Effects Of Multiple Covalent Attachments On Immobilized Iron(Ii)-1,10-Phenanthroline Complexes In Silica Sol-Gels

Transition metal complexes covalently attached to inert supports are attracting widespread interest for applications in catalysis, molecular devices, and sensors. We have studied the consequences of covalent, attachment on ferroin ([Fe(phen-R)(3)](2+)) ligand exchange reactions. Mixtures of complexes comprising molecules with zero, one, two, or three tethers were reacted with excess Ni2+ in sol-gel silicate media. Statistical analysis of the reactivity data reveals that the stability of the complexes varies aperiodically as a function of the number of tethers.