Synthesis and Characterization of Iron Trisphenolate Complexes with Hydrogen-Bonding Cavities

A new family of C3-symmetric ligands, featuring phenolate donors and a secondary coordination sphere, have been synthesized. We report the synthesis and subsequent coordination chemistry of these new tripodal N-anchored tris­(phenolate) chelates, [tris­(5-tert-butyl-3-N-carboxamide-2-hydroxybenzyl)­amines] (H3RSalAmi), to iron­(II), iron­(III), and zinc­(II). These electron-rich complexes have intramolecular hydrogen bonds, and therefore the potential to stabilize biologically relevant substrates in small-molecule activation chemistry.