Synthesis, crystal structures and magnetic properties of mononuclear tris(croconate)ferrate(III) complexes

A straightforward synthetic method to prepare mononuclear croconato-containing iron (III) complexes, (A)₃[Fe(C₅O₅)₃] [A = tetrabutylammonium = n-Bu₄N⁺ (1) and along with their crystal structures and magnetic properties, are reported. The Fe(III) atom adopts a pseudo-octahedral geometry while magnetic susceptibility measurements, in the 2-300 K temperature range, show the occurrence of a high spin state (S = 5/2) in both complexes.     

Two cyano-bridged heterotrinuclear complexes built from [(Tp)Fe(CN)3] (Tp = hydrotris(pyrazolyl)borate): synthesis, crystal structures and magnetic properties

Using an anionic precursor [(Tp)Fe^III(CN)₃]⁻ (1) as a building block, two cyano-bridged centrosymmetric heterotrinuclear complexes, (2) and (3) (en = ethylenediamine), have been synthesized and structurally characterized. In each complex, [TpFe(CN)₃]⁻ acts as a monodentate ligand toward a central [Mn(C₂H₅OH)₄]²⁺ or [Ni(en)₂]²⁺ core through one of its three cyanide groups, the other two cyanides remaining terminal. The intramolecular Fe-Mn and Fe-Ni distances are 5.2354(4) and 5.0669(11) Å, respectively. The magnetic properties of complexes 2 and 3 have been investigated in the temperature range of 2.0-300 K. A weak antiferromagnetic interaction between the Mn(II) and Fe(III) ions has been found in complex 2. The magnetic data of 2 can be fitted with the isotropic Hamiltonian: where J and J′ are the intramolecular exchange coupling parameters between adjacent and peripheral spin carriers, respectively. This leads to values of J = −1.37 cm⁻¹ and g = 2.05. The same fitting method is applied to complex 3 to give values of J = 1.2 cm⁻¹ and g = 2.25, showing that there is a ferromagnetic interaction between the Fe(III) and Ni(II) ions.     

The aluminium(III)-sialic acid interaction: A potential role in aluminium-induced cellular membrane degeneration

The coordination between Al(III) and sialic acid (N-acetylneuraminic acid, HL, pK_a = 2.58 ± 0.01) was studied by potentiometric titrations at 25 °C in aqueous 0.2 M KCl, by ¹H NMR, and by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS). The potentiometric measurements gave the following aluminium complex stoichiometries and stability constants: , log β(AlLH₋₂) = −6.34 ± 0.02, and log β(AlL₂H₋₁) = −1.14 ± 0.04. The ¹H NMR spectra yielded structural information on species . The ESI-MS data confirmed the metal-ligand stoichiometry of the complexes.The metal-ligand speciation at micromolar Al(III) concentrations (i.e., under in vivo conditions) at physiological pH values reveals that considerable amount of Al(III) is complexed. This suggests that the toxic effect of Al(III) towards cellular membranes might be due to its coordination by protein-bound sialic acid.     

Synthesis and characterization of a dinuclear ferric complex with redox-active ligands

A dinuclear ferric complex with the redox-active ligand (L^Cl₂)^2- (H₂L^Cl₂ = N,N′-dimethyl-bis(3,5-dichloro-2-hydroxybenzyl)-1,2-diaminoethane), was synthesized and characterized. The two iron(III) ions are six-coordinate in a distorted octahedral environment of the donor set of one (L^Cl₂)²⁻ and one amine and one phenolate donor of a second (L^Cl₂)²⁻, which bridges the two complex halves. The relatively low-symmetric complex 1 crystallizes in the space group R. The crystal structure contains hexagonal, one-dimensional channels parallel to the c axis with diameters of ∼13 Å. The absorption spectrum of 1 exhibits strong characteristic features of p_π → d_π^∗, p_π → d_σ^∗, phenolate-to-metal CTs, and π → π^∗ ligand transitions. Electrochemical studies on 1 reveal the redox-activity of the coordinated ligand (L^Cl₂)²⁻ by showing irreversible oxidative electron-transfer waves. The reductive electron transfers at negative potentials seem to originate from metal-centered processes. A detailed comparison to complexes with similar donor sets provides new insights into the electrochemical properties of these kinds of complexes.     

