Diiron propanedithiolate complex bearing the pyridyl-functionalized phosphine ligand axially coordinated to a photosensitizer zinc tetraphenylporphyrin

Treatment of the starting material (μ-PDT)Fe2(CO)6 (PDT = SCH2CH2CH2S) with 4-diphenylphosphinoaminopyridine (PyNHPPh2) in the presence of the decarbonylating agent Me3NO·2H2O afforded (μ-PDT)Fe2(CO)5(PyNHPPh2) (1) in 56% yield. Further treatment of 1 with Zinc tetraphenylporphyrin (ZnTPP) yielded the target light-driven model compound (μ-PDT)Fe2(CO)5(PyNHPPh2)(ZnTPP) (2) in 94% yield. The new complexes 1 and 2 were characterized by elemental analysis, NMR, IR, and X-ray crystallography. The molecular structure of 2 revealed its precursor 1 and a photosensitizer ZnTPP joined together through axial coordination. Furthermore, the fluorescence emission spectra and electrochemistry were also investigated.