Iron Halides Research Articles

The Halogenation Effect Induces a Variety of Switchable Phase Transition and Second-Harmonic-Generation Materials.

Halogen engineering offers a means of enhancing the physical properties of materials by fine-tuning the rotational energy barrier and dipole moment, which proved to be effective in achieving switchable phase transitions and optical responses in materials. In this work, by substituting the methyl group in ligand N-ethyl-1,5-diazabicyclo[3.3.0]octane (CH3CH2-3.3.0-Dabco) with halogen atoms X (Cl or Br) and then contining to react it with FeBr3 in a HBr aqueous solution, we successfully synthesized three kinds of organic-inorganic hybrid switchable phase-change materials, [CH3CH2-3.3.0-Dabco]FeBr4 (1), [ClCH2-3.3.0-Dabco]FeBr4 (2), and [BrCH2-3.3.0-Dabco]FeBr4 (3), which were fully characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction and variable-temperature powder X-ray diffraction. Compared to compound 1, compounds 2 and 3 show two pairs of reversible phase transitions, dielectric anomalies, and a second-harmonic-generation effect, which are successfully induced due to the halogen substitution. This study offers an effective molecular design strategy for the exploration and construction of iron halide organic-inorganic hybrid materials with temperature-adjustable physical properties.

Sequestration of helium and xenon via iron-halide compounds in early Earth

The terrestrial abundance anomalies of helium and xenon suggest the presence of deep-Earth reservoirs of these elements, which has led to great interest in searching for materials that can host these usually unreactive elements. Here, using an advanced crystal structure search approach in conjunction with first-principles calculations, we show that several Xe/He-bearing iron halides are thermodynamically stable in a broad region of P–T phase space below 60 GPa. Our results present a compelling case for sequestration of He and Xe in the early Earth and may suggest their much wider distribution in the present Earth than previously believed. These findings offer insights into key material-based and physical mechanisms for elucidating major geological phenomena.

Stable compounds may have stored helium and xenon during Earth’s formation

A collection of iron halide compounds could account for the abundance of noble gasses in Earth’s deep interior.

Simple Iron Halides Enable Electrochemically Mediated ATRP in Nonpolar Media.

An electrochemically controlled atom transfer radical polymerization (eATRP) was successfully carried out with a minimal amount (ppm-level) of FeBr3 catalyst in a nonpolar solvent, specifically anisole. Traditionally, nonpolar media have been advantageous for Fe-based ATRP, but their low conductivity has hindered any electrochemical application. This study introduces the application of electrocatalytic methods in a highly nonpolar polymerization medium. Precise control over the polymerization was obtained by employing anhydrous anisole with only 400 ppm of FeBr3 and applying a negative overpotential of 0.3 V. Additionally, employing an undivided cell setup with two simple iron wire electrodes resulted in a significant 15-fold reduction in electrical resistance compared to traditional divided cell setups. This enabled the production of polymers with a dispersity of ≤1.2. Lastly, an examination of kinetic and thermodynamic aspects indicated that the ppm-level catalysis was facilitated by the high ATRP equilibrium constant of Fe catalysts in nonpolar environments.

Visible light-triggered selective C(sp2)-H/C(sp3)-H coupling of benzenes with aliphatic hydrocarbons

The direct and selective coupling of benzenes with aliphatic hydrocarbons is a promising strategy for C(sp2)-C(sp3) bond formation using readily available starting materials, yet it remains a significant challenge. In this study, we have developed a simplified photochemical system that incorporates catalytic amounts of iron(III) halides as multifunctional reagents and air as a green oxidant to address this synthetic problem. Under mild conditions, the reaction between a strong C(sp2)-H bond and a robust C(sp3)-H bond has been achieved, affording a broad range of cross-coupling products with high yields and commendable chemo-, site-selectivity. The iron halide acts as a multifunctional reagent that responds to visible light, initiates C-centered radicals, induces single-electron oxidation to carbocations, and participates in a subsequent Friedel-Crafts-type process. The gradual release of radical species and carbocation intermediates appears to be critical for achieving desirable reactivity and selectivity. This eco-friendly, cost-efficient approach offers access to various building blocks from abundant hydrocarbon feedstocks, and demonstrates the potential of iron halides in sustainable synthesis.

