Synthesis and electrochemistry of iron(III) corroles containing a nitrosyl axial ligand. Spectral characterization of ((OEC)FeIII(NO))n where n = 0, 1, 2, or -1 and OEC is the trianion of 2,3,7,8,12,13,17,18-octaethylcorrole

Synthetic procedures enable the preparation of (OEC)Fe(III)(NO), the first neutral iron(III) nitrosyl tetrapyrrole, with OEC being the trianion of 2,3,7,8,12,13,17,18-octaethylcorrole. The complex undergoes up to three oxidations, and the first two reversible oxidations occur stepwise at the corrole macrocycle producing a stable iron(III)pi-cation radical and dication. Both oxidation products have a coordinated NO axial ligand, and cyclic voltammetric studies reveal the occurrence of two one-electron reductions of the complex.