Spin State Of Iron Research Articles

Facile and Reversible Formation of Iron(III)-Oxo-Cerium(IV) Adducts from Nonheme Oxoiron(IV) Complexes and Cerium(III).

Ceric ammonium nitrate (CAN) or CeIV (NH4 )2 (NO3 )6 is often used in artificial water oxidation and generally considered to be an outer-sphere oxidant. Herein we report the spectroscopic and crystallographic characterization of [(N4Py)FeIII -O-CeIV (OH2 )(NO3 )4 ]+ (3), a complex obtained from the reaction of [(N4Py)FeII (NCMe)]2+ with 2 equiv CAN or [(N4Py)FeIV =O]2+ (2) with CeIII (NO3 )3 in MeCN. Surprisingly, the formation of 3 is reversible, the position of the equilibrium being dependent on the MeCN/water ratio of the solvent. These results suggest that the FeIV and CeIV centers have comparable reduction potentials. Moreover, the equilibrium entails a change in iron spin state, from S=1 FeIV in 2 to S=5/2 in 3, which is found to be facile despite the formal spin-forbidden nature of this process. This observation suggests that FeIV =O complexes may avail of reaction pathways involving multiple spin states having little or no barrier.

Critical behavior of Mg1–xFexO at the pressure-induced iron spin-state crossover

We present a high-pressure study of $\mathrm{M}{\mathrm{g}}_{1--x}\mathrm{F}{\mathrm{e}}_{x}\mathrm{O}$ (ferropericlase, Fp) single crystals $0.04(1)\ensuremath{\le}x\ensuremath{\le}0.33(1)$ with a focus on ferrous iron spin-state crossover and the material behavior preceding it. Using Vegard's law and highly accurate high-pressure single-crystal experimental data, we extract the lattice parameter ${a}_{\mathrm{FeO}}^{\mathrm{HS}}$ of the ``FeO high spin lattice contribution'' in the MgO-FeO solid solution. We find that ferropericlases with a wide range of compositions share the same critical parameter ${a}_{C}$ (defined as the minimum ${a}_{\mathrm{FeO}}^{\mathrm{HS}}$ after which spin crossover starts). Furthermore, we discuss the effect of composition on spin crossover in ferrous iron in ferropericlase in the limits of low and moderate concentrations of $\mathrm{F}{\mathrm{e}}^{2+}$.

The spin state of Fe3+in lower mantle bridgmanite

Iron- and aluminum-bearing MgSiO 3 bridgmanite is the most abundant mineral in the Earth’s interior; hence its crystal chemistry is fundamental to expanding our knowledge of the deep Earth and its evolution. In this study, the valence and spin state of iron in well-characterized Al-free Fe 3+ -rich bridgmanite were investigated by means of Mossbauer spectroscopy to understand the effect of ferric iron on the spin state. We found that a minor amount of Fe 3+ is in the low-spin state above 36 GPa and that its proportion does not increase substantially with pressure up to 83 GPa. This observation is consistent with recent experimental studies that used Mossbauer and X-ray emission spectroscopy. In the Earth’s deep lower mantle, Fe 3+ spin crossover may take place at depths below 900 and 1200 km in pyrolite and MORB, respectively. However, the effect of spin crossover on physical properties may be small due to the limited amount of Fe 3+ in the low-spin state.

