Iron complexes of N-substituted thiosalicylideneimines. Part 1. Synthesis and reactions with oxygen and carbon monoxide

Abstract

lron(II) complexes with N-substituted bidentate and tetradentate thiosalicylideneimines can be prepared by the reaction of bis(thiosalicylaldehydato)iron(II) with appropriate primary amines. The bidentate compounds show S= 2 spin states while a number of the tetradentate compounds have the unusual S= 1 state. The tetradentate complexes react with CO to form monocarbonyl complexes and with O₂ to form Fe^IIIµ-oxo-bridged derivatives. Some evidence is presented to support the preliminary formation at low temperatures of a dinuclear iron(III) peroxo-species as the precursor of the µ-oxo-compounds. Several spin-paired Fe^III compounds containing SN₂-bonded tridentate ligands are also reported.