New polymeric thiocyanatoiron(II) complex with N,N′-diethylnicotinamide - Synthesis, structure, magnetic and spectral properties

The iron(II) compound of formula [Fe(NCS)₂(dena)₂]_n (dena = N,N′-diethylnicotinamide) has been prepared by the reaction between iron(III) thiocyanate and dena in ethanol solution. The complex was characterized by elemental analysis, spectral and magnetic measurements. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction methods show that the complex, crystallizing in the triclinic space group, undergoes a phase transition between 220 K and 230 K, connected with the doubling of cell volume. Crystal structures at 230 K (1a; HT phase) and 150 K (1b; LT phase) are described and a transition mechanism is discussed. In both phases the compound has an extended chain structure, in which the neutral molecule of N,N′-diethylnicotinamide acts as a bridging ligand binding through pyridine N atom to one centre and through amide O atom to the neighbouring Fe centre. The Fe²⁺ ion has a slightly distorted trans-octahedral environment with FeO₂N₄ chromophore, and all Fe-O and Fe-N bonds in the typical for high-spin iron(II) compounds range. Variable-temperature magnetic susceptibility data in the temperature range 1.8-300 K show that iron(II) is high-spin S = 2(⁵T_2g) and as a result effects due to zero-field splitting are anticipated at low temperatures. The IR spectrum suggested the coordination of N,N′-diethylnicotinamide to the central atom of iron(II) as a bridging ligand and NCS group as a monodentate ligand.     

A new cyano-bridged one-dimensional GdFe coordination polymer with o-phenanthroline as the blocking ligand: synthesis, structure, and magnetic properties

Synthesis, structural characterization, and magnetic properties of a new cyano-bridged one-dimensional iron (III)-gadolinium (III) compound, trans-[Gd(o-phen)₂(H₂O)₂(μ-CN)₂Fe(CN)₄]_n · 2no-phen (o-phen = 1,10-phenanthroline), have been described. The compound crystallizes in the triclinic space group with the following unit cell parameters: a = 10.538(14) Å, b = 12.004(14) Å, c = 20.61(2) Å, α = 92.41(1)°, β = 92.76(1)°, γ = 112.72(1)°, and Z = 2. In this complex, each gadolinium (III) is coordinated to two nitrile nitrogens of the CN groups coming from two different ferricyanides, the mutually trans cyanides of each of which links another different Gd^III to create -NC-Fe(CN)₄-CN-Gd-NC- type 1-D chain structure. The one-dimensional chains are self-assembled in two-dimensions via weak C-H?N hydrogen bonds. Both the variable-temperature (2-300 K, 0.01 T and 0.8 T) and variable-field (0-50 000 Gauss, 2 K) magnetic measurements reveal the existence of very weak interaction in this molecule. The temperature dependence of the susceptibilities has been analyzed using a model for a chain of alternating classic (7/2) and quantum (1/2) spins.     

Kinetics and mechanism of the aquation of the trinuclear cation, [μ3-oxo-triaqua-hexakis(acetato)tris(iron(III))]in perchloric acid media

The aquation of the title complex cation in aqueous perchloric acid proceeded via two steps, both postulated to be the proton attack on the oxygen atom which binds the acetate ligand to the metal centre, followed by Fe-O bond cleavage. This was followed by rapid decomposition to produce aqueous iron(III) and acetate ions. The first-order rate constants for the first and second steps at 25 °C are: k₁ = (4.16 ± 0.58) × 10⁻² s⁻¹ and k₂ = (2.09 ± 0.42) × 10⁻³ s⁻¹, respectively, and their corresponding activation parameters are . The spontaneous hydrolysis rate constants for the first and second steps were also determined at 25 °C and ionic strength of 1 mol dm⁻³ and they are k₀ = (3.10 ± 0.82) × 10⁻³ s⁻¹ and , respectively. The corresponding activation parameters are .     

Rare earth complexation with 1,3,5-trideoxy-1,3,5-tris(2-hydroxybenzyl)amino-cis-inositol