Optical signatures of low spin Fe3+ in NAL at high pressure

AbstractThe iron spin transition directly affects properties of lower mantle minerals and can thus alter geophysical and geochemical characteristics of the deep Earth. While the spin transition in ferropericlase has been documented at P ~60 GPa and 300 K, experimental evidence for spin transitions in other rock‐forming minerals, such as bridgmanite and post‐perovskite, remains controversial. Multiple valence, spin, and coordination states of iron in bridgmanite and post‐perovskite are difficult to resolve with conventional spin probing techniques. Optical spectroscopy, on the other hand, can discriminate between high and low spin and between ferrous and ferric iron at different sites. Here we establish the optical signature of low spin Fe3+O6, a plausible low spin unit in bridgmanite and post‐perovskite, by optical absorption experiments in diamond anvil cells. We show that the optical absorption of Fe3+O6 in new aluminous phase (NAL) is very sensitive to the iron spin state and may represent a model behavior of bridgmanite and post‐perovskite across the spin transition. Specifically, an absorption band centered at ~19,000 cm−1 is characteristic of the 2T2g → 2T1g (2A2g) transition in low spin Fe3+ in NAL at 40 GPa, constraining the crystal field splitting energy of low spin Fe3+ to ~22,200 cm−1, which we independently confirm by first‐principles calculations. Together with available information on the electronic structure of Fe3+O6 compounds, we show that the spin‐pairing energy of Fe3+ in an octahedral field is ~20,000–23,000 cm−1. This implies that octahedrally coordinated Fe3+ in bridgmanite is low spin at P > ~40 GPa.

Spectroscopic and Computational Studies of Spin States of Iron(IV) Nitrido and Imido Complexes

High-oxidation-state metal complexes with multiply bonded ligands are of great interest for both their reactivity as well as their fundamental bonding properties. This paper reports a combined spectroscopic and theoretical investigation into the effect of the apical multiply bonded ligand on the spin-state preferences of threefold symmetric iron(IV) complexes with tris(carbene) donor ligands. Specifically, singlet (S = 0) nitrido [{PhB(ImR)3}FeN], R = tBu (1), Mes (mesityl, 2) and the related triplet (S = 1) imido complexes, [{PhB(ImR)3}Fe(NR')]+, R = Mes, R' = 1-adamantyl (3), tBu (4), were investigated by electronic absorption and Mössbauer effect spectroscopies. For comparison, two other Fe(IV) nitrido complexes, [(TIMENAr)FeN]+ (TIMENAr = tris[2-(3-aryl-imidazol-2-ylidene)ethyl]amine; Ar = Xyl (xylyl), Mes), were investigated by 57Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy, including applied-field measurements. The paramagnetic imido complexes 3 and 4 were also studied by magnetic susceptibility measurements (for 3) and paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy: high-frequency and -field electron paramagnetic resonance (for 3 and 4) and frequency-domain Fourier-transform (FD-FT) terahertz electron paramagnetic resonance (for 3), which reveal their zero-field splitting parameters. Experimentally correlated theoretical studies comprising ligand-field theory and quantum chemical theory, the latter including both density functional theory and ab initio methods, reveal the key role played by the Fe 3dz2 (a1) orbital in these systems: the nature of its interaction with the nitrido or imido ligand dictates the spin-state preference of the complex. The ability to tune the spin state through the energy and nature of a single orbital has general relevance to the factors controlling spin states in complexes with applicability as single molecule devices.

Ultrafast Relaxation Dynamics of Photoexcited Heme Model Compounds: Observation of Multiple Electronic Spin States and Vibrational Cooling.

Hemin is a unique model compound of heme proteins carrying out variable biological functions. Here, the excited state relaxation dynamics of heme model compounds in the ferric form are systematically investigated by changing the axial ligand (Cl/Br), the peripheral substituent (vinyl/ethyl-meso), and the solvent (methanol/DMSO) using femtosecond pump-probe spectroscopy upon excitation at 380 nm. The relaxation time constants of these model compounds are obtained by global analysis. Excited state deactivation pathway of the model compounds comprising the decay of the porphyrin excited state (S*) to ligand to metal charge transfer state (LMCT, τ1), back electron transfer from metal to ligand (MLCT, τ2), and relaxation to the ground state through different electronic spin states of iron (τ3 and τ4) are proposed along with the vibrational cooling processes. This is based on the excited state absorption spectral evolution, similarities between the transient absorption spectra of the ferric form and steady state absorption spectra of the low-spin ferrous form, and the data analysis. The observation of an increase of all the relaxation time constants in DMSO compared to the methanol reflects the stabilization of intermediate states involved in the electronic relaxation. The transient absorption spectra of met-myoglobin are also measured for comparison. Thus, the transient absorption spectra of these model compounds reveal the involvement of multiple iron spin states in the electronic relaxation dynamics, which could be an alternative pathway to the ground state beside the vibrational cooling processes and associated with the inherent features of the heme b type.

