(Photo)ionization of tris(phenolato)iron(III) complexes: generation of phenoxyl radical as ligand

Photochemical or chemical oxidation of Fe(III)-hexadentate macrocyclic ligand complexes, FeLp or FeLo, involves the elimination of an electron from a phenolate ligand, leading to the formation of cationic complexes. FeLo and FeLp can be used as biocatalysts for the reaction of metal ions and radicals. These radicals show a homology to the protonated parent compounds, as revealed by Mossbauer, UV/vis and resonance Raman spectroscopies.