The protonation constants of 1,3,5-trideoxy-1,3,5-tris(2-hydroxyl-benzyl)amino-cis-inositol (thci) in I = 1 M (NaClO₄) were determined to be: pK_a1 5.96 ± 0.03, pK_a2 7.21 ± 0.01, pK_a3 8.32 ± 0.07, pK_a4 8.95 ± 0.06. The solvent extraction studies were consistent with the formation of the Ln(thci)³⁺ and complexes. The log of the stability constants (log β₁ and log β₂) at 25 °C in 1 M (NaClO₄) at pH 4 for formation of these complexes are reported. Laser luminescence measurements of the ⁷F₀-⁵D₀ transition of Eu(III) complexed by thci indicated two species. The shifts in the peaks relative to that of Eu(aq)³⁺ were comparable to the values reported for other complexes of Eu(III) with organic ligands, but the intensities were greater. Luminescence lifetime measurements of the fluorescence spectra indicated that the complex has 5 inner sphere water molecules bound to the Eu(III) cation at pH 6.71-8.52. This was consistent with bidentate chelation of Eu(III) with each thci molecule. gaussian view energy calculations indicated bonding for M(III) to the amino and hydroxyl groups of the cyclohexanetriol and (2-hydroxybenzyl)amino moieties in the Ln(thci)³⁺ complex.     

Praseodymium (III) complexes with 1,10-phenanthroline and cyanamide derivatives as N-donor ligands

The molecular structure of praseodymium (III) complex with 1,10-phenanthroline (phen), [Pr(phen)₂Cl₃·OH₂] (1) was determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Crystal data: crystal system, triclinic, space group P and Z = 2, a = 7.1110(7) ?, b = 10.1716(10) ?, c = 17.2367(18) ?, α = 80.922(5)°, β = 78.759(5)°, γ = 70.151(5)°, R₁ = 0.036; wR₂ = 0.076 for all data. Treatment of aqueous solution of [Pr(phen)₂Cl₃·OH₂] (1) with thallium phenylcyanamide salts yield [Pr(phen)₂(L)₃] (L = pcyd (2), 2-Clpcyd (3), 2,3,5-Cl₃pcyd (4), 2,3,4,5-Cl₄pcyd (5)). Four new praseodymium (III) complexes have been characterized by IR, UV-Vis and ¹H NMR spectroscopy as well as elemental analysis. The ¹H NMR spectra of these complexes show broadening of ligand protons attributed to coordination of paramagnetic center.     

Squarato-bridged polymeric networks of iron(II) with N-donor coligands: Syntheses, crystal structures and magnetic properties

Two new squarato-bridged Fe(II) polymeric networks of molecular formula [Fe(squarate)(bpp)₂(H₂O)₂] (1) and [Fe(squarate)(bpee)(H₂O)₂] (2) [bpp = 1,3-bis(4-pyridyl)propane; bpee = 1,2-bis(4-pyridyl)ethylene; ] have been synthesized and characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies and low temperature (300-2 K) magnetic measurements. Complex 1 is a 1D coordination chain of Fe(H₂O)₂ units connected by μ-O,O″ squarate dianions with monocoordinated bpp ligands dangling from the polymer. These 1D chains ultimately transform to a thick 2D layer through π-π interaction of pyridyl rings as well as through hydrogen bonds. Whereas structural determination of complex 2 reveals an inclined interpenetrated 3D architecture. Magnetic data for both the complexes 1 and 2 have been fitted using the Fisher formula for S = 2 system and show antiferromagnetic coupling for both the complexes. The best fit parameters are J = −0.40 cm⁻¹, g = 2.30 and R = 0.01 for complex 1 and J = −0.49 cm⁻¹, g = 2.08 and R = 1.9 × 10⁻³ for complex 2.     

A seven-coordinate Fe compound: [Fe{O(CH2CO2)2}(H2O)2(NO3)]. Preparation, structure and magnetic properties

A seven-coordinate Fe^III complex, [Fe(oda)(H₂O)₂(NO₃)], was obtained after dissolving Fe(NO₃)₃ · 9H₂O in an aqueous solution of oxydiacetic acid (H₂oda) at room temperature. In the solid state, the Fe^III center adopts a pentagonal bipyramid geometry with an {FeO₇} core formed by a tridentate oda²⁻ and a bidentate in the equatorial plane, and two axial water molecules. Magnetic measurements and EPR spectra revealed the presence of S = 5/2 Fe^III centers with rhombic zero field splitting parameters (D = 0.81 cm⁻¹, E/D = 0.33 ). Weak antiferromagnetic interactions with J ≈ −0.06 cm⁻¹ operating between neighboring Fe ions connected through Fe-O-C-O?H-O-Fe paths are estimated using the molecular field approximation.     

