Roman A. Manzhos

Influence of aromatic ligand on the redox activity of neutral binuclear tetranitrosyl iron complexes [Fe2(μ-SR)2(NO)4]: experiments and quantum-chemical modeling

Reduction of neutral binuclear nitrosyl iron complexes of “μ-S” structural type [Fe2(SR)2(NO)4] with R = 3-nitro-phenol-2-yl, 4-nitro-phenol-2-yl, 5-nitropyridine-2-yl and pyridine-2-yl in aprotic solution has been studied by a cyclic voltammetry (CVA) method at a wide range of potential scan rates. A complex with R = 3-nitro-phenol-2-yl was synthesized for the first time; therefore it was studied by X-ray and Mossbauer spectroscopy. The parameters of the Mossbauer spectrum are: isomer shift δFe = 0.115(1) mm s−1, quadrupole splitting ΔEQ = 1.171(1) mm s−1, and line width = 0.241(1) mm s−1 at 85 K. From the current–voltage curve, the transfer of the first electron was found to be reversible, and the redox-potentials of these reactions were determined. The further reduction of the complexes was determined to be irreversible because the product of the second electron addition is instable and decomposes partially during the potential scan. Calculations of geometric and electronic structures of monoanions and dianions of the complexes under study and their theoretical redox-potentials were performed by DFT methods. Introduction of the electron-acceptor NO2 group into the phenyl and pyridine rings of sulfur-containing ligands of the nitrosyl iron complexes was found to affect the geometry of the anions and the distribution of the additional negative charge, as well as to increase the redox-potential and to facilitate reduction of these complexes.

Redox properties of [Fe2(SC6H5)2(NO)4]: an experimental study and quantum chemical modeling

Reduction of the complex [Fe2(SC6H5)2(NO)4] in an aprotic solvent was studied by cyclic voltammetry in a wide range of potential scan rates. It was established that transfer of the first electron is reversible and the redox potential of this reaction was determined. Further reduction of the complex is irreversible because the product of attachment of the second electron is unstable and partially decomposes during the characteristic time of potential scan. The molecular and electronic structures of mono- and dianion of the complex as well as its theoretical redox potential value were calculated using the density functional theory methods with the local (BP86) and hybrid (B3LYP) functionals. The former functional better describes the geometry of the complex while the latter gives a better insight into its electronic structure. The extra negative charge is delocalized over NO groups, phenyl ligands, and iron atoms. The calculated redox potentials of one-electron reduction of the complexes are close to the experimental values obtained by analyzing cyclic voltammograms. Attachment of the second electron opens the decomposition channel of the complex, which is also consistent with experimental data.

Quantum chemical modeling of the effect of the nature of a μ-SCN-type ligand on the redox properties of iron nitrosyl complexes

The quantum chemical study of the redox potentials of ten iron nitrosyl complexes with functional bridging μ-SCN-type ligands was performed by the DFT method combined with the polarizable continuum model (PCM) in order to clarify the influence of the ligand on the redox properties of the complex. The geometry optimization in terms of the PCM approach gave redox potentials, which are in the best agreement with the experimental values. The redox potential depends on the nature of the heteroatom in the five-membered azole ring, the number of N atoms in the ring, and the presence of the fused benzene ring in the aromatic system of the ligand.