Syntheses, structures, and magnetic properties of three Fe(II) complexes with reduced radical ligands

Three new Fe(II) complexes [Fe(HIM2py)2(SCN)2] (1), [Fe(HIM2py)2(H2O)2](ClO4)2 · 2H2O (2), and [Fe(HIM2py)2(4,4-bipy)](ClO4)2 · 3CH3CH2OH (3) (4,4-bipy = 4,4′-bipyridine, HIM2py = 1-hydroxyl-2(2′-pyridyl)-4,4,5,5-tetramethyl-4,5-dihydro-1H-imidazole) have been synthesized and characterized structurally as well as magnetically. The X-ray analysis reveals that HIM2py ligands are coordinated to the metal ions as an unusual six-membered didentate chelate with the κ2N(py), O(HIM) mode. Fe(II) ions in complex 3 are bridged by 4,4-bipy, leading to a 1D chain structure. The magnetic behavior of complex 3 is investigated, showing weak antiferromagnetic interactions.