Oxidation of copper(II)-coordinated diethylenetriamine by hexacyanoferrate(III) ion. A kinetic investigation

The stoichiometry and kinetics of the reaction between [Cu(dien)(OH)]⁺ and [Fe(CN)₆]³⁻ in aqueous alkaline medium are described. The rate equation − (d[Fe(III)]/dt = {k₁[OH⁻]²[[Cu(dien)(OH)]⁺] + k₂[OH⁻] × [[Cu(dien)(OH)]⁺]²}([Fe(III)]/[Fe(II)]) (Fe(III) = [Fe(CN)₆]³⁻; Fe(II) = [Fe(CN)₆]⁴⁻, the 4:4:1 OH⁻/Fe(III)/[Cu(dien)(OH)]⁺ stoichiometric ratio and the nature of the ultimate products identified in the reaction solution suggest the fast formation of a doubly deprotonated Cu(III)-diamido complex which slowly undergoes an internal redox process where the ligand is oxidised to the Schiff base H₂NCH₂CH₂NCHCHNH.The [[Cu(dien)(OH)]⁺]² term in the rate equation is explained with the formation of a transient μ-hydroxo mixed-valence Cu dimer. A two-electron internal reduction of the Cu(III) complex yielding a Cu(I) intermediate is suggested to account for the presence of monovalent copper in a precipitate which forms at relatively high reactant concentrations and in the absence of dioxygen.     

Kinetics and mechanism of the reaction between 1,2-diaminopropanetetra-acetatoferrate(III) and cyanide ion

The present study examines the kinetics and mechanism of the system [FePDTA(OH)]²⁻ + 5CN⁻ ⇌ [Fe(CN)₅OH]³⁻ + PDTA⁴⁻ at pH= 11.0±0.02, I= 0.25 M and temperature = 25 ± 0.1 °C. The reaction has been studied spectrophotometrically at 395 nm (λ_max of [Fe(CN)₅OH]³⁻). The data show that the reaction has three distinguishable stages; the first stage is formation of [Fe(CN)₅OH]³⁻, the second is conversion of [Fe(CN)₅OH)]³⁻ to [Fe(CN)₆]³⁻ and last is reduction of [Fe(CN)₆]³⁻ to [Fe(CN)₆]³⁻ by the released ligand, viz., PDTA. The first reaction shows variable order dependence on cyanide concentration, one at high cyanide concentration and two at low cyanide concentration. The second reaction exhibits first order dependence on the concentration of [Fe(CN)₅OH]³⁻ as well as cyanide. The reverse reaction between [Fe(CN)₅OH]³⁻ and PDTA is first order in [Fe(CN)₅OH]³⁻ and PDTA, and inverse first order in cyanide. On the basis of forward and reverse rate studies, a five-step mechanism has been proposed for the first reaction.     

Reactivity of [PdCl(μ-med)]2 with monodentate or bidentate ligands. Structure of the dinuclear complexes [Pd(μ-med)(PPh3)]2(BF4)2 and [Pd(μ-med)(bpy)]2(BF4)2. [Hmed=N-(2-mercaptoethyl)-3,5-dimethylpyrazole]

Treatment of the ligand N-(2-mercaptoethyl)-3,5-dimethylpyrazole with [Pd(CH₃COO)₂]₃ and reaction of [PdCl(μ-med)]₂ with pyridine (py) or triphenylphosphine (PPh₃) in the presence of AgBF₄ produced the following complexes: [Pd(CH₃COO)(μ-med)]₂, [Pd(μ-med)(py)]₂(BF₄)₂ and [Pd(μ-med)(PPh₃)]₂(BF₄)₂. Similar reactions carried out with 2,2^′-bipyridine (bpy) or 1,3-bis(diphenylphosphino)propane (dppp) produced [Pd(μ-med)(bpy)]_x(BF₄)_x (x=1 or 2) and [Pd(μ-med)(dppp)]_x(BF₄)_x (x=1 or 2). Treatment of [Pd(μ-med)(bpy)]_x(BF₄)_x with [PdCl₂(CH₃CN)₂] produced [Pd₃Cl₂(μ-med)₂(bpy)₂](BF₄)₂. Treatment of [Pd(μ-med)(dppp)]_x(BF₄)_x with [PdCl₂(CH₃CN)₂] produced a mixture of [Pd(μ-Cl)(dppp)]₂(BF₄)₂ and [Pd(μ-med)₂(dppp)]²⁺. X-ray crystal structures of [Pd(μ-med)(PPh₃)]₂(BF₄)₂ · 2CH₃CN and [Pd(μ-med)(bpy)]₂(BF₄)₂ · 0.5CH₃OH are presented.     