Functional model for intradiol-cleaving catechol 1,2-dioxygenase: Synthesis, structure, spectra, and catalytic activity of iron(III) complexes with substituted salicylaldimine ligands

A series of mononuclear iron(III) complexes with containing phenolate donor of substituted-salicylaldimine based ligands [Fe(L¹)(TCC)] · CH₃OH (1), [Fe(L²)(TCC)] · CH₃OH (2), [Fe(L³)(TCC)] (3), and [Fe(L⁴)(TCC)] (4) have been prepared and studied as functional models for catechol dioxygenases (H₂TCC = tetrachlorocatechol, or HL¹ = N′-(salicylaldimine)-N,N-diethyldiethylenetriamine, HL² = N′-(5-Br-salicylaldimine)-N,N-diethyldiethylenetriamine, HL³ = N′-(4,6-dimethoxy-salycyl-aldimine)-N,N-diethyl-diethylenetriamine, HL⁴ = N′-(4-methoxy-salicylaldimine)-N,N-diethyl-diethylenetriamine). They are structural models for inhibitors of enzyme-substrate adducts from the reactions of catechol 1,2-dioxygenases. Complexes 1-4 were characterized by spectroscopic methods and X-ray crystal structural analysis. The coordination sphere of Fe(III) atom of 1-4 is distorted octahedral with N₃O₃ donor set from the ligand and the substrate TCC occupying cis position, and Fe(III) is in high-spin (S = 5/2) electronic ground state. The in situ prepared iron(III) complexes without TCC, [Fe(L¹)Cl₂], [Fe(L²)Cl₂], [Fe(L³)Cl₂], and [Fe(L⁴)Cl₂] are reactive towards intradiol cleavage of the 3,5-di-tert-butylcatechol (H₂DBC) in the presence of O₂ or air. The reaction rate of catechol 1,2-dioxygenase depends on the redox potential and acidity of iron(III) ions in complexes as well as the substituent effect of the ligands. We have identified the reaction products and proposed the mechanism of the reactions of these iron(III) complexes with H₂DBC with O₂.     

Triclinic structural and magnetic properties of praseodymium(III) picrate triethylene glycol complex

A study on the structure and magnetic properties of [Pr(NO₃)(Pic)(H₂O)₂(EO3)](Pic) complex, where EO3 = triethylene glycol and Pic = picrate anion was conducted and characterized by single crystal X-ray structure analysis. Magnetic susceptibility (χ_M) was carried out from 2 to 300 K under both field-cooled (FC) and zero-field-cooled (ZFC) measurements with an applied magnetic field of 2000 Oe. The complex is crystallized in triclinic with space group . The coordination geometry around the Pr(III) ion was a tetradecahedron with a ten-coordination number. In the crystal, the molecular structure was stabilized by moderate and weak hydrogen bonding interactions between the cation [Pr(NO₃)(Pic)(H₂O)₂(EO3)]⁺ moiety and [Pic]⁻ as counter-anion that led to the formation of a one-dimensional network. The temperature dependence of the magnetic susceptibility of [Pr(NO₃)(Pic)(H₂O)₂(EO3)](Pic) shows the presence of weak antiferromagnetic interactions between the Pr(III) centers. The magnetic susceptibility for complex also obeys the Curie-Weiss law and is effective at high temperatures. Some factors that influence the photoluminescence intensity were also reported.     

Structural and magnetic characterization of one-dimensional oxalato-bridged metal(II) complexes with 4-amino-3,5-bis(2-pyridyl)-1,2,4-triazole ligand: A supramolecular open-framework

A new family of one-dimensional oxalato-bridged metal(II) complexes with formula {[M(ox)(abpt)]·4H₂O}_n [M^II = Mn (1), Fe (2), Co (3), Zn (4); ox = oxalate dianion; abpt = 4-amino-3,5-bis(2-pyridyl)-1,2,4-triazole] has been synthesized and chemically, structurally and magnetically characterized. The crystal structures of compounds 2-4 have been solved by single crystal X-ray diffraction, whereas complex 1 has been studied by means of X-ray powder diffraction methods. All of them are isomorphous and crystallize in the triclinic space group P. The metal atoms are bridged by bis-bidentate oxalate anions forming zig-zag chains in which bidentate chelating abpt ligands complete the octahedral O₄N₂ donor set. The crystal structures show an open-framework that contains rectangular channels in which easily removable hydrogen bonded ribbons of water molecules are located. The occurrence of antiferromagnetic intrachain interactions for compounds 1-3 was determined by cryomagnetic susceptibility measurements.     

