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A series of dichloroferrous complexes with ligands derived from the tris(2-pyridylmethyl)amine tripod has been prepared and characterized. The X-ray crystal structures of the complexes [bis(2-bromo-6-pyridylmethyl)(2-pyridylmethyl)amine]Fe(II)Cl(2) ((Br(2)TPA)Fe(II)Cl(2)) and [bis(2-phenyl-6-pyridylmethyl)(2-pyridylmethyl)amine]Fe(II)Cl(2), ((Ph(2)TPA)Fe(II)Cl(2)) are reported. In these complexes, the tripod coordinates in the tridentate mode, with a substituted pyridyl arm dangling away from the metal. Both complexes have a trigonal bipyramidal iron center with two equatorial chloride ions. Their crystal structures are compared with those of the [tris(2-pyridylmethyl)amine]Fe(II)Cl(2) and [(2-bromo-6-pyridylmethyl)bis(2-pyridylmethyl)amine]Fe(II)Cl(2) complexes ((TPA)Fe(II)Cl(2) and (BrTPA)Fe(II)Cl(2), respectively) in which the ligand coordinates in the tetradentate mode. For all complexes, the metal to ligand distances are systematically above the value of 2.0 A, and (1)H NMR displays paramagnetically shifted resonances with short relaxation times. This indicates that the iron is in a high-spin state. Electric conductivity measurements show that, for all complexes, the measured values lie within the same range, significantly below those expected for ionic complexes. Together with the analysis of the UV-visible and NMR data, this strongly suggests that the coordination mode of the tripod is retained in solution.

A straightforward synthesis of the zwitterionic benzoquinonemonoimine 8 is reported. This molecule is a rare example of a zwitterion being more stable than its canonical forms. It is shown that 8 is best described as constituted of two chemically connected but electronically not conjugated 6 pi electron subunits. Its reactivity with electrophiles such as H(+), CH(3)(+), and metal salts leads to the synthesis of new 12 pi electron molecules 12 (H(+)), 14 (CH(3)(+)), and 20 (Pd(2+)), respectively, in which one or both 6 pi electron subsystems localize into an alternation of single and double bonds, as established by X-ray diffraction. The acidity of the N[bond]H protons of 8 can be modulated by an external reagent. Dependent on the electrophile used, the control of the pi system delocalization becomes possible. When the electrophile simply adds to the zwitterion as in 12, 14, or 15, there is no more negative charge to be delocalized and only the positive charge remains delocalized between the nitrogen atoms. Furthermore, when a reaction with the electrophilic reagent results in deprotonation, as in 17-21, there remains no charge in the system to be delocalized. DFT calculations were performed on models of 8, 12, 14, 20, and on other related zwitterions 9 and 10 in order to examine the influence of the fused cycles on the charge separation and on the singlet-triplet energy gap. An effect of the nitrogen substituents in 8 is to significantly stabilize the singlet state. The dipole moment of 8 was measured to be 9.7 D in dichloromethane, in agreement with calculated values. The new ligands and complexes described in this article constitute new classes of compounds relevant to many areas of chemistry.