Spectroscopic and reactivity comparison of pentacyanonitrosylruthenate(2-) with pentacyanonitrosylferrate(2-), nitroprusside

Lithium penta(cyano-¹³C)nitrosylruthenate (2-), Li₂[Ru(¹³CN)₅NO], in which the anion is the ruthenium analogue of the nitroprusside ion, has been synthesized at 90% isotopic enrichment, and characterized spectroscopically. Despite the very high level of ¹³C enrichment, no two-bond coupling ²J(¹³C_ax-Ru¹³C_eq) was detected in the high-frequency ¹³C NMR spectrum of Li₂[Ru(¹³CN)₅NO], nor was any such coupling observed in Li₄[Ru(¹³CN)₅(¹⁵NO₂)] although both two-bond couplings to ¹⁵N, ²J(¹³C_ax-Ru¹⁵NO₂) and ²J(¹³C_eqRu¹⁵N) were observed. Li₂[Ru(¹³CN)₅(¹⁴NO)] reacted with excess of Li[¹⁵NO₂] to yield Li₄[Ru(¹³CN)₅(¹⁵NO₂)] only: no Li₂[Ru(¹³CN)₅(¹⁵NO)] was observed. Li₄[Ru(¹³CN)₅(¹⁴NO₂)] however showed no exchange with Li[¹⁵NO₂]. While [Ru(CN)₅NO]²⁻ reacted with both OH⁻ and SH⁻ in reactions similar to those of [Fe(CN)₅NO]²⁻, no reactions were detected between [Ru(CN)₅NO]²⁻ and piperidine, [CH(CN)₂]⁻, [CH(COCH₃)₂]⁻, MeS⁻, or [S₂O₄]²⁻, all of which are known to react readily with [Fe(CN)₅NO]²⁻     

Electrochemical oxidation of Mo(CO)4(LL) and Mo(CO)3(LL)(CH3CN): Generation, infrared characterization, and reactivity of [Mo(CO)4(LL)] and [Mo(CO)3(LL)(CH3CN)] (LL = 2,2′-bipyridine, 1,10-phenanthroline and related ligands)

Mo(CO)₄(LL) complexes, where LL = polypyridyl ligands such as 2,2′-bipyridine and 1,10-phenanthroline, undergo quasi-reversible, one-electron oxidations in methylene chloride yielding the corresponding radical cations, [Mo(CO)₄(LL)]⁺. These electrogenerated species undergo rapid ligand substitution in the presence of acetonitrile, yielding [Mo(CO)₃(LL)(CH₃CN)]⁺; rate constants for these substitutions were measured using chronocoulometry and were found to be influenced by the steric and electronic properties of the polypyridyl ligands. [Mo(CO)₃(LL)(CH₃CN)]⁺ radical cations, which could also be generated by reversible oxidation of Mo(CO)₃(LL)(CH₃CN) in acetonitrile, can be irreversibly oxidized yielding [Mo(CO)₃(LL)(CH₃CN)₂]²⁺ after coordination by an additional acetonitrile. Infrared spectroelectrochemical experiments indicate the radical cations undergo ligand-induced net disproportionations that follow first-order kinetics in acetonitrile, ultimately yielding the corresponding Mo(CO)₄(LL) and [Mo(CO)₂(LL)(CH₃CN)₃]²⁺ species. Rate constants for the net disproportionation of [Mo(CO)₃(LL)(CH₃CN)]⁺ and the carbonyl substitution reaction of [Mo(CO)₃(LL)(CH₃CN)₂]²⁺ were measured. Thin-layer bulk oxidation studies also provided infrared characterization data of [Mo(CO)₄(ncp)]⁺ (ncp = neocuproine), [Mo(CO)₃(LL)(CH₃CN)]⁺, [Mo(CO)₃(LL)(CH₃CN)₂]²⁺ and [Mo(CO)₂(LL)(CH₃CN)₃]²⁺ complexes.     

