Synthesis and Spectroscopic Characterisation of a Heterodinuclear Iron(III)-Copper(II) Complex Based on an Asymmetric Dinucleating Ligand System

The site-directed generation of a heterodinuclear FeIIICuII complex by using a new asymmetric dinucleating ligand FloH is reported. The iron(III) ion is introduced first on the preferential metal-binding site of the ligand that leads to the formation of the thermodynamically favored five-membered chelate rings upon metal-binding. Copper(II) is introduced in the next step. The stepwise metalation strategy reported here may be extended to the preparation of other heterometallic complexes with the view of avoiding a statistical distribution. Such complexes can offer novel spectroscopic properties, electronic structures, and reactivities in comparison to their homometallic analogues.