Catalytic Determinants of Alkene Production by the Cytochrome P450 Peroxygenase OleTJE

The Jeotgalicoccus sp. peroxygenase cytochrome P450 OleTJE (CYP152L1) is a hydrogen peroxide-driven oxidase that catalyzes oxidative decarboxylation of fatty acids, producing terminal alkenes with applications as fine chemicals and biofuels. Understanding mechanisms that favor decarboxylation over fatty acid hydroxylation in OleTJE could enable protein engineering to improve catalysis or to introduce decarboxylation activity into P450s with different substrate preferences. In this manuscript, we have focused on OleTJE active site residues Phe79, His85, and Arg245 to interrogate their roles in substrate binding and catalytic activity. His85 is a potential proton donor to reactive iron-oxo species during substrate decarboxylation. The H85Q mutant substitutes a glutamine found in several peroxygenases that favor fatty acid hydroxylation. H85Q OleTJE still favors alkene production, suggesting alternative protonation mechanisms. However, the mutant undergoes only minor substrate binding-induced heme iron spin state shift toward high spin by comparison with WT OleTJE, indicating the key role of His85 in this process. Phe79 interacts with His85, and Phe79 mutants showed diminished affinity for shorter chain (C10–C16) fatty acids and weak substrate-induced high spin conversion. F79A OleTJE is least affected in substrate oxidation, whereas the F79W/Y mutants exhibit lower stability and cysteine thiolate protonation on reduction. Finally, Arg245 is crucial for binding the substrate carboxylate, and R245E/L mutations severely compromise activity and heme content, although alkene products are formed from some substrates, including stearic acid (C18:0). The results identify crucial roles for the active site amino acid trio in determining OleTJE catalytic efficiency in alkene production and in regulating protein stability, heme iron coordination, and spin state.

Hydroxo-bridged diiron(iii) and dimanganese(iii) bisporphyrins: modulation of metal spins by counter anions.

The chemistry of oxo/hydroxo-bridged diheme centers, connected covalently through bridges, has attracted much attention recently. Close approach of the two heme centers in the μ-hydroxo complex results in an unequal core deformation which leads to the unusual stabilization of two different spin states of iron in a single molecular framework. The spin states are also counter-anion specific and are reversibly interconvertable. An increased separation between the heme centers, however, leads to a weaker inter-ring interaction and, hence, renders the iron centers equivalent. The counter anion has been found to perturb the spin state ordering of iron via H-bonding interaction, switching positions between counter anion and axial ligand, ion-dipole interaction, charge polarization etc. A tightly associated counter anion with one of the heme centers generates significant steric effect in both the solid state and solution and induces significant change in the structure and properties, including the iron spin state, without affecting the overall topology of the complex or the metal oxidation state. A brief account of our systematic investigation on this subject is presented in the present Perspective article.

Four-step iron(ii) spin state cascade driven by antagonistic solid state interactions.