Ruthenium(II) complexes possessing the η-p-cymene ligand

Complexes possessing a soft donor η⁶-arene and hard donor acetylacetonate ligand, [(η⁶-p-cymene)Ru(κ²-O,O-acac-μ-CH)]₂[OTf]₂ (1) (OTf = trifluoromethanesulfonate; acac = acetylacetonate) and {Ar′ = 3,5-(CF₃)-C₆H₃}, were prepared and fully characterized. The lability of the μ-CH linkage for complex 1 and the THF ligand of 2 allow access to the unsaturated cation [(η⁶-p-cymene)Ru(κ²-O,O-acac)]⁺. The reaction of with KTp {Tp = hydridotris(pyrazolyl)borate} produces . The azide complex forms upon reaction of with N₃Ar (Ar = p-tolyl), and reaction of with CHCl₃ at 100 °C yields the chloride-bridged binuclear complex . The details of solid-state structures of [(η⁶-p-cymene)Ru(κ²-O,O-acac-μ-CH)]₂[OTf]₂ (1), and are disclosed.     

Heterodimetallic Pd-based carboxylate-bridged complexes: Synthesis and structure of single-crystalline Pd-M (M = Mn, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Nd, Eu, Ce) acetates

A series of crystalline Pd^II-based heterodimetallic acetate-bridged complexes containing the transition (Mn^II, Co^II, Ni^II, Cu^II), post-transition (Zn^II) and rare-earth (Ce^IV, Nd^III, Eu^III) metals were synthesized starting from Pd₃(OOCMe)₆ and the complementary metal(II, III) acetates. The crystal and molecular structures of the binuclear Pd^IIM^II(μ-OOCMe)₄L (M = Mn, Co, Ni, Zn; L = H₂O, MeCN), trinuclear and tetranuclear (M = Nd, Eu) and complexes were established by X-ray diffraction.     

Crystal structure and ligational aspects of the mesogenic Schiff base, N,N′-di-(4-hexadecyloxysalicylidene)diaminoethane, with some rare earth metal ions

A mesogenic Schiff base, N,N′-di-(4-hexadecyloxysalicylidene)diaminoethane, H₂dhdsde (abbreviated as H₂L¹) that exhibit smectic-C (SmC) mesophase, was synthesized and its structure studied by elemental analyses, mass, NMR & IR spectra and single crystal XRD (triclinic space group with Z = 1) techniques. Bi-dentate bonding of the Schiff base in the mesogenic La^III complex was implied on the basis of IR & NMR spectral data. As per the spectral studies of the complexes, the Zwitterionic species of the ligand (H₂L¹) coordinates to Ln^III ion through two phenolate oxygens rendering the overall geometry around the metal ion to distorted square antiprism (Ln = La, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu) and monocapped octahedron (Ln = Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho).     

Coordination versatility of 1,3-bis[3-(2-pyridyl)pyrazol-1-yl]propane: Co(II) and Ni(II) complexes

The ligand 1,3-bis[3-(2-pyridyl)pyrazol-1-yl]propane (L⁸) has afforded six-coordinate monomeric and dimeric complexes [(L⁸)Co^II(H₂O)₂][ClO₄]₂ (1), [(L⁸)Ni^II(MeCN)₂][BPh₄]₂ (2), [(L⁸)Ni^II(O₂CMe)][BPh₄] (3), and . The crystal structures of 1, 2 · MeCN, 3, and 4 revealed that the ligand L⁸ is flexible enough to expand its coordinating ability by fine-tuning the angle between the chelating fragments and hence folds around cobalt(II)/nickel(II) centers to act as a tetradentate chelate, allowing additional coordination by two trans-H₂O, cis-MeCN, and a bidentate acetate affording examples of distorted octahedral , , and coordination. The angles between the two CoN₂/NiN₂ planes span a wide range 23.539(1)° (1), 76.934(8)° (2), and 69.874(14)° (3). In contrast, complex 4 is a bis-μ-1,3-acetato-bridged (syn-anti coordination mode) dicobalt(II) complex [Co?Co separation: 4.797(8) Å] in which L⁸ provides terminal bidentate pyridylpyrazole coordination to each cobalt(II) center. To our knowledge, this report provides first examples of such a coordination versatility of L⁸. Absorption spectral studies (MeCN solution) have been done for all the complexes. Complexes 1-3 are uniformly high-spin. Temperature-dependent (2-300 K) magnetic studies on 4 reveal weak ferromagnetic exchange coupling between two cobalt(II) (S = 3/2) ions. The best-fit parameters obtained are: Δ (axial splitting parameter) = −765(5) cm⁻¹, λ (spin-orbit coupling) = −120(3) cm⁻¹, k (orbital reduction factor) = 0.93, and J (magnetic exchange coupling constant) = +1.60(2) m⁻¹.     