Germylene-Fe complexes caused by heterometallic coupling and investigation into the 3d-4p bonding

The interpretation of heterometallic bonding nature is a basic work of inorganic chemistry. By means of intermetallic substitution of germylene anions with iron halide complexes CpFe(CO)2I and β-diketiminato FeII chloride, the ferrogermylene complexes 3a, 3b and 4a were synthesized and structurally characterized. The structural and IR characterizations show the presence of the Ge←Fe π backbonding in molecules 3a, 3b and 4a. The computational works on frontier molecular orbitals and their comparison of energy states confirmed that σ donation and π backbonding are both weak in these molecules, despite three complexes have longer Ge-Fe bonds, whose strength decreases slightly with the degressive electron density around Fe environment in a sequence from 3a, 3b to 4a.

Spin-Crossover Behaviors of Iron(II) Complexes Bearing Halogen Ligands in Solid State and Solution.

Numerous Fe(II) spin-crossover (SCO) compounds have been developed in the past decades, while the reports on the SCO materials with halogen atoms acting as coordinating ligands remain rare. In this study, we synthesize three iron(II) halide complexes with a general formula of [FeII(Py5Me2)X]+ (Py5Me2 = 2,6-bis[1,1-bis(2-pyridyl)ethyl]pyridine, X = Cl- or Br-) that undergo complete SCO transitions at near room temperature. The SCO properties of these compounds are investigated in detail by magnetic measurements, variable-temperature single-crystal X-ray diffractions, and Mössbauer spectra analyses. Because of the good stability of the coordination structures and suitable ligand-field strength, these compounds show robust spin transitions in both solid state and solution.

Electrochemical Investigation of Iron-Catalyzed Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization.

Use of iron-based catalysts in atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) is very interesting because of the abundance of the metal and its biocompatibility. Although the mechanism of action is not well understood yet, iron halide salts are usually used as catalysts, often in the presence of nitrogen or phosphorous ligands (L). In this study, electrochemically mediated ATRP (eATRP) of methyl methacrylate (MMA) catalyzed by FeCl3, both in the absence and presence of additional ligands, was investigated in dimethylformamide. The electrochemical behavior of FeCl3 and FeCl3/L was deeply investigated showing the speciation of Fe(III) and Fe(II) and the role played by added ligands. It is shown that amine ligands form stable iron complexes, whereas phosphines act as reducing agents. eATRP of MMA catalyzed by FeCl3 was investigated in different conditions. In particular, the effects of temperature, catalyst concentration, catalyst-to-initiator ratio, halide ion excess and added ligands were investigated. In general, polymerization was moderately fast but difficult to control. Surprisingly, the best results were obtained with FeCl3 without any other ligand. Electrogenerated Fe(II) effectively activates the dormant chains but deactivation of the propagating radicals by Fe(III) species is less efficient, resulting in dispersity > 1.5, unless a high concentration of FeCl3 is used.

Iron L3-edge energy shifts for the full range of possible 3d occupations within the same oxidation state of iron halides

Chemical shift spread of 420meV of formally identical metal centers solely induced by change in metal 3d occupation.

Halogen Transfer to Carbon Radicals by High-Valent Iron Chloride and Iron Fluoride Corroles.

High-valent iron halide corroles were examined to determine their reactivity with carbon radicals and their ability to undergo radical rebound-like processes. Beginning with Fe(Cl)(ttppc) (1) (ttppc = 5,10,15-tris(2,4,6-triphenylphenyl)corrolato3-), the new iron corroles Fe(OTf)(ttppc) (2), Fe(OTf)(ttppc)(AgOTf) (3), and Fe(F)(ttppc) (4) were synthesized. Complexes 3 and 4 are the first iron triflate and iron fluoride corroles to be structurally characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction. The structure of 3 reveals an AgI-pyrrole (η2-π) interaction. The Fe(Cl)(ttppc) and Fe(F)(ttppc) complexes undergo halogen transfer to triarylmethyl radicals, and kinetic analysis of the reaction between (p-OMe-C6H4)3C• and 1 gave k = 1.34(3) × 103 M-1 s-1 at 23 °C and 2.2(2) M-1 s-1 at -60 °C, ΔH⧧ = +9.8(3) kcal mol-1, and ΔS⧧ = -14(1) cal mol-1 K-1 through an Eyring analysis. Complex 4 is significantly more reactive, giving k = 1.16(6) × 105 M-1 s-1 at 23 °C. The data point to a concerted mechanism and show the trend X = F- > Cl- > OH- for Fe(X)(ttppc). This study provides mechanistic insights into halogen rebound for an iron porphyrinoid complex.