A four-stepped cascade of Fe(ii) high spin (HS) to low spin (LS) states is demonstrated in a family of 2-D Hofmann materials, [Fe3II(saltrz)6(MII(CN)4)3]·8(H2O) (MII = Pd (1Pd ), Pt (1Pt ); saltrz = (E)-2-(((4H-1,2,4-triazol-4-yl)imino)methyl)phenol). Alongside the fully HS and LS Fe(ii) states, fractional spin state stabilization occurs at HS/LS values of 5/6, 2/3, and 1/6. This unconventional spin state periodicity is driven by the presence of multiple spin crossover (SCO) active Fe(ii) sites which are in subtly distinct environments driven by a network of antagonistic host-host and host-guest interactions. Alternating long- and short-range magnetostructural ordering is achieved over the five distinct spin state ratios HS1.0LS0.0, HS0.833LS0.167, HS0.667LS0.333, HS0.167LS0.833, and HS0.0LS1.0 owing to the flexibility of this 2-D interdigitated lattice topology interconnected by intermolecular interactions. A distinct wave-like spin state patterning is structurally evidenced for each intermediate phase.

Evidence of crystal packing effects in stabilizing high or low spin states of iron(ii) complexes with functionalized 2,6-bis(pyrazol-1-yl)pyridine ligands.

The molecular structures and magnetic properties of homoleptic iron(ii) compounds [Fe(bpp-COOMe)2](ClO4)2 (1) and [Fe(bpp-triolH3)2](ClO4)2 (2) have been investigated to ascertain their spin crossover (SCO) behaviour. In these hexacoordinated complexes, the bpp (2,6-bis(pyrazol-1-yl)pyridine) ligands adopt a mer-mer coordination mode and carry COOMe or C(O)NHC(CH2OH)3para substituents, respectively, on the central pyridyl ring. In spite of the almost equal donor power of the ligands to the iron(ii) centre, the two compounds feature different spin state configurations at room temperature. Compound 1 displays a highly-distorted octahedral environment around the iron(ii) centre, which adopts a high spin (HS) state at all temperatures, even under an external applied pressure up to 1.0 GPa. By contrast, 2 is characterized by a more regular octahedral coordination around the metal ion and exhibits a low spin (LS) configuration at or below room temperature. However, it shows a thermally-induced SCO behaviour at T > 400 K, along with Light-Induced Excited Spin State Trapping (LIESST) at low temperature, with TLIESST = 38 K. Since DFT (U)M06/6-311+G(d) geometry optimizations in vacuo indicate that both complexes should adopt a HS state and a highly-distorted coordination geometry, the stabilization of a LS configuration in 2 is ultimately ascribed to the effect of intermolecular hydrogen bonds, which align the [Fe(bpp-triolH3)2]2+ cations in 1D chains and impart profound differences in the geometric arrangement of the ligands.

Remarkable Anion-Dependent Spin-State Switching in Diiron(III) μ-Hydroxo Bisporphyrins: What Role do Counterions Play?

Addition of 2,4,6-trinitrophenol (HTNP) to an ethene-bridged diiron(III) μ-oxo bisporphyrin (1) in CH2 Cl2 initially leads to the formation of diiron(III) μ-hydroxo bisporphyrin (2⋅TNP) with a phenolate counterion that, after further addition of HTNP or dissolution in a nonpolar solvent, converts to a diiron(III) complex with axial phenoxide coordination (3⋅(TNP)2 ). The progress of the reaction from μ-oxo to μ-hydroxo to axially ligated complex has been monitored in solution by using 1 H NMR spectroscopy because their signals appear in three different and distinct spectral regions. The X-ray structure of 2⋅TNP revealed that the nearly planar TNP counterion fits perfectly within the bisporphyrin cavity to form a strong hydrogen bond with the μ-hydroxo group, which thus stabilizes the two equivalent iron centers. In contrast, such counterions as I5 , I3 , BF4 , SbF6 , and PF6 are found to be tightly associated with one of the porphyrin rings and, therefore, stabilize two different spin states of iron in one molecule. A spectroscopic investigation of 2⋅TNP has revealed the presence of two equivalent iron centers with a high-spin state (S=5/2) in the solid state that converts to intermediate spin (S=3/2) in solution. An extensive computational study by using a range of DFT methods was performed on 2⋅TNP and 2+ , and clearly supports the experimentally observed spin flip triggered by hydrogen-bonding interactions. The counterion is shown to perturb the spin-state ordering through, for example, hydrogen-bonding interactions, switched positions between counterion and axial ligand, ion-pair interactions, and charge polarization. The present investigation thus provides a clear rationalization of the unusual counterion-specific spin states observed in the μ-hydroxo bisporphyrins that have so far remained the most outstanding issue.

