Dinuclear Iron(III) and Nickel(II) Complexes Containing N-(2-Pyridylmethyl)-N '-(2-hydroxyethyl)ethylenediamine: Catalytic Oxidation and Magnetic Properties

Abstract

Dinuclear Fe-III and Ni-II complexes, [(phen-O)Fe(N-3)](2)(NO3)(2) (1) and [(phenOH)Ni(N-3)(2)](2) (2), were prepared by treating Fe(NO3)(3)center dot 9H(2)O and Ni(NO3)(2)center dot 6H(2)O in methanol, respectively, with phenOH (=N-(2-pyridylmethyl)-N'-(2-hydroxyethyl)ethylenediamine) and NaN3; both 1 and 2 were characterized by elemental analysis, IR spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and magnetic susceptibility measurements. Two ethoxo-bridged Fe-III and two azido-bridged Ni-II were ob-served in 1 and 2, respectively; corresponding antiferromagnetic interaction via the bridged ethoxo groups and strong ferromagnetic coupling via the bridged end-on azido ligands within the dimeric unit were observed. Complex 1 did not exhibit any catalytic activity, while 2 exhibited excellent catalytic activities for the epoxidation of aliphatic, aromatic, and terminal olefins.