Coordination chemistry iron oxidation

Dr. Erickson For those interested in coordination chemistry, certain other transition metal atoms are suitable for Mossbauer spectroscopy. One in particular is ruthenium which is just below iron in the Periodic Table. It is a difficult isotope to work with since it requires helium temperatures almost exclusively. I don t know whether it is possible to work at nitrogen temperatures or not, but Kistner at Brookhaven has examined various ruthenium compounds from the 2-j- to the 8+ oxidation states with interesting results. These are not published yet, but at least his work offers the possibility of going down one element below the other in the Periodic Table to study chemical effects. Osmium, which is below ruthenium, can also be Mossbauered. Some sort of systematic study like this involving elements in the various transition series would be extremely interesting. 

Iron has a rich surface coordination chemistry that forms the basis of its important catalytic properties. There are many catalytic applications in which metallic iron or its oxides play a vital part, and the best known are associated with the synthesis of ammonia from hydrogen and nitrogen at high pressure (Haber-Bosch Process), and in hydrocarbon synthesis from CO/C02/hydrogen mixtures (Fischer-Tropsch synthesis). The surface species present in the former includes hydrides and nitrides as well as NH, NH2, and coordinated NH3 itself. Many intermediates have been proposed for hydrogenation of carbon oxides during Fischer-Tropsch synthesis that include growing hydrocarbon chains. 

Sherman, D.M. (1985) Electronic structures of Ee " coordination sites in iron oxides application to spectra, bonding and magnetism. Phys. Chem. Min. 12 161-175 Sherman, D.M. (1987). Molecular orbital (SCF-Xa-SW) theory of metal-metal charge transfer processes in minerals I. Application to the Fe vpe charge transfer and electron delocalization in mixed-valenced iron oxides and si-licates.Phys Chem Min 70 1262-1269 Sherman, D.M. (1990) Crystal chemistry, electronic structure and spectra of Fe sites in clay minerals. Applications to photochemistry and electron transport. In Coyne, L.M. McKeever, S.W.S. Blake, D.F. (eds.) Spectroscopic characterization of minerals and their surfaces. A.C.S. Symposium Series 415, 284-309... 

Kanowitz, S. M. and Palenik, G. (1998). Bond valences in coordination chemistry. A simple method for calculating the oxidation state of iron in Fe-0 complexes. Inorg. Chem. 37, 2086-8. 

The above mechanistic interpretation is in contrast with the one appearing in the coordination chemistry of NO on the very labile Fe(III) porphyrins and hemoproteins, which show water substitution-controlled kinetics at the iron(III) center (22,25). The latter Fe(III) moieties are, however, high-spin systems, whilst the cyano-complexes are low-spin. There is strong experimental evidence to support the dissociative mechanism with the Fe(III)-porphyrins, because the rates are of the same order as the water-exchange reactions measured in these systems (22d). Besides, the Fe(III) centers are less oxidizing than [Fein(CN)5H20]2- (21,25). 

There are two principal synthetic routes to dicarboxylate complexes. One of these uses an aqueous solution of the alkali metal dicarboxylate and the corresponding metal halide,93 while the other depends upon the dicarboxylic acid reduction of higher oxidation state metals. This reductive property of oxalic acid results in its ready dissolution of iron oxides and hence a cleaning utility in nuclear power plants.94 Mention must also be made of the successful ligand exchange synthesis of molybdenum dicarboxylates, Mo(dicarboxylate)2 H2 O, from the corresponding acetate complex. Unfortunately the polymeric, amorphous and insoluble nature of these complexes has restricted the study of these systems, which may well provide examples of multiple M—M bonding in dicarboxylate coordination chemistry.95... 

The high stability of the aluminate ion allows the production of concentrated solutions of aluminum with the virtual exclusion of the main metallic impurity, viz. iron as an oxide residue. The resultant impure aluminate solution is clarified and its temperature reduced when the reverse of the above reaction occurs with the formation of A1203,3H20 by a slow crystallization procedure. The high-purity alumina trihydrate product is calcined and then reduced electrochemically in a molten fluoride bath by the well-known Hall-Heroult process. The major problems in the Bayer process have their origin in the coordination chemistry of aluminum in alkaline solutions. The... 

Nelson SM. Iron(III) and higher oxidation states. In Wilkinson G,Gillard RD,McClevery JA, eds. Comprehensive Coordination Chemistry. Oxford Pergamon Press, 1987 234-47. 

The zero and lower oxidation states are relatively unimportant in the classical coordination chemistry of iron. With increased electron density on the iron, d-d and d-n interactions are particularly important, and systems with n acceptor orbitals are the dominant ligand species. Amongst the most common ligands encountered are carbon monoxide, phosphines, phosphites and unsaturated hydrocarbons. There are, however, a few relatively well-characterized iron(0) complexes derived from the reduction of higher oxidation state complexes containing N donor ligands possessing delocalized ji systems. 

The iron porphyrins and related compounds constitute an extremely important class of coordination complex due to their chemical behaviour and involvement in a number of vital biological systems. Over recent years a vast amount of work on them has been published. Chapter 21.1 deals with the general coordination chemistry of metal porphyrins, hydroporphyrins, azaporphyrins, phthalocyanines, corroles, and corrins. Low oxidation state iron porphyrin complexes are discussed in Section 44.1.4.5 and those containing nitric oxide in Section 44.1.4.7, while a later section in this chapter (44.2.9.2) is mainly concerned with iron(III) and higher oxidation state porphyrin complexes. Inevitably however, a considerable amount of information on iron(II) complexes is contained in that section as well as in Chapter 21.1. Therefore in order to prevent excessive duplication, the present section is restricted to highlighting some of the more important aspects of the coordination chemistry of the iron(II) porphyrins while the related unusually stable phthalocyanine complexes are discussed in the previous section. 

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