Nonanuclear Spin-Crossover Complex Containing Iron(II) and Iron(III) Based on a 2,6-Bis(pyrazol-1-yl)pyridine Ligand Functionalized with a Carboxylate Group.

The synthesis and magnetostructural characterization of [Fe(III)3(μ3-O)(H2O)3[Fe(II)(bppCOOH)(bppCOO)]6](ClO4)13·(CH3)2CO)6·(solvate) (2) are reported. This compound is obtained as a secondary product during synthesis of the mononuclear complex [Fe(II)(bppCOOH)2](ClO4)2 (1). The single-crystal X-ray diffraction structure of 2 shows that it contains the nonanuclear cluster of the formula [Fe(III)3(μ3-O)(H2O)3[Fe(II)(bppCOOH)(bppCOO)]6](13+), which is formed by a central Fe(III)3O core coordinated to six partially deprotonated [Fe(II)(bppCOOH)(bppCOO)](+) complexes. Raman spectroscopy studies on single crystals of 1 and 2 have been performed to elucidate the spin and oxidation states of iron in 2. These studies and magnetic characterization indicate that most of the iron(II) complexes of 2 remain in the low-spin (LS) state and present a gradual and incomplete spin crossover above 300 K. On the other hand, the Fe(III) trimer shows the expected antiferromagnetic behavior. From the structural point of view, 2 represents the first example in which bppCOO(-) acts as a bridging ligand, thus forming a polynuclear magnetic complex.

Effect of Inter-Porphyrin Distance on Spin-State in Diiron(III) μ-Hydroxo Bisporphyrins.

The synthesis, structure, and properties of bischloro, μ-oxo, and a family of μ-hydroxo complexes (with BF4 (-) , SbF6 (-) , and PF6 (-) counteranions) of diethylpyrrole-bridged diiron(III) bisporphyrins are reported. Spectroscopic characterization has revealed that the iron centers of the bischloro and μ-oxo complexes are in the high-spin state (S=(5) /2 ). However, the two iron centers in the diiron(III) μ-hydroxo complexes are equivalent with high spin (S=(5) /2 ) in the solid state and an intermediate-spin state (S=(3) /2 ) in solution. The molecules have been compared with previously known diiron(III) μ-hydroxo complexes of ethane-bridged bisporphyrin, in which two different spin states of iron were stabilized under the influence of counteranions. The dimanganese(III) analogues were also synthesized and spectroscopically characterized. A comparison of the X-ray structural parameters between diethylpyrrole and ethane-bridged μ-hydroxo bisporphyrins suggest an increased separation, and hence, less interactions between the two heme units of the former. As a result, unlike the ethane-bridged μ-hydroxo complex, both iron centers become equivalent in the diethylpyrrole-bridged complex and their spin state remains unresponsive to the change in counteranion. The iron(III) centers of the diethylpyrrole-bridged diiron(III) μ-oxo bisporphyrin undergo very strong antiferromagnetic interactions (J=-137.7 cm(-1) ), although the coupling constant is reduced to only a weak value in the μ-hydroxo complexes (J=-42.2, -44.1, and -42.4 cm(-1) for the BF4 , SbF6 , and PF6 complexes, respectively).

