Crystal structures of two (5,5,7,12,12,14-hexamethyl-1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane)iron(III) complexes

Enabling Valence Delocalization in Iron(III) Macrocyclic Complexes through Ring Unsaturation

The complexes [FeIII(HMC)(C2DMA)2]CF3SO3 ([2]OTf) and [FeIII(HMTI)(C2Y)2]CF3SO3 ([3a-c]OTf) have been prepared and thoroughly characterized (HMC = 5,5,7,12,12,14-hexamethyl-1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane; HMTI = 5,5,7,12,12,14-hexamethyl-1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradeca-1,3,8,10-tetraene; Y = Fc (ferrocenyl, [3a]OTf), 4-(N,N-dimethyl)anilino (DMA, [3b]OTf), or 4-(N,N-bis(4-methoxyphenyl)anilino (TPA, [3c]OTf); OTf- = CF3SO3-)). Vibrational and electronic absorption spectroelectrochemical analyses following one-electron oxidation of the ethynyl substituent Y revealed evidence of strong coupling in the resultant mixed valent species for all HMTI-based complexes. However, the analogous mixed valent ion based on [2]OTf appeared to be more localized. Thus, the tetra-imino macrocycle HMTI has enabled significant valence delocalization along the -C2-FeIII-C2- bridge. Electron paramagnetic resonance and Mössbauer spectroscopic studies of [3b]OTf reveal that the π-acidity of HMTI lowers the energy of the FeIII dπ orbitals compared to the purely σ-donating HMC. This observation provides a basis for the interpretation of the macrocycle-dependent valence (de)localization.

A Spectroscopically Observed Iron Nitrosyl Intermediate in the Reduction of Nitrate by a Surface-Conjugated Electrocatalyst

We report an iron-based graphite-conjugated electrocatalyst (GCC-FeDIM) that combines the well-defined nature of homogeneous molecular electrocatalysts with the robustness of a heterogeneous electrode. A suite of spectroscopic methods, supported by the results of DFT calculations, reveals that the electrode surface is functionalized by high spin (S = 5/2) Fe(III) ions in an FeN₄Cl₂ coordination environment. The chloride ions are hydrolyzed in aqueous solution, with the resulting cyclic voltammogram revealing a Gaussian-shaped wave assigned to 1H⁺/1e^- reduction of surface Fe(III)-OH surface. A catalytic wave is observed in the presence of NO₃^-, with an onset potential of -1.1 V vs SCE. At pH 6.0, GCC-FeDIM rapidly reduces NO₃^- to ammonium and nitrite with 88 and 6% Faradaic efficiency, respectively. Mechanistic studies, including in situ X-ray absorption spectroscopy, suggest that electrocatalytic NO₃^- reduction involves an iron nitrosyl intermediate. The Fe-N bond length (1.65 Å) is similar to that observed in {Fe(NO)}⁶ complexes, which is supported by the results of DFT calculations.

Geometric isomers of dichloridoiron(III) complexes of CTMC (5,7,12,14-tetramethyl-1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane)

Both trans and cis iron-CTMC complexes, namely, trans-dichlorido[(5SR,7RS,12RS,14SR)-5,7,12,14-tetramethyl-1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane]iron(III) tetrachloridoferrate, [Fe(C14H32N4)Cl2][FeCl4] (1a), the analogous chloride methanol monosolvate, [Fe(C14H32N4)Cl2]Cl·CH3OH (1b), and cis-dichlorido[(5SR,7RS,12SR,14RS)-5,7,12,14-tetramethyl-1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane]iron(III) chloride, [Fe(C14H32N4)Cl2]Cl (2), were successfully synthesized and structurally characterized using X-ray diffraction. The coordination geometry of the macrocycle is dependent on the stereoisomerism of CTMC. The packing of these complexes appears to be strongly influenced by extensive hydrogen-bonding interactions, which are in turn determined by the nature of the counter-anions (1a versus 1b) and/or the coordination geometry of the macrocycle (1a/1b versus 2). These observations are extended to related ferric cis- and trans-dichloro macrocyclic complexes.