Dinuclear Iron(III) and Nickel(II) Complexes Containing N‐(2‐Pyridylmethyl)‐N′‐(2‐hydroxyethyl)ethylenediamine: Catalytic Oxidation and Magnetic Properties

Abstract Dinuclear Fe III and Ni II complexes, [(phenO)Fe(N 3 )] 2 (NO 3 ) 2 ( 1 ) and [(phenOH)Ni(N 3 ) 2 ] 2 ( 2 ), were prepared by treating Fe(NO 3 ) 3 ⋅9 H 2 O and Ni(NO 3 ) 2 ⋅6 H 2 O in methanol, respectively, with phenOH (= N‐( 2‐pyridylmethyl)‐ N ′‐(2‐hydroxyethyl)ethylenediamine) and NaN 3 ; both 1 and 2 were characterized by elemental analysis, IR spectroscopy, X‐ray diffraction, and magnetic susceptibility measurements. Two ethoxo‐bridged Fe III and two azido‐bridged Ni II were observed in 1 and 2 , respectively; corresponding antiferromagnetic interaction via the bridged ethoxo groups and strong ferromagnetic coupling via the bridged end‐on azido ligands within the dimeric unit were observed. Complex 1 did not exhibit any catalytic activity, while 2 exhibited excellent catalytic activities for the epoxidation of aliphatic, aromatic, and terminal olefins.