High‐spin Fe2+ and Fe3+ in single‐crystal aluminous bridgmanite in the lower mantle

AbstractSpin and valence states of iron in single‐crystal bridgmanite (Mg0.89Fe0.12Al0.11Si0.89O3) are investigated using X‐ray emission and Mössbauer spectroscopies with laser annealing up to 115 GPa. The results show that Fe predominantly substitutes for Mg2+ in the pseudo‐dodecahedral A site, in which 80% of the iron is Fe3+ that enters the lattice via the charge‐coupled substitution with Al3+ in the octahedral B site. The total spin momentum and hyperfine parameters indicate that these ions remain in the high‐spin state with Fe2+ having extremely high quadrupole splitting due to lattice distortion. (Al,Fe)‐bearing bridgmanite is expected to contain mostly high‐spin, A‐site Fe3+, together with a smaller amount of A‐site Fe2+, that remains stable throughout the region. Even though the spin transition of B‐site Fe3+ in bridgmanite was reported to cause changes in its elasticity at high pressures, (Fe,Al)‐bearing bridgmanite with predominantly A‐site Fe will not exhibit elastic anomalies associated with the spin transition.

Metal complexes of a phenol-tailed porphyrin with different hydrogen bonds

Hydrogen bonds are very common and important interactions in biological systems, they are used to control the microenvironment around metal centers. It is a challenge to develop appropriate models for studying hydrogen bonds. We have synthesized two metal complexes of the phenol-tailed porphyrin, [Zn(HL)] and [Fe(HL)(C6H4(OH)(O))]. X-ray crystallography reveals that the porphyrin functions as a dianion HL2− and the phenol OH is involved in hydrogen bonds in both structures. In [Zn(HL)], an intramolecular hydrogen bond is formed between the carbonyl oxygen and OH. In [Fe(HL)(C6H4(OH)(O))], the unligated O(5) of the ligand is involved in two hydrogen bonds, as a hydrogen bond donor and a hydrogen bond acceptor. The overall electronic effect on the ligand could be very small, with negligible impact on the structure and the spin state of iron(III). The structural differences caused by the hydrogen bonds are also discussed.

Separation of enzymatic functions and variation of spin state of rice allene oxide synthase-1 by mutation of Phe-92 and Pro-430

Rice allene oxide synthase-1 mutants carrying F92L, P430A or F92L/P430A amino acid substitution mutations were constructed, recombinant mutant and wild type proteins were purified and their substrate preference, UV–vis spectra and heme iron spin state were characterized. The results show that the hydroperoxide lyase activities of F92L and F92L/P430A mutants prefer 13-hydroperoxy substrate to other hydroperoxydienoic acids or hydroperoxytrienoic acids. The Soret maximum was completely red-shifted in P430A and F92L/P430A mutants, but it was partially shifted in the F92L mutant. ESR spectral data showed that wild type, F92L and P430A mutants occupied high and low spin states, while the F92L/P430A mutant occupied only low spin state. The extent of the red shift of the Soret maximum increased as the population of low spin heme iron increased, suggesting that the spectral shift reflects the high to low transition of heme iron spin state in rice allene oxide synthase-1. Relative to wild type allene oxide synthase-1, the hydroperoxide lyase activities of F92L and F92L/P430A are less sensitive to inhibition by imidazole with (13S or 9S)-hydroperoxydienoic acid as substrate and more sensitive than wild type with (13S)-hydroperoxytrienoic acid as substrate. Our results suggest that hydroperoxydienoic acid is the preferred substrate for the hydroperoxide lyase activity and (13S)-hydroperoxytrienoic acid is the preferred substrate for allene oxide synthase activity of allene oxide synthase-1.

Compression of a multiphase mantle assemblage: Effects of undesirable stress and stress annealing on the iron spin state crossover in ferropericlase

AbstractUsing synchrotron‐based X‐ray diffraction, we explore characteristic signatures for nonhydrostatic stresses and their effect on the spin state crossover of ferrous iron in (Mg, Fe)O ferropericlase (Fp) upon compression in a two‐phase mixture which includes an Al‐ and Fe‐bearing bridgmanite (Bm). We observe an influence of nonhydrostatic stresses on the spin state crossover starting pressure and width. The undesirable stresses discussed here include uniaxial deviatoric stress evolving in the diamond anvil cell and effects of intergrain interaction. While the former leads to a pressure overestimation, the latter one lowers the pressure of the onset for the high‐spin to low‐spin electronic transition in Fe2+ in ferropericlase (Mg, Fe)O with respect to hydrostatic conditions.

