Iron(III) complexes using NNS reduced Schiff bases and NNOS coordinating tetradentate ligands: Synthesis, structure and catecholase activity

The orange-red colored complexes of the type Fe(L_SB)Cl₃], 1, have been synthesized in excellent yields by reacting FeCl₃·6H₂O with L_SB in methanol. Here, L_SB is (2-(ethylthio)-N-(pyridin-2-ylmethyl)ethanamine), (L_SB¹) and (2-(benzylthio)-N-(pyridin-2-ylmethyl)ethanamine) (L_SB²). Similarly, FeCl₃·6H₂O reacted with 2-(((2-(ethylthio) ethyl) (pyridin-2-ylmethyl)amino)methyl)phenol (HL¹), 2-(((2-(ethylthio)ethyl)(pyridin-2 ylmethyl)amino)methyl)-4-nitrophenol (HL²), 4-chloro-2-(((2-(ethylthio)ethyl)(pyridin-2-ylmethyl)amino)methyl)phenol (HL³), 2-(((2-(benzylthio)ethyl)(pyridin-2-ylmethyl) amino)methyl)phenol (HL⁴), 2-(((2-(benzylthio)ethyl)(pyridin-2-ylmethyl)amino)methyl) -4-nitrophenol (HL⁵), and 4-chloro-2-(((2-(benzylthio)ethyl)(pyridin-2-ylmethyl)amino) methyl)phenol (HL⁶) to give dichloro complexes of the type Fe(L)Cl₂], 2. The solid and solution structure of the complexes, as well as their properties, were probed using X-ray diffraction, spectroscopic and electrochemical methods. The Mössbauer spectral study at 80 K for complexes reveals the existence of (III) oxidation state and high-spin state of the metal center in the complex. Dioxygenase activity of the complexes has been studied and both 1 and 2 have been found to display the intradiol-cleaving pathway. However, no extradiol cleavage products have been isolated.