Iron complexes of new pentadentate ligands containing the 1,4,7-triazacyclononane-1,4-diacetate motif. spectroscopic, electro-, and photochemical studies.

Three new pentadentate, pendent arm macrocycles containing the 1,4,7-triazacyclononane-1,4-diacetate motif have been synthesized, and their coordination chemistry with Fe(III) has been investigated. Eight new octahedral Fe(III) complexes containing chloro, azido, or mu-oxo ligands have been synthesized, five of which have been characterized by X-ray crystallography. Spectroscopic characterization of these octahedral Fe(III) complexes by UV-vis, IR, electrochemistry, EPR, magnetic susceptibility, and zero-field Mössbauer measurements firmly establishes the high-spin state of the iron in all complexes. Electrochemistry studies of the azido-Fe(III) complexes show that they can be reversibly oxidized to the corresponding Fe(IV) species at -20 degrees C, and Fe(II), Fe(III), and Fe(IV) species show characteristic IR and UV-vis profiles. Photolysis of one of the azido complexes was studied as a function of temperature (room temperature vs 77 K) and wavelength (480, 419, and 330 nm). Photoreduction to a high-spin Fe(II) species occurs under all conditions, which is proposed to be the dominant photochemical pathway generally available to high-spin ferric azido complexes.