Comparison of chemical interactions with Li+ and catalytic reactivity of electrochemically generated [FeICl(L)]2− and [CoI(L)]− complexes (L = salen or salophen)†
Abstract
The cyclic voltammetric behavior of [FeIIICl(salen)] complexes has been investigated in CH3CN and compared to that obtained with [CoII(salen)] analogues. Details of the mechanism associated with iron– and cobalt–salen complex reduction in the presence of the lithium cation have been elucidated by comparison of simulated and experimental voltammograms. Electrogenerated [FeICl(salen)]2− and [FeICl(salophen)]2− complexes catalyze the dehalogenation of halo–alkyl compounds as is the case with [CoI(salen)]− complexes, even in the presence of the lithium cation which allows the reduction to occur at a less negative potential.