Synthesis, characterization, and dioxygen reactivity of tetracarboxylate-bridged Diiron(II) complexes with coordinated substrates.

The synthesis and characterization of [Fe(2)(micro-O(2)CAr(Tol))(4)L(2)] complexes, where L is benzylamine or 4-methoxybenzylamine (BA(p)()(-)(OMe)), are described. The reaction of the latter diiron(II) complex with dioxygen at -78 degrees C affords a metastable mixed-valent Fe(II)Fe(III) green intermediate. When O(2) is introduced at ambient temperature, N-dealkyation occurs to yield anisaldehyde, eliminating N-oxidation as a viable pathway for the reaction. Use of [Fe(2)(micro-O(2)CAr(T)(omicron)(l))(4)(alpha-d(1)-BA(p)()(-)(OMe))(2)] allowed a deuterium kinetic isotope of approximately 3 to be determined.