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Brock University

Synthesis of Heteroleptic Redox-active and Spin-crossover Complexes

Abstract

dc:description.abstract

The following research regarding heteroleptic redox-active complexes with the potential for spin-crossover is synthetic in nature. The intent behind incorporating the Schiff base ligand N-(8-quinolyl)salicylaldimine with some redox-active species into a mixed ligand complex featuring a d4-d7 metal ion center was to prime the material for spin-crossover based on strong intermolecular interactions that would enhance cooperativity of the system. Single component systems that display spin-crossover behaviour paired with other physical properties like electrical conductivity hold significance in the field of multifunctional materials, of which there are few examples that feature mixed ligand systems. Information describing this type of chemistry and the magnetic interactions that govern these characteristics is introduced in the first chapter of this work. The synthetic strategies toward mixed ligand complexes in the form of [(Qsal)Fe(RAL)]+X- and [(Qsal)Co(RAL)]+X- have been realized from the use of mononuclear [(Qsal)FeCl2(CH3OH)] and [(Qsal)Co(OAc)]+OAc- species, respectively. The redox-active ligand (RAL) component is an arylazo ligand like 10-(8-quinolylazo)-9-phenanthrol (Qapl) or 1-(2-Pyridylazo)-2-phenanthrol (Papl), which possess a low-lying π* MO that makes them susceptible to multi-step reductions that give rise to radical intermediates. Heteroleptic complexes that were synthesized and isolated like [(Qsal)Fe(Qapl)]+BPh4-, [(Cl-Qsal)Fe(Qapl)]+BPh4-- and homoleptic [Fe(Qapl)2]+BPh4- were diffracted and measured several intermolecular π-π contacts of distances typically between 3.5-3.7 Å, often between the phenanthrene rings of adjacent Qapl ligands. Complexes In the form of [(Qsal)Fe(Qapl)]+X (X= BPh4- or SCN-) showed early onset of spin transition in solution usually beyond 298 K. These complexes were overly reduced in the glovebox which resulted in their deterioration, presumably from the cleavage of the RAL azo bond. The framework developed for the heteroleptic Fe3+ coordination chemistry was applied to cobalt, with some amendments, and afforded several heterleoptic Co3+ complexes using Qsal with the arylazo ligands Qapl and Papl. The heteroleptic cobalt complexes presented here were found to be LS Co3+ which is diamagnetic. However, there is potential under inert atmosphere to produce Co2+ and possibly a phenoxyl radical species with redox-active valence tautomers.

Degree

thesis:*
Name thesis:degree_name
M.Sc. Chemistry
Level thesis:degree_level
Masters
Discipline thesis:degree_discipline
Faculty of Mathematics and Science
Department dc:contributor.department
Department of Chemistry
Grantor
Brock University
Year dc:date.issued
2020

Author and committee

dc:creator, dc:contributor.*
Author dc:creator
  • Pelaccia, Mark

Subjects

dc:subject × 4

Rights

Language dc:language.iso
eng

Identifiers

dc:identifier.*
Handle dc:identifier.uri
http://hdl.handle.net/10464/14829
OAI identifier oai:identifier
oai:brocku.scholaris.ca:10464/14829

Chain of custody

source
Harvested from
Brock University
Base URL
brocku.scholaris.ca/server/oai/request
Last updated
2026-07-24
Source record
OAI-PMH GetRecord
citation

Pelaccia, Mark. Synthesis of Heteroleptic Redox-active and Spin-crossover Complexes. Masters thesis, Brock University, 2020. http://hdl.handle.net/10464/14829