Electronic ground states of low-spin iron(III) porphyrinoids

Electronic structure of low-spin six-coordinate iron(III) meso-tetrapropylchlorin complexes

Low-spin iron(III) tetrapropylchlorins [ Fe ( T n PrC ) L 2]± (L = HIm, 1-MeIm, DMAP, CN-, 4-CNPy, tBuNC) adopt the dxy-type ground state regardless of the nature of axial ligands. Among the complexes examined, [ Fe ( T n PrC )( t BuNC )2]+ has shown quite unique spectroscopic properties as described below. (1) 1 H NMR signals were extremely broad as compared with those of other complexes. In particular, 5,20- CH 2(α) signal was too broad to detect. (2) No signals except C γ were observed in 13 C NMR spectra. (3) Tetragonal splitting parameter (|Δ|) estimated by the EPR g values at 4.2 K reached as much as 12.4 λ, which is the largest |Δ| value among all the low-spin iron(III) porphyrins and porphyrinoids reported previously. On the basis of these results, we have concluded that [ Fe ( T n PrC )( t BuNC )2]+ adopts the low-spin iron(III) with (dxz, dyz)4(dxy)1 electronic ground state at 4.2–30 K where the EPR spectra are taken, while it should be expressed as the low-spin Fe ( II ) chlorin π-radical cation [ Fe II ( T n PrC .)( t BuNC )2]+ at ambient temperature where the NMR spectra are taken.

Revealing substituent effects on the electronic structure and planarity of Ni-porphyrins

Using density functional theory, we have studied the effects on structural and electronic consequences (including HOMO-LUMO energy gaps, vertical ionization potentials (IP_v), and vertical electron affinities (EA_v)) of the following two factors: (a) meso- and β-substituents acting as inductive donors (CH₃), inductive acceptors that are electron-donating through resonance (Br), inductive electron acceptors (CF₃), and resonance enabled acceptors (NO₂); and (b) complete replacement of pyrrole nitrogens with P-atoms. The principal results of the study are: (1) For the bare Ni-porphyrin, the solvents were found not to affect the HOMO-LUMO gaps but to change the IP_v and EA_v noticeably. (2) In the series CH₃ → Br → CF₃ → NO₂ the HOMO-LUMO energy gaps, IP_v, and EA_v increase for both meso- and β-substituents. The ruffling distortion of the porphyrin core is retained, and becomes stronger for the two acceptor groups. In general, effects of meso-substituents on the ruffling distortion of the porphyrin core is more pronounced. (3) Most significantly, complete replacement of pyrrole nitrogens in the NiP with phosphorus atoms produces the species, NiP(P)₄, with the structural and electronic features drastically different from the original NiP. This implies that NiP(P)₄ can possess interesting and unusual novel properties, including aromaticity and reactivity, leading to its various beneficial potential applications. Furthermore, NiP(P)₄ high stability both in the gas phase and different solvents was shown, implying the feasibility of its synthesis.

Electronic structure of five- and six-coordinate iron(III) tetraazaporphyrin complexes: pyrrole-Cαchemical shift as a useful probe

Electronic structure of a series of five-coordinate Fe ( OArTAzP ) X ( OAr = octaaryltetraazaporphyrin , X = Cl-, Br-, I-; Ar = 4-tert-butylphenyl) have been examined on the basis of1H NMR,13C NMR, and EPR spectroscopy as well as SQUID magnetometry. These complexes adopt the intermediate-spin state as in the case of analogous complexes reported by Fitzgerald et al. (Inorg. Chem. 1992; 31: 2006-2013) and Stuzhin et al. (Inorg. Chim. Acta 1995; 236: 131-139). The13C NMR studies using13C -enriched complexes at the pyrrole α positions have revealed that the pyrrole- Cαsignals appear at extraordinary upfield positions, i.e. -130 to -250 ppm at 273 K, due to the dz2-a2 uand dπ-3 eginteractions. The Curie plots of the pyrrole- Cαsignals have further revealed that the iodide complex adopts a much purer intermediate-spin state than the bromide and chloride complexes. In contrast to the case of Fe ( OArTAzP ) X , six-coordinate [ Fe ( OArTAzP )( CN )2]-showed the pyrrole- Cαsignal at 47 ppm at 273 K, which indicates that the complex adopts the low-spin state with the ( dxy)2( dxz, dyz)3electron configuration. Thus, the13C NMR chemical shift of the pyrrole- Cαsignal turns out to be quite a good probe to elucidate the spin state and electron configuration of iron(III) tetraazaporphyrins, where the1H NMR spectroscopy is less useful because of the absence of the hydrogen atoms as well as the alkyl or aryl groups directly attached to the meso positions.

Electronic structure of highly ruffled low-spin iron(III) porphyrinates with electron withdrawing heptafluoropropyl groups at the meso positions

Bis(pyridine)[meso-tetrakis(heptafluoropropyl)porphyrinato]iron(III), [Fe(THFPrP)Py(2)](+), was reported to be the low-spin complex that adopts the purest (d(xz), d(yz))(4)(d(xy))(1) ground state where the energy gap between the iron d(xy) and d(π)(d(xz), d(yz)) orbitals is larger than the corresponding energy gaps of any other complexes reported previously (Moore, K. T.; Fletcher, J. T.; Therien, M. J. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1999, 121, 5196-5209). Although the highly ruffled porphyrin core expected for this complex contributes to the stabilization of the (d(xz), d(yz))(4)(d(xy))(1) ground state, the strongly electron withdrawing C(3)F(7) groups at the meso positions should stabilize the (d(xy))(2)(d(xz), d(yz))(3) ground state. Thus, we have reexamined the electronic structure of [Fe(THFPrP)Py(2)](+) by means of (1)H NMR, (19)F NMR, and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy. The CD(2)Cl(2) solution of [Fe(THFPrP)Py(2)](+) shows the pyrrole-H signal at -10.25 ppm (298 K) in (1)H NMR, the CF(2)(α) signal at -74.6 ppm (298 K) in (19)F NMR, and the large g(max) type signal at g = 3.16 (4.2 K) in the EPR. Thus, contrary to the previous report, the complex is unambiguously shown to adopt the (d(xy))(2)(d(xz), d(yz))(3) ground state. Comparison of the spectroscopic data of a series of [Fe(THFPrP)L(2)](+) with those of the corresponding meso-tetrapropylporphyrin complexes [Fe(TPrP)L(2)](+) with various axial ligands (L) has shown that the meso-C(3)F(7) groups stabilize the (d(xy))(2)(d(xz), d(yz))(3) ground state. Therefore, it is clear that the less common (d(xz), d(yz))(4)(d(xy))(1) ground state can be stabilized by the three major factors: (i) axial ligand with low-lying π* orbitals, (ii) ruffled porphyrin ring, and (iii) electron donating substituent at the meso position.

Axial ligand coordination in sterically strained vanadyl porphyrins: synthesis, structure, and properties

A hitherto unknown family of six-coordinate vanadyl porphyrins of the sterically crowded, nonplanar 2,3,7,8,12,13,17,18-octaethyl-5,10,15,20-tetranitroporphyrin incorporating axial ligand L [where L is pyridine, tetrahydrofuran (THF), or methanol (MeOH)] has been isolated as VO(tn-OEP)(L) in the solid phase for the first time and also structurally characterized. The presence of four electron-withdrawing, bulky nitro groups at the meso positions of vanadyl octaethylporphyrins severely distorts the porphyrin macrocycles and significantly enhances the affinity for the axial ligands, where even weak sigma-donating ligands, such as MeOH, bind strongly enough to be isolable in the solid phase and that too under the offset effects of the macrocyclic distortions. Thus, the axial ligand affinity is influenced by both the electronic and conformational effect, which cannot be separated completely in this series. The solid-state magnetic measurements and their typical electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectrum show the presence of a single, unpaired electron, consistent with V(IV) formulation. The VO stretching frequency for VO(tn-OEP) occurs as a sharp, strong peak at 1008 cm(-1), which is consistent with five-coordinate vanadyl porphyrins, while VO(tn-OEP)(L) displays a strong band at lower wavenumbers. The downshift in nu(VO) upon axial coordination increases with increasing donor strength of the axial ligands; for pyridine, the downshift is 30 cm(-1), while for THF and MeOH, the downshifts are nearly 18 cm(-1). X-ray structure determinations authenticate axial coordination in a purely saddle-distorted porphyrin macrocycle for all of the complexes reported here in which V-Np distances are significantly shorter, while the porphyrin cores have been expanded on axial ligand coordination. As a result, vanadium atoms are more inplane than in a five-coordinate species. The binding of L does not change the spin or metal oxidation states (V(IV), d(1)-system) of the complexes; therefore, the changes observed are truly the reflections of axial ligand coordination. Electrochemical data obtained from cyclic voltammetric studies reveal that the complexes are much easier to reduce (by approximately 1200 mV) but more difficult to oxidize (by approximately 500 mV) as compared to nearly planar VO(OEP). The complexes undergo two one-electron oxidations due to pi-cation radical and dication formation and three one-electron reductions. The first two reductions are because of pi-anion radical and dianion formation, while the third quasi-reversible reduction is assigned to a metal-centered process (V(IV) --> V(III)). These results can be useful for identifying the interaction of the vanadyl porphyrins with the biological targets in their reported involvement in potent insulinomimetic activity and in anti-HIV agents.