives were synthesized and characterized by X-ray crystallography, cyclic voltammetry, NMR spectroscopy, magnetic susceptibility, IR spectroscopy, and conductance measurements. The stoichiometric and electrochemical O(2) reactivities of the series were examined. Rotating-ring disk electrode (RRDE) voltammetry was used to examine the catalytic activity of the complexes on a carbon support in acidic media, emulating fuel cell performance. The iron complex displayed a selectivity of 89% for four-electron conversion and demonstrated the fastest reaction kinetics, as determined by a kinetic current of 7.6 mA. Additionally, the Mn, Co, and Cu complexes all showed selective four-electron oxygen reduction (<28% H(2)O(2)) at onset potentials (~0.44 V vs RHE) comparable to state of the art molecular catalysts, while being straightforward to access synthetically and derived from nonprecious metals.

Dioxygen activation by mononuclear nonheme iron(II) complexes generates iron-oxygen intermediates in the presence of an NADH analogue and proton

One primary goal in biomimetic research is to understand mechanisms of dioxygen activation, structures of reactive intermediates, and reactivities of the intermediates involved in catalytic oxidation reactions by metalloenzymes, such as heme and nonheme iron oxygenases. In this communication, we have reported the first example of generating nonheme iron(III)-hydroperoxo and iron(IV)-oxo complexes by activating O(2) with a biologically important electron donor, an NADH analogue, and an acid. The formation of iron(III)-hydroperoxo and iron(IV)-oxo complexes was found to depend on the supporting ligands. We have also demonstrated that high-spin nonheme iron(II) complexes with a low oxidation potential are able to bind and activate O(2) to generate the iron-oxygen intermediates.