Electron paramagnetic resonance characteristics of some non-heme low-spin iron(III) complexes

Abstract

We have recorded the powder EPR-spectra of some near octahedral iron(III) complexes with tridentate ligands donors and analysed their spectra with simple ligand field analysis and for some cases with the angular overlap model (AOM). We have determined the electron praramagnetic resonance (EPR) characteristic of bis 1,4,7-triazacyclonane iron(III)chloride at 4 K and found that it was similar to the characteristics of the so-called ‘highly anisotropic low spin’ complexes. We have recorded the powder spectra of bis (2,6-bis(benzimidazoly-2-yl)pyridine) iron(III) perchlorate and made an AOM-analyses of the structural similar complex bis-(2,6 (N-carbamoyl)-pyridine) iron(III). With a combination of ligand field analyses and AOM, we could determine the π-donor properties of these ligands. The same approach have been used to determine the π-donor properties of the hydroperoxo ligand. Finally we have recorded the powder EPR-spectrum of [Fe(CN) 6] 3− doped in K 3[Co(CN) 6] and [Co(NH 3) 6][Co(CN) 6] at 4 and 100 K and in water at 4 K. The spectra are interpreted as the effect of a dynamic Jahn–Teller distortion.