Electronic effects of electron-donating and -withdrawing groups in model complexes for iron-tyrosine-containing metalloenzymes

Three new iron(III) complexes with the ligand N,N'-bis(2-hydroxybenzyl)-N,N'-bis(pyridin-2-ylmethyl)ethylenediamine, H2bbpen, containing electron-donating and -withdrawing groups (Me, Br, NO2) in the 5-position of the phenol rings were synthesized and fully characterized by IR spectroscopy, ESI mass spectrometry, and CHN elemental analyses. X-ray structures of the iron(III) complexes containing NO2 and Me groups were determined. The effects of the substituents on the electronic properties of the complexes were detected by UV-visible spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry, and X-ray crystallography. Linear correlations between the Hammett parameter for the substituents (sigma(p)) and the Fe(III)/Fe(II) redox potentials or ligand-metal charge-transfer (LMCT) processes of the complexes were obtained. A theoretical study using DFT is presented and shows good agreement between the experimental and calculated data.