Elucidating the Role of Halides and Iron during Radiolysis-Driven Oxidative Etching of Gold Nanocrystals Using Liquid Cell Transmission Electron Microscopy and Pulse Radiolysis.

Graphene liquid cell transmission electron microscopy (TEM) has enabled the observation of a variety of nanoscale transformations. Yet understanding the chemistry of the liquid cell solution and its impact on the observed transformations remains an important step toward translating insights from liquid cell TEM to benchtop chemistry. Gold nanocrystal etching can be used as a model system to probe the reactivity of the solution. FeCl3 has been widely used to promote gold oxidation in bulk and liquid cell TEM studies, but the roles of the halide and iron species have not been fully elucidated. In this work, we observed the etching trajectories of gold nanocrystals in different iron halide solutions. We observed an increase in gold nanocrystal etch rate going from Cl-- to Br-- to I--containing solutions. This is consistent with a mechanism in which the dominant role of halides is as complexation agents for oxidized gold species. Additionally, the mechanism through which FeCl3 induces etching in liquid cell TEM remains unclear. Ground-state bleaching of the Fe(III) absorption band observed through pulse radiolysis indicates that iron may react with Cl2·- radicals to form an oxidized transient species under irradiation. Complete active space self-consistent field (CASSCF) calculations indicate that the FeCl3 complex is oxidized to an Fe species with an OH radical ligand. Together our data indicate that an oxidized Fe species may be the active oxidant, while halides modulate the etch rate by tuning the reduction potential of gold nanocrystals.

Iron-Catalyzed Halogen Exchange of Trifluoromethyl Arenes*.

The facile production of ArCF2 X and ArCX3 from ArCF3 using catalytic iron(III)halides is reported, which constitutes the first iron-catalyzed halogen exchange for non-aromatic C-F bonds. Theoretical calculations suggest direct activation of C-F bonds by iron coordination. ArCX3 and ArCF2 X products of the reaction are synthetically valuable due to their diversification potential. In particular, chloro- and bromodifluoromethyl arenes (ArCF2 Cl, ArCF2 Br respectively) provide access to a myriad of difluoromethyl arene derivatives (ArCF2 R). To optimize for mono-halogen exchange, a statistical method called Design of Experiments was used. Optimized parameters were successfully applied to electron rich and electron deficient aromatic substrates, and to the late stage diversification of flufenoxuron, a commercial insecticide. These methods are highly practical, being run at convenient temperatures and using inexpensive common reagents.

γ-valerolactone (GVL) as a bio-based green solvent and ligand for iron-mediated AGET ATRP

AbstractIn this paper, γ-valerolactone (GVL), a bio-based polar solvent, was applied as green solvent for iron(III)-catalyzed AGET ATRP without any external ligand. GVL is a fully degradable, non-toxic green solvent and has complex ability to iron halide complexes through –OCO- group. GVL as the solvent and the ligand for AGET ATRP of MMA in a controlled manner, as proved by kinetic study, the low PDI values and the increase in polymer molecular weight versus monomer conversion. Chain re-initiation experiments and 1HNMR characterization were conducted to further confirm the living feature.

Synthesis of Halogenated Cyclic Enamines from Cyclic N‐2‐En‐4‐ynyl‐N‐1‐ynylamides and N‐Propargyl‐N‐1‐ynylamides via a Tandem Iron Halide Promoted N‐to‐C Shift‐Aza‐Prins Cyclization Sequence

AbstractA facile and efficient N‐to‐C allyl shift‐aza‐Prins cyclization sequence of cyclic N‐2‐en‐4‐ynyl‐N‐1‐ynylamides is promoted by iron(III) chloride, generating chloro‐containing bridged bicyclic enamines in minutes and in high yields. This reaction involves an unprecedented formation of a ketenimine via Fe(III)‐mediated N‐to‐C allyl rearrangement, followed by aza‐Prins cyclization. This sequence can also be applied to the generation of brominated cyclobutenamine derivatives using Fe(III) bromide and N‐propargyl‐N‐1‐ynylamides.magnified image

