Anion Dependent Redox Changes in Iron Bis-terdentate Nitroxide {NNO} Chelates

The reaction of [Fe II(BF4)2]·6H2O with the nitroxide radical, 4,4-dimethyl-2,2-di(2-pyridyl) oxazolidine-N-oxide (L•), produces the mononuclear transition metal complex [FeII(L•)2](BF4)2 (1) which has been investigated using temperature dependent susceptibility, Mössbauer spectroscopy, electrochemistry, density functional theory (DFT) calculations, and X-ray structure analysis. Single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis and Mössbauer measurements reveal an octahedral low spin Fe2+ environment where the pyridyl donors from L• coordinate equatorially while the oxygen containing the radical from L• coordinates axially forming a linear O•··Fe(II)··O• arrangement. Magnetic susceptibility measurements show a strong radical-radical intramolecular antiferromagnetic interaction mediated by the diamagnetic Fe2+ center. This is supported by DFT calculations which show a mutual spatial overlap of 0.24 and a spin density population analysis which highlights the antiparallel spin alignment between the two ligands. Similarly the monocationic complex [FeIII(L-)2](BPh4)·0.5H2O (2) has been fully characterized with Fe ligand and N-O bond length changes in the X-ray structure analysis, magnetic measurements revealing a Curie-like S = 1/2 ground state, electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectra, DFT calculations, and electrochemistry measurements all consistent with assignment of Fe in the (III) state and both ligands in the L- form. 2 is formed by a rare, reductively induced oxidation of the Fe center, and all physical data are self-consistent. The electrochemical studies were undertaken for both 1 and 2, thus allowing common Fe-ligand redox intermediates to be identified and the results interpreted in terms of square reaction schemes.