1,2-bis(pyridine-2-carboxamido)benzenate(2-), (bpb)2-: a noninnocent ligand. Syntheses, structures, and mechanisms of formation of [(n-Bu)4N][FeIV2(mu-N)(bpb)2(X)2] (X = CN-, N3-) and the electronic structures of [MIII(bpbox1)(CN)2] (M = Co, Fe).

The well-known tetradentate ligand 1,2-bis(pyridine-2-carboxamido)benzenate(2-), (bpb)2-, and its 4,5-dichloro analogue, (bpc)2-, are shown to be "noninnocent" ligands in the sense that in coordination compounds they can exist in their radical one- and diamagnetic two-electron-oxidized forms (bpbox1)- and (bpbox2)0 (and (bpcox1)- and (bpcox2)0), respectively. Photolysis of high-spin [(n-Bu)4N][FeIII(bpb)(N3)2] and its (bpc)2- analogue in acetone solution at room temperature generates the diamagnetic dinuclear complex [(n-Bu)4N][FeIV2(mu-N)(bpb)2(N3)2] and its (bpc)2- analogue; the corresponding cyano complex [(n-Bu)4N][FeIV2(mu-N)(bpb)2(CN)2] has been prepared via N3- substitution by CN-. Photolysis in frozen acetonitrile solution produces a low-spin ferric species (S = 1/2) which presumably is [FeIII(bpbox2)(N)(N3)]-, as has been established by EPR and Mössbauer spectroscopy. The mononuclear complexes [(n-Bu)4N][FeIII(bpb)(CN2)] (low spin), [Et4N][CoIII(bpb)(CN)2] and Na[CoIII(bpc)-(CN)2].3CH3OH can be electrochemically or chemically one-electron-oxidized to give [FeIII(bpbox1)(CN)2]0 (S = 0), [CoIII(bpbox1)(CN)2]0 (S = 1/2), and [CoIII(bpcox1)(CN)2]0 (S = 1/2). All complexes have been characterized by UV-vis, EPR, and Mössbauer spectroscopy, and their electro- and magnetochemistries have been studied. The crystal structures of [(n-Bu)4N][FeIII(bpb)(N3)2].1/2C6H6CH3, Na[FeIII(bpb)(CN)2], Na[CoIII(bpc)(CN)2].3CH3OH, [(n-Bu)4N][FeIV2(mu-N)(bpb)2(CN)2], and [(n-Bu)4N][FeIV2(mu-N)(bpb)(N3)2] have been determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction.