Metal complexes of 1,10-phenanthroline derivatives. X. ⁵T₂ ↔ ¹A₁ transitions in iron(II) complexes of 2-(1,10-Phenanthrolin-2-yl)imidazole derivatives

Abstract

The preparation of the tridentate chelating agents 2-(1,10- phenanthrolin-2-yl)imidazoline and 2-(1,10-phenanthrolin-2- yl)benzimidazole and their bis-ligand complexes with iron(II) and nickel(II) is described. The latter ligand coordinates as either a neutral or anionic tridentate. Data from the spectra of the nickel(II) complexes indicate that the ligands have field strengths in the iron(II) crossover region. The temperature dependence of the magnetism of the imidazoline iron(II) complex reveals a gradual, temperature- induced ⁵T₂ ↔ ¹A₁ transition which is not complete within the experimental temperature range (83-363 K). Both the cationic and neutral iron(II) complexes of the benzimidazole derivative are essentially low-spin at room temperature but a significant increase in their magnetic moments at elevated temperatures indicates that a spin transition may be occurring in these compounds too.