Layered iron(II) spin crossover complex constructed by NH?Br hydrogen bonds with 2 K wide thermal hysteresis, [FeH3L]Br·CF3SO3 (H3L = tris[2-(((2-methylimidazol-4-yl)methylidene)amino)ethyl]amine)

A series of compounds [Fe^IIH₃L^Me]Br·Y·nMeOH ( (1), (2), (3), (4); n = 0 or 1) were synthesized, where H₃L^Me is a hexadentate N₆ tripodal ligand of the neutral form, tris[2-(((2-methylimidazol-4-yl)methylidene)amino)ethyl]amine, and their structures and magnetic properties were investigated. The compounds 1−3 with counter anions , , and contain methanol as a crystal solvent, and show no SCO behaviors, while the corresponding Cl⁻ compounds have no crystal solvent and show a variety of SCO behaviors. The compound [Fe^IIH₃L^Me]Br·CF₃SO₃ (4) has no crystal solvent and has isomorphous structure to the Cl⁻ compounds, and shows an abrupt spin transition between the HS (S = 2) and LS (S = 0) states with a hysteresis about 2 K and large frozen-in effect below 72 K. The T_1/2↑ and T_1/2↓ values are 98 and 96 K, whose values are higher than those of corresponding Cl⁻ compound about 15 K and the width of hysteresis is narrower than that of corresponding Cl⁻ compound about 2 K. The crystal structures of 4 were determined at 296 and 93 K, where the crystal system and space group showed no change between these temperatures. The structures at both temperatures have a same 2D layered structure, which is composed of NH?Br⁻ hydrogen bonds between the Br⁻ ion and the imidazole NH groups of three neighboring cations [Fe^IIH₃L^Me]²⁺. This network structure is the same as that of corresponding Cl⁻ compound. The 600 nm light irradiation at 5 K induced the LIESST effect.     

Synthesis, crystal structure and properties of dinuclear iron(III) complexes containing terminally coordinated phenolate/H2O/OH groups as models for purple acid phosphatases: efficient hydrolytic DNA cleavage

We present here the syntheses of two dinuclear iron(III) complexes with the polydentate N,O-donor ligand H₂BPClNOL (N-(2-hydroxybenzyl)-N-(2-pyridylmethyl)[(3-chloro)(2- hydroxy)]propylamine). The reaction between Fe^III(ClO₄)₃ · 9H₂O, the title ligand and two equivalents of NaOAc · 3H₂O resulted in the complex . When the synthesis was performed with a lesser amount of NaOAc · 3H₂O (half equivalent), the complex without bridging acetate, was obtained. The complexes were characterized by X-ray structural analysis, magnetochemistry, Mössbauer and UV-Vis spectroscopies, and electrochemistry. Complex 2 was also characterized in solution through potentiometric titration. Both complexes crystallize in the monoclinic system. Complex 2 has one water molecule coordinated to each iron centre. Their pK_a values are 5.00 and 7.03 for the first protonation/deprotonation equilibrium of each coordinated water molecule. The UV-Vis and electrochemical techniques showed that the absence of an acetate bridge in 2 results in a significant difference in the Lewis acidity of both iron centres, when compared with 1. The lack of an acetate bridge in 2 also results in changes in the anti-ferromagnetic coupling as revealed by magnetic measurements. Complex 2 is an interesting structural model for the active site of iron containing PAPs, since it has an Fe(-alkoxo)₂Fe core with an Fe^III?Fe^III distance of 3.122(1) Å, containing phenolate and water molecules coordinated to the iron centres and is soluble in aqueous solutions. Furthermore, the UV-Vis properties of 2 are similar to those of PAPs, since the complex absorbs at 580 nm in the oxidized form (550-570 nm for PAPs) and at 499 nm in the mixed-valence form (505-510 nm for PAPs) as revealed through spectroelectrochemical studies. Finally, complex 2 successfully promoted the hydrolytic cleavage of plasmid DNA under aerobic and anaerobic conditions, producing single and double DNA strand breaks at biological pH values.