Ni(II) andhs-Fe(II) Complexes of a Paramagnetic Thiazyl Ligand, and Decomposition Products of the Iron Complex, Including an Fe(III) Tetramer

Synthesis and structural, magnetic and electrochemical characterization of the Ni(hfac)2(pyDTDA) and the Fe(hfac)2(pyDTDA) complexes are reported (hfac = 1,1,1,5,5,5-hexafluoroacetylacetonato-; pyDTDA = 4-(2′-pyridyl)-1,2,3,5-dithiadiazolyl). Unlike the previously reported Mn(II) and Cu(II) complexes, but similar to the Co(II) complex, the Ni(II) and Fe(II) complexes are not dimerized in the solid state, allowing for magnetic coupling between the metal ion and paramagnetic ligand to be readily obtained from solid state magnetic measurements: Ni complex, J/kB = +132(1) K, using H = −2J{SNi·SRad} and gNi = 2.04(2) and gRad = 1.99(2); Fe complex, J/kB = −60.3(3) K, using H = −2J{SFe·SRad} and gav = 2.11(2). The iron complex is unusually unstable. A thermal decomposition product is isolated wherein the coordinated pyDTDA ligand appears to have been transformed into a coordinated 2-(2′-pyridyl)-4,6-bis(trifluoromethyl)pyrimidine. The iron complex also yields a solution decomposition product in the presence of air that is best described as an oxygen bridged iron(III) tetramer with two hfac ligands on each of three iron atoms and two oxidized pyDTDA ligands chelated on the fourth.