The coordination chemistry of 1,2,4,5-tetrazines

1,2,4,5-Tetrazine and its 3,6-disubstituted derivatives exhibit a particular coordination chemistry, characterized by electron and charge transfer phenomena and by the ability of these heteroatom-rich ligands to bridge metal centers in various ways. A very low-lying pi* orbital localized at the four nitrogen atoms is responsible for intense low-energy charge transfer absorptions, electrical conductivity of coordination polymers, unusual stability of paramagnetic radical or mixed-valent intermediates and for often well-resolved EPR hyperfine structure in the radical complexes. Substituted 1,4-dihydro-1,2,4,5-tetrazines have also been used as bridging ligands. The structural consequences of electron transfer as well as the capability for efficient and variable metal-metal bridging render the tetrazines as valuable components of supramolecular materials. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.