Reactions of pentaammineruthenium complexes with 1,2- and 1,4-dicyanobenzene and cyanobenzamides: evidences of neighboring group participation

The spectral (UV-Vis and IR) and electrochemical behavior of the nitrile bonded complexes [Ru(NH₃)₅L]²⁺ (L = 1,4-dicyanobenzene (1,4-dcb), 1,2-dicyanobenzene (1,2-dcb)), [Ru(NH₃)₅(NHC(OH)-bz-4-CN)]³⁺, [Ru(NH₃)₅(NHC(O)-bz-2-CN)]²⁺ and [Ru(NH₃)₅(NH(C)NHC(O)bz)]³⁺ (NH(C)NHC(O)-bz = 3-imino-1-oxo-isoindoline) are described. Oxidation of [Ru(NH₃)₅L]²⁺, at 0 ? pH ? 6, is followed by hydrolysis of the coordinated nitrile to give amide complexes in which the amide is through the nitrogen, with pH-dependent rate constants. The estimated values of the rate constant of hydrolysis (k_obs) at 25 °C are 2.9 × 10⁻³ s⁻¹ for [Ru(NH₃)₅(1,4-dcb)]³⁺ and 5.6 × 10⁻³ s⁻¹ for [Ru(NH₃)₅(1,2-dcb)]³⁺ at pH 4.65. Reduction of [Ru(NH₃)₅(NHC(O)-bz-4-CN)]²⁺ and [Ru(NH₃)₅(NHC(O)-bz-2-CN)]²⁺ is followed by two reactions, one is an aquation forming [Ru(NH₃)₅(OH₂)]²⁺ and free ligand, and the other an intramolecular linkage isomerization forming [Ru(NH₃)₅(NC-bz-4-NH₂C(O))]²⁺ and [Ru(NH₃)₅(NC-bz-2-NH₂C(O))]²⁺. The oxidized1,2-cyanobenzamide complex [Ru(NH₃)₅(NHC(OH)-bz-2-CN)]³⁺ undergoes an amide to nitrile intramolecular linkage isomerization, followed by a cyclization reaction resulting in [Ru(NH₃)₅(NH-(C)(HN-C(O)-2-bz))]³⁺ ((NH-(C)(HN-C(O)-2-bz)) = 3-imino-1-oxo-isoindoline bonded through the exocyclic nitrogen) (pK_a = 4.3). The rates of these reactions, which occur with neighboring group participation, increase with acidity. The reduced form, [Ru(NH₃)₅(NH-(C)(HN-C(O)-2-bz))]²⁺, is relatively substitution inert.     

Dinuclear complexes with a μ-cyano ligand. Part X. Synthesis and characterization of several derivatives of cis-diaquaamminecobalt(III) complexes. Influence of pH

Six new dinuclear complexes, derived from cis-[Co(H₂O)₂(NH₃)₄]³⁺, cis-[Co(H₂O)₂(en)₂]³⁺ and [M(CN)₄^2? (M = Ni, Pd, Pt) were prepared and characterized by means of chemical analysis, electronic and IR measurements. The influence of the pH on the rate of the reaction was studied for the two derivatives of [Pd(CN)₄]^2?, showing that the best conditions to obtain the dinuclear compounds are at pH near 6, where the predominant species are cis-[Co(OH)(H₂O)(amine)₂]²⁺. The [Pt(CN)₄]^2? derivatives show PtPt interactions both in the solid state and in solution.     

Novel trans-platinum complexes of the histone deacetylase inhibitor valproic acid; synthesis, in vitro cytotoxicity and mutagenicity

The first examples of Pt complexes of the well known anti-epilepsy drug and histone deacetylase inhibitor, valproic acid (VPA), are reported. Reaction of the Pt(II) am(m)ine precursors trans-[PtCl₂(NH₃)(py)] and trans-[PtCl₂(py)₂] with silver nitrate and subsequently sodium valproate gave trans-[Pt(VPA_−1H)₂(NH₃)(py)] and trans-[Pt(VPA_−1H)₂(py)₂], respectively. The valproato ligands in both complexes are bound to the Pt(II) centres via the carboxylato functionality and in a monodentate manner. The X-ray crystal structure of trans-[Pt(VPA_−1H)₂(NH₃)(py)] is described. Replacement of the dichlorido ligands in trans-[PtCl₂(py)₂] and trans-[PtCl₂(NH₃)(py)] by valproato ligands (VPA_−1H) to yield trans-[Pt(VPA_−1H)₂(py)₂] and trans-[Pt(VPA_−1H)₂(NH₃)(py)] respectively, significantly enhanced cytotoxicity against A2780 (parental) and A2780 cisR (cisplatin resistant) ovarian cancer cells. The mutagenicity of trans-[Pt(VPA_−1H)₂(NH₃)(py)] and trans-[Pt(VPA_−1H)₂(py)₂] was determined using the Ames test and is also reported.     

