Six-Coordinate Nitrato Complexes of Iron Porphyrins with Trans S‑Donor Ligands

The reaction of dimethyl sulfide (DMS) and tetrahydrothiophene (THT) with thin, amorphous layers of the nitrato complexes Fe­(Por)­(η2-O2NO) (Por = meso-tetraphenylporphyrinato dianion or meso-tetra-p-tolylporphyrinato dianion) at low temperature leads to formation of the corresponding six-coordinate complexes Fe­(Por)­(L)­(η1-ONO2) (L = DMS, THT) as characterized by Fourier transform infrared and optical spectroscopy measurements. Adduct formation was accompanied by bidentate-to-monodentate linkage isomerization of the nitrato ligand, with the FeIII center remaining in a high-spin electronic state. These adducts are thermally unstable; warming to room temperature restores the initial Fe­(Por)­(η2-O2NO) species.