Abstract
Solvatochromic and ionochromic effects of the iron(II)bis(1, 10-phenanthroline)dicyano (Fe(phen)2(CN)2) complex were investigated by means of combined DFT/TDDFT calculations using the PBE and B3LYP functionals. Extended solvation models of Fe(phen)2(CN)2 in acetonitrile and aqueous solution, as well as including interaction with Mg2+, were constructed. The calculated vertical excitation energies reproduce well the observed solvatochromism in acetonitrile and aqueous solutions, the ionochromism in acetonitrile in the presence of Mg2+, and the absence of ionochromic effect in aqueous solution. The vertical excitation energies and the nature of the transitions were reliably predicted after inclusion of geometry relaxation upon aqueous micro-and global solvation and solvent polarization effect in the TDDFT calculations. The two intense UV-vis absorption bands occurring for all systems studied are interpreted as transitions from a hybrid FeII(d)/cyano N(p) orbital to a phenanthroline π * orbital rather than a pure metal-to-ligand-charge transfer (MLCT). The solvatochromic and ionochromic blue band shifts of Fe(phen)2(CN)2 were explained with preferential stabilization of the highest occupied FeII(d)/cyano N(p) orbitals as a result of specific interactions with water solvent molecules or Mg 2+ ions in solution. Such interactions occur through the CN - groups in the complex, and they have a decisive role for the observed blue shifts of UV-vis absorption bands.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 1634-1646 |
| Number of pages | 13 |
| Journal | Inorganic Chemistry |
| Volume | 49 |
| Issue number | 4 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Feb 15 2010 |