Person:

Betley, Theodore

Using a trinucleating hexaamide ligand platform, the all-ferrous hexanuclear cluster (HL)2Fe6 (1) is obtained from reaction of 3 equiv of Fe2(Mes)4 (Mes = 2,4,6-Me3C6H2) with 2 equiv of the ligand (HL)H6. Compound 1 was characterized by X-ray diffraction analysis, 57Fe Mössbauer, SQUID magnetometry, mass spectrometry, and combustion analysis, providing evidence for an S = 6 ground state and delocalized electronic structure. The cyclic voltammogram of [(HL)2Fe6]n+ in acetonitrile reveals a rich redox chemistry, featuring five fully reversible redox events that span six oxidation states ([(HL)2Fe6]n+, where n = −1 → 4) within a 1.3 V potential range. Accordingly, each of these species is readily accessed chemically to provide the electron-transfer series [(HL)2Fe6(NCMe)m][PF6]n (m = 0, n = −1 (2); m = 2, n = 1 (3); m = 4, n = 2 (4); m = 6, n = 3 (5); m = 6, n = 4 (6)). Compounds 2–6 were isolated and characterized by X-ray diffraction, 57Fe Mössbauer and multinuclear NMR spectroscopy, and combustion analysis. Two-electron oxidation of the tetracationic cluster in 6 by 2 equiv of [NO]+ generates the thermally unstable hexacationic cluster [(HL)2Fe6(NCMe)m]6+, which is characterized by NMR and 57Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy. Importantly, several stepwise systematic metrical changes accompany oxidation state changes to the [Fe6] core, namely trans ligation of solvent molecules and variation in Mössbauer spectra, spin ground state, and intracluster Fe–Fe separation. The observed metrical changes are rationalized by considering a qualitative, delocalized molecular orbital description, which provides a set of frontier orbitals populated by Fe 3d electrons.

Oxidation of the nominally all-ferrous hexanuclear cluster (HL)2Fe6 with six equivalents of ferrocenium in the presence of bromide ions results in a six-electron oxidation of the Fe6 core to afford the nominally all-ferric cluster (HL)2Fe6Br6. The hexabromide cluster is also structurally characterized in a 4+ core oxidation state. A structural comparison of these two clusters provides an insight into the Fe6 core electronic structure.

Utilizing a hexadentate ligand platform, a series of trinuclear iron clusters (PhL)Fe3L3 (PhLH6 1⁄4 MeC (CH2NPh-o-NPh)3; L 1⁄4 tetrahydrofuran (1), pyridine (2), PMePh2 (3)) has been prepared. The phenyl substituents on the ligand sterically prohibit strong iron–iron bonding from occurring but maintain a sufficiently close proximity between iron centers to permit direct interactions. Coordination of the weak-field tetrahydrofuran ligand to the iron centers results in a well-isolated, high-spin S 1⁄4 6 or S 1⁄4 5 ground state, as ascertained through variable-temperature dc magnetic susceptibility and low- temperature magnetization measurements. Replacing the tetrahydrofuran ligands with stronger s-donating pyridine or tertiary phosphine ligands reduces the ground state to S 1⁄4 2 and gives rise to temperature-dependent magnetic susceptibility. In these cases, the magnetic susceptibility cannot be explained as arising simply from superexchange interactions between metal centers through the bridging amide ligands. Rather, the experimental data are best modelled by considering a thermally- induced variation in molecular spin state between S 1⁄4 2 and S 1⁄4 4. Fits to these data provide thermodynamic parameters of DH 1⁄4 406 cm 1 and Tc 1⁄4 187 K for 2 and DH 1⁄4 604 cm 1 and Tc 1⁄4 375 K for 3. The difference in these parameters is consistent with ligand field strength differences between pyridine and phosphine ligands. To rationalize the spin state variation across the series of clusters, we first propose a qualitative model of the Fe3 core electronic structure that considers direct Fe–Fe interactions, arising from direct orbital overlap. We then present a scenario, consistent with the observed magnetic behaviour, in which the s orbitals of the electronic structure are perturbed by substitution of the ancillary ligands.

Reaction of NO2– with the octahedral cluster (HL)2Fe6 in the presence of a proton source affords the hexanitrosyl cluster (HL)2Fe6(NO)6. This species forms via a proton-induced reduction of six nitrite molecules per cluster, utilizing each site available on the polynuclear core. Formation of the hexanitrosyl cluster is accompanied by a near 2-fold expansion of the (HL)2Fe6 core volume, where intracore Fe–Fe interactions are overcome by strong π-bonding between Fe centers and NO ligands. A core volume of this magnitude is rare in octahedral metal clusters not supported by interstitial atoms. Moreover, the structural flexibility afforded by the (HL)2Fe6 platform highlights the potential for other reaction chemistry involving species with metal–ligand multiple bonds. Carrying out the reaction of the cluster [(HL)2Fe6(NCMe)6]4+ with nitrite in the absence of a proton source serves to forestall the nitrite reduction and enables clean isolation of the intermediate hexanitro cluster [(HL)2Fe6(NO2)6]2–.