Crystallographic Evidence for a Sterically Induced Ferryl Tilt in a Non-Heme Oxoiron(IV) Complex that Makes it a Better Oxidant

Oxoiron(IV) units are often implicated as intermediates in the catalytic cycles of non-heme iron oxygenases and oxidases. The most reactive synthetic analogues of these intermediates are supported by tetradentate tripodal ligands with N-methylbenzimidazole or quinoline donors, but their instability precludes structural characterization. Herein we report crystal structures of two [Fe^IV(O)(L)]²⁺ complexes supported by pentadentate ligands incorporating these heterocycles, which show longer average Fe–N distances than the complex with only pyridine donors. These longer distances correlate linearly with log k₂′ values for O- and H-atom transfer rates, suggesting that weakening the ligand field increases the electrophilicity of the Fe=O center. The sterically bulkier quinoline donors are also found to tilt the Fe=O unit away from a linear N-Fe=O arrangement by 10°.