Structures and Stability of Iron Halides at the Earth’s Mantle and Core Pressures: Implications for the Missing Halogen Paradox

The terrestrial abundance of heavy halogens Cl, Br, and I is depleted by approximately one order of magnitude relative to those predicted on the basis of their volatilities. One plausible explanation for this missing halogen paradox is their sequestration into the Earth’s core. Therefore, heavy halogens in the core may combine with the dominant element, Fe, to form iron halides that potentially exert important effects on the properties and dynamic evolution of the Earth’s inner core. In this study, stable iron halide phases have been predicted from first-principles structural searches at four pressures corresponding to those at the Earth’s mantle and core. At 360 GPa (corresponding to the inner core), the most stable iron chloride is CsCl-type FeCl, supporting the hypothesis that light-element impurities can stabilize the body-centered cubic Fe structure. At pressures of the Earth’s core, it is also observed that the chemical nature of iodine changes from an electron acceptor to an electron donor. This ch...

Facile and efficient preparation of α-halomethyl ketones from α-diazo ketones catalyzed by iron(III) halides and silica gel

An efficient and mild method for the synthesis of α-halomethyl ketones from α-diazo ketones was developed using ferric chloride or bromide as the halogen source and silica gel as the hydrogen source, with good to excellent yields.

Simple combination of a protic salt and an iron halide: precursor for a Fe, N and S co-doped catalyst for the oxygen reduction reaction in alkaline and acidic media

A simple and robust strategy for an Fe based oxygen reduction catalyst using a protic salt and an iron halide.

Proximity and Josephson effects in microstructures based on multiband superconductors (Review Article)

Emerging in the 1950s, the multiband superconductivity has been considered for a long time as an approximate model in the form of a generalization of the BCS theory to the case of two bands for a more accurate quantitative description of the properties and characteristics of such superconductors as cuprates, heavy fermions compounds, metal boron carbides, fullerides, strontium ruthenate etc. due to their complex piecewise-continuous Fermi surfaces. However the discovery of the multiband structure of the superconducting state in magnesium diboride in 2001 and iron oxypnictides and halides in 2008 led to the appearance of many papers in which effects and different dependences well known for usual one-band s-wave superconductors were re-examined. The main purpose of these studies was to reveal the symmetry type of the order parameter, which provides an important information about the mechanism of Cooper pairing in these superconductors. One of the most effective methods of obtaining information on the symmetry properties of the order parameter in the multiband superconductors is phase-sensitive techniques. This review summarizes the results of theoretical and experimental studies of the proximity and Josephson effects in systems based on multiband superconductors in contact with normal metals, insulators and other superconductors.

Reactions of iron(II) hydrides formed by selective C[sbnd]F/C[sbnd]H bond activation in fluoroaryl-imines

In this paper the reactions of iron(II) hydrides 6–10 formed by selective CF/CH bond activation in fluoroaryl-imines were reported. Iron hydrides 6 and 7 reacted with haloalkane to give rise to the corresponding iron halides 11 and 12 with the mer-rearrangement of the three trimethylphosphine ligands. The related trifluoromethylcarboxyl iron complexes 13 and 14 with the carboxyl group as monodentate ligand were obtained from the reactions of hydrides 8 and 9 with F3CCOOH. The reaction of iron hydride 6 with Lewis acid LiBF4 delivered ionic iron complex 15. Both the reaction of iron hydride 10 with Me3SiCCH and the reaction of iron bromide 11 with Me3SiCCLi could provide the derivative trimethylsilylacetylenyl iron(II) complexes 16 and 17 respectively. The molecular structures of complexes 12, 13 and 17 were determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction.

ChemInform Abstract: Iron(II) Halide Promoted Cyclization of Cyclic 2‐Enynamides: Stereoselective Synthesis of Halogenated Bicyclic γ‐Lactams.

A simple and mild process was developed for the highly stereoselective synthesis of halogenated bicyclic [4.3.0] and [3.3.0] γ-lactams, possessing four stereocenters, from easily available cyclic 2-enynamides. The reaction required only an inexpensive iron(II) halide under dry air and was tolerant of aryl, heteroaryl, and alkyl groups at the alkyne terminus.