Synthesis,characterization and DNA-binding properties of novel dipyridophenazine complex of ruthenium (II) : [Ru(IP)2(DPPZ)]2+

A novel ruthenium(II) complex of dipyridophenazine (DPPZ) with the ancillary ligand imidazole[4,5-f] [1,10]phenanthroline (IP), [Ru(IP)₂(DPPZ)] (PF₆)₂, has been synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, 1D and 2D ¹H NMR, fast-atom bombardment mass spectra (FABMS), electronic spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry. The DNA-binding properties of the complex were studied by spectroscopic methods. The intrinsic binding constant, K =2.1 × 10⁷M⁻¹, of the complex to calf thymus DNA has been determined by absorption titration in 5 mmol dm⁻³ Tris-HCl, 50 mmol dm⁻³ NaCl buffer (pH 7.0). The excited state lifetimes and luminescence quenching with [Fe(CN)₆]⁴⁻ as the quencher in the presence of DNA were also tested and mono-exponentiality was observed for the emission decay curves. Viscosity measurements together with the optical titrations unambiguously proved that the complex bound with DNA intercalatively and that the binding affinity to DNA was several times larger than that of the parent complex [Ru(bpy)₂(DPPZ)]²⁺.     

Three Co(III)-Fe(II) complexes based on hexacyanoferrates: Syntheses, spectroscopic and structural characterizations

Red or orange crystals of [Co(NH₃)₆]₂Cl₂[Fe(CN)₆] · 4H₂O (1), [Co(en)₃]₂Cl₂[Fe(CN)₆] · 2H₂O (2) and [Co(en)₃]₄[Fe(CN)₆]₃ · 21.6H₂O (3) were isolated from the aqueous systems Co³⁺-L_N-[Fe(CN)₆]⁴⁻ (L_N = NH₃, en = 1,2-diaminoethane). In all isolated samples the combination of Mössbauer (δ values were from the range −0.07 to −0.08 mm/s) and IR spectra (ν(CN) stretching vibrations in the range 2015-2047 cm⁻¹) confirms the presence of low spin Fe(II) in [Fe(CN)₆]⁴⁻ anions. X-ray structure analyses corroborate the ionic character of all studied compounds. These contain diamagnetic [Co(NH₃)₆]³⁺ (1) or [Co(en)₃]³⁺ (2 and 3) complex cations and diamagnetic [Fe(CN)₆]⁴⁻ complex anions. In compounds 1 and 2 chloride anions are present, too. All three compounds contain water of crystallization, in compound 3 as many as 21.6 molecules per formula unit.     

Reactions between dimanganese,dirhenium, and manganese–rhenium decacarbonyl and oxidants

The dimetal decacarbonyls M₂(CO)₁₀, where M₂ = Mn₂, MnRe, and Re₂, do not react with anionic strong oxidants such as Fe(CN)₆³⁻ or IrCl₆²⁻ in CH₃CN solvent nor with neutral or cationic weak oxidants. Strong cationic oxidants such as NO⁺, Fe(phen)₃³⁺, and Cu²⁺ rapidly oxidize M₂(CO)₁₀ to 2M(CO)₅(NCCH₃)⁺ in acetonitrile solvent. The kinetics for the reaction suggest it proceeds according to a bimolecular outer sphere mechanism.     

The kinetics and mechanism of the reaction of 2′-deoxy-5′-guanosinemonophosphoric acid and the diaqua form of cis-platin

2′-Deoxy-5′-guanosinemonosphoric acid (B) reacts with cis-[Pt(NH₃)₂(OH₂)₂]²⁺ in two steps to form the cis-[Pt(NH₃)₂B₂]^y+ ion. In the first step 2′-d-5′- GMPH₂ reacts some ten times faster than 5′-GMPH₂ does. Rate constants, ΔH^#, ΔS^# and ΔV^# are very similar for the two bases in the second reaction. It is proposed that the product in the first step contains no water and is cis-[Pt(NH₃)₂B]^x+ in which the nucleobase is bidentate bonding through both N(7) of guanine and an oxygen atom of the phosphate group.     

