Iron and cobalt complexes with the ligand (2-aminoethyl)bis(2-pyridylmethyl)amine (uns-penp) and derivatives

A series of iron(II)/(III) and cobalt(II)/(III) complexes with the tetradendate tripodal ligands (2-aminoethyl) bis(2-pyridylmethyl)amine (uns-penp), its methylated derivatives Me(2)-uns-penp and Me(4)-unspenp as well as the amide ligand N-acetyl-N,N-bis[(2-pyridyl)methyl] ethylenediamine (acetyl-uns-penp) were synthesized and structurally characterized. They have been investigated in regard to their reactivity towards dioxygen and/or hydrogen peroxide. Complexes of this type seem to have a high potential to be useful in the activation of dioxygen for selective oxidation reactions of organic substrates. (C) 2010 Elsevier B. V. All rights reserved.