Peroxidase activation of cytoglobin by anionic phospholipids: Mechanisms and consequences

Cytoglobin (Cygb) is a hexa-coordinated hemoprotein with yet to be defined physiological functions. The iron coordination and spin state of the Cygb heme group are sensitive to oxidation of two cysteine residues (Cys38/Cys83) and/or the binding of free fatty acids. However, the roles of redox vs lipid regulators of Cygb's structural rearrangements in the context of the protein peroxidase competence are not known. Searching for physiologically relevant lipid regulators of Cygb, here we report that anionic phospholipids, particularly phosphatidylinositolphosphates, affect structural organization of the protein and modulate its iron state and peroxidase activity both conjointly and/or independently of cysteine oxidation. Thus, different anionic lipids can operate in cysteine-dependent and cysteine-independent ways as inducers of the peroxidase activity. We establish that Cygb's peroxidase activity can be utilized for the catalysis of peroxidation of anionic phospholipids (including phosphatidylinositolphosphates) yielding mono-oxygenated molecular species. Combined with the computational simulations we propose a bipartite lipid binding model that rationalizes the modes of interactions with phospholipids, the effects on structural re-arrangements and the peroxidase activity of the hemoprotein.

Iron spin state and site distribution in FeAlO3-bearing bridgmanite

DFT at the GGA, GGA+U and hybrid functional levels were used to investigate thousands of different Al and Fe3+ configurations of MgSiO3–FeAlO3 (MS–FA) and MgSiO3–FeAlO3–Al2O3 bridgmanite at deep mantle conditions. Comparison of the different functionals and atomic charge analysis suggests that GGA, frequently used to explain high to low spin transitions observed in several Mössbauer and X-ray emission spectroscopy experiments, is hampered by spurious self-interaction errors in the exchange-correlation energy. Configurational Boltzmann averaging shows that the B site is thermally inaccessible to Fe3+ at the GGA+U and hybrid levels, and we find no evidence for a spin-pairing transition in fully (thermodynamically) equilibrated samples of bridgmanite, even at the lowermost mantle conditions. The comparison of the cation radii of Fe3+ and Mg supports a spin transition accompanied by a site exchange, but the flexibility of FeO bonds to locally adapt promotes the incorporation of iron in the irregularly coordinated A-site. The concept of ionic radii is therefore unsuitable for analysis of spin state and site exchange in bridgmanite at these conditions. Consistent with previous computational work and experimental studies with glass and gel as starting material, we find that ferric iron kinetically trapped at the B site undergoes a spin transition under lowermost mantle conditions. In bridgmanite with mole fraction of Fe3+>Al a charge-balancing amount of low spin Fe3+ will be thermodynamically stable at the B site, but because bridgmanite in peridotitic and basaltic lithologies mostly has Al/Fetotal above unity, FA with high spin Fe3+ in the A-site will be the dominant iron component. The lack of a Fe3+ spin transition in the FA-component has important implications for bridgmanite–ferropericlase partitioning of iron and magnesium and the mineral physics of the lowermost mantle.

Spectroscopic Characterization and Reactivity of Triplet and Quintet Iron(IV) Oxo Complexes in the Gas Phase.

Closely structurally related triplet and quintet iron(IV) oxo complexes with a tetradentate aminopyridine ligand were generated in the gas phase, spectroscopically characterized, and their reactivities in hydrogen‐transfer and oxygen‐transfer reactions were compared. The spin states were unambiguously assigned based on helium tagging infrared photodissociation (IRPD) spectra of the mass‐selected iron complexes. It is shown that the stretching vibrations of the nitrate counterion can be used as a spectral marker of the central iron spin state.