Preparation and structure of [Ru2(O2CMe)4]2[Fe(CN)5NO] and magnetically ordered Hx[Ru2(O2CMe)4]3−x[Cr(CN)5NO] possessing interpenetrating lattices

Reaction of [Ru₂(O₂CMe)₄]Cl with K₃[Cr(CN)₅NO] in water forms H_x[Ru^II/III₂(O₂CMe)₄]_3−x-[Cr(CN)₅NO]·zH₂O (x = 0.2) that magnetically orders at 4.0 K and possesses an interpenetrating body centered cubic [a = 13.2509(2) Å] structure with random locations of the bridging nitrosyl ligands, and x/3 vacant cation sites. Similarly, the aqueous reaction of [Ru₂(O₂CMe)₄]Cl with Na₂[Fe(CN)₅NO] forms paramagnetic [Ru₂(O₂CMe)₄]₂[Fe(CN)₅NO]·H₂O, which has a similar tetragonal interpenetrating structure [a = 13.0186(1) Å, c = 13.0699(2) Å] where the NO ligands are presumably nonbridging and 1/3 of the expected cation sites are unoccupied. The presence of uncoordinated NO sites in addition to missing neighboring [Ru₂(O₂CMe)₄]⁺ units, results in significant vacancies (or holes) in the lattice.     

Self-assembly of cationic palladium complexes by redistribution of pyridine ligands

The reaction of [Pd(OAc)₂(py)₂] with [Li((OEt₂)_2.5)][B(C₆F₅)₄] was conducted with intent to generate the cationic palladium complex [Pd(OAc)(py)₃][B(C₆F₅)₄], (2, py = pyridine). A single crystal structure of this material, however, reveals a 1-D polymer structure formed by the self-assembly of alternating dicationic ([Pd(py)₄]²⁺) and neutral ([Pd(OAc)₂(py)₂]) palladium units bridged by acetato linkages to give [Pd(py)₄][Pd(OAc)₂(py)₂][B(C₆F₅)₄]₂ (3). These two palladium sites are produced by disproportionation of the pyridine ligands in [Pd(OAc)(py)₃][B(C₆F₅)₄]. Proton NMR studies confirm the existence of a solvent dependent equilibrium between [Pd(py)₄]²⁺, [Pd(OAc)₂(py)₂] and [Pd(OAc)(py)₃]⁺.     

Reduction of pentaamminenitrocobalt(III) by hexaaquachromium(II) ion. Reinvestigation of the mechanism

Products of the reduction of [CoNO₂(NH₃)₅]²⁺ by Cr²⁺ were separated and identified under the conditions of [Cr²⁺]₀/[Co(IlI)]₀⩽3 and 0.02 M ⩽[H⁺] ⩽ 0.75 M. The product distribution was dependent on both [Cr²⁺]_o and [H⁺]. The following mechanism is proposed: [CoNO₂(NH₃)₅]²⁺ + Cr²⁺→Co²⁺ + [CrONO(H₂O)₅]²⁺ (i) [CrONO(H₂O)₅]²⁺ + H⁺→[Cr(H₂O)₆]³⁺ + HNO₂ (ii) [CrONO(H₂O)₅]²⁺ + Cr²⁺→Cr(IV) + [CrNO(H₂O)₅]²⁺ (iii) Cr(IV) + Cr²⁺→[(H₂O)₄Cr(OH)₂Cr(H₂O)₄]⁴⁺ (iv) HNO₂ + 2Cr²⁺→[Cr(H₂O)₆]³⁺ + [CrNO(H₂O)₅]²⁺ (v)     

Shape selectivity in outer-sphere electron transfer reactions

Chiral induction has been examined in the four diastereomeric products formed in a series of outer-sphere electron transfer reactions between the oxidants [Co(ox)₃]³⁻, [Co(edta)]⁻, [Co(gly)(ox)₂]²⁻, C₁-cis(N)-[Co(gly)₂(ox)]⁻, [Co(en)(ox)₂]⁻, C₂-cis(N)-[Co(gly)₂(ox)]⁻ and trans(N)-[Co(gly)₂(ox)]⁻ with [Co((RR,SS)-chxn)₃]²⁺ and [Co((R, S)-pn)₃]²⁺ as reductants. The products; [Co((RR,SS)-chxn)₃-lel₃]³⁺, [Co((RR,SS)-chxn)₃-lel₂ob]³⁺, [Co((RR,SS)-chxn)₃-lelob₂]³⁺, [Co((RR,SS)-chxn)₃-ob₃]³⁺ and corresponding species for [Co((R, S)-pn)₃]³⁺ show patterns of selectivity which are analyzed in terms of the size and structure of the reactants. The presence of a pseudo-C₃ carboxylate face on the oxidant enhances selectivity but the pattern is quite different for those oxidants that contain oxalate as one of their ligands compared with non-oxalate containing species such as [Co(edta)]⁻. A very simple model is developed in which the reductant employs a limited set of interactions corresponding to the major symmetry axes. The unrestricted reductant has very low aggregate selectvity. Steric and hydrogen bonding patterns in both oxidant and reductant enhance individual interactions resulting in the observed selectivities.     

