Iron(II) and ruthenium(II) complexes of 4′-amino-functionalised 2,2′:6′,2″-terpyridines

The synthesis and characterisation of iron(II) and ruthenium(II) complexes of 4′-amino-2,2′:6′,2″-terpyridines, 4′-Rtpy with R = PhNH (1), 4-MeOC6H4NH (2) and 3,5-Me2C6H3NH (3) are described, along with the single crystal structures of [Fe(1)2][PF6]2·MeCN, [Fe(2)2][PF6]2·MeCN and [Ru(2)2][PF6]2. The solid state structures are analysed in terms of the way in which the presence of the pendant substituents disrupt the π-stacking interactions between tpy units of adjacent cations.