Iron(ii)-α-keto acid complexes of tridentate ligands on gold nanoparticles: the effect of ligand geometry and immobilization on their dioxygen-dependent reactivity

Two mononuclear nonheme iron(ii)-benzoylformate (BF) complexes [(6Me(2)-Me-BPA)Fe(BF)](ClO4) (1a) and [(6Me(3)-TPMM)Fe(BF)](ClO4) (1b) of tridentate nitrogen donor ligands, bis((6-methylpyridin-2-yl)methyl)(N-methyl)amine (6Me(2)-Me-BPA) and tris(2-(6-methyl)pyridyl)methoxymethane (6Me(3)-TPMM), were isolated and characterized. The structural characterization of iron(ii)-chloro complexes indicates that the ligand 6Me(2)-Me-BPA binds to the iron(ii) centre in a meridional fashion, whereas 6Me(3)-TPMM behaves as a facial ligand. Both the ligands were functionalized with terminal thiol for immobilization on gold nanoparticles (AuNPs), and the corresponding iron(ii) complexes [(6Me(2)-BPASH)Fe(BF)(ClO4)]@C8Au (2a) and [(6Me(3)-TPMSH)Fe(BF)(ClO4)]@C8Au (2b) were prepared to probe the effect of immobilization on their ability to perform bioinspired oxidation reactions. All the complexes react with dioxygen to display the oxidative decarboxylation of the coordinated benzoylformate, but the complexes supported by 6Me(3)-TPMM and its thiol-appended ligand display faster reactivity compared to their analogues with the 6Me(2)-Me-BPA-derived ligands. In each case, an electrophilic iron-oxygen oxidant was intercepted as the active oxidant generated from dioxygen. The immobilized complexes (2a and 2b) display enhanced O-2-dependent reactivity in oxygen-atom transfer reactions (OAT) and hydrogen-atom transfer (HAT) reactions compared to their homogeneous congeners (1a and 1b). Furthermore, the immobilized complex 2b displays catalytic OAT reactions. This study supports that the ligand geometry and immobilization on AuNPs influence the dioxygen-dependent reactivity of the complexes.

Automated summary

This study synthesized and characterized two mononuclear nonheme iron(ii)-benzoylformate complexes with tridentate nitrogen donor ligands, and investigated their bioinspired oxidation performance after immobilization on gold nanoparticles. The results showed that the complexes supported by tris(2-(6-methyl)pyridyl)methoxymethane (6Me(3)-TPMM) and its thiol-appended ligand displayed faster reactivity. Additionally, the immobilized complexes showed enhanced activity in oxygen-atom transfer reactions (OAT) and hydrogen-atom transfer (HAT) reactions compared to their homogeneous analogues. This study highlights the importance of ligand geometry and immobilization on gold nanoparticles in influencing the reactivity of the complexes.