Alkylimido complexes of titanium(IV)

TiCl₄ reacts with t-butylamine in benzene to give [Ti(NCMe₃)Cl₂(NH₂CMe₃)₂]_x and t-butylamine hydrochloride. The IR spectrum indicates both c/s and trans metal dichlorides (300; and 308, 208 cm⁻¹). In the ¹³C NMR spectrum the t-butylimido quaternary carbon resonance occurs at 72.1 ppm. A dimeric structure incorporating symmetric t-butylimido bridges is proposed. TiCl₄ in benzene react under reflux with two equivalents of Me₃SiNHCMe₃ to give [Ti(NCMe₃)Cl₂(NH₂CMe₃)]_x and with iso-propylamine and ethylamine to give complexes of the form [Ti(NR)Cl₂(NH₂R)₂]_x. Broad bands below 800 cm⁻¹ in the IR spectra suggest polymeric MNM bridges. For [Ti(NCHMe₂)Cl₂(NH₂CHMe₂)]_x the iso-propylimido CH resonance in the ¹³C NMR spectrum occurs at 67 ppm. [Ti(NCMe₃)Cl₂(NH₂CMe₃)₂]₂ reacts with L=bipy or tmed to give [Ti(NCMe₃)Cl₂(L)]₂, and TiCl₄ reacts with two equivalents of Me₃SiNHCMe₃ in benzene and then tmed to give [Ti(NCMe₃)Cl₂(tmed)]₂. The ¹³C NMR spectrum shows the t-butylimido quaternary carbon resonance at 73.5 ppm and the tmed resonances are chemically equivalent. A dimeric μ-NCMe₃ bridging structure is proposed for the complex.     

Kinetic and mechanistic studies on the ruthenium induced activation of methylamine to oxidation

When aqueous solutions containing [Ru(NH₂CH₃)₆]²⁺ are exposed to oxygen [Ru(NH₂CH₃)₅(OH]²⁺ is produced as an identifiable intermediate as a result of the slow replacement of co-ordinated methylamine by water, and the subsequent rapid oxidation of this ruthenium(II) aquo complex. The [Ru(NH₂CH₃)₅(OH)]²⁺ ion then undergoes another slow reaction, probably the replacement of another methylamine ligand by water. All subsequent reactions leading to Ru(CN)₃·3H₂O are rapid. Rate data are reported, and a mechanism involving β-elimination from co-ordinated methylamine is postulated.     

Preparation and separation of asymmetric tripodal iron complexes of tren and selected aldehydes

Reaction of iron salts with the tripodal ligands formed from the condensation of tris-(2-aminoethyl)amine (tren) with the following mixtures of aldehydes, 2-pyridinecarboxaldehyde (py) and 6-methyl-2-pyridinecarboxaldehyde (6-CH₃py), salicylaldehyde (sal) and 2-hydroxy-5-methylbenzaldehyde (5-CH₃sal), salicylaldehyde and pyrrole-2-carboxaldehyde (pyr), and 4-methyl-5-imidazolecarboxaldehyde (4-CH₃ImH) and salicylaldehyde yielded mixtures of all four possible iron complexes, [Fe(tren)L_xL′_y]^z (x +y = 3), where L and L′ represent different aldehydes. Preliminary indication of mixtures of products was provided by IR and UV-Vis spectroscopy. Conclusive proof of the existence of all four components (x = 0-3) in each of the reaction mixtures is provided by mass spectroscopy. Separation of the [Fetren(sal)_x(4-CH₃ImH)_y](ClO₄)_y mixture can be achieved using a Sephadex ion exchange column. Treatment of the two observed fractions with base yields greatly enriched [Fetren(sal)₂(4-CH₃Im)] and [Fetren(sal)(4-CH₃Im)₂], which were identified by mass spectroscopy.