1,10-Phenanthroline (phen) is a
heterocyclicorganic compound. It is a white solid that is soluble in organic solvents. The 1,10 refer to the location of the nitrogen atoms that replace CH's in the hydrocarbon called
phenanthrene.
Abbreviated "phen", it is used as a
ligand in
coordination chemistry, forming strong complexes with most metal ions.[3][4] It is often sold as the monohydrate.
In terms of its coordination properties, phenanthroline is similar to
2,2'-bipyridine (bipy) with the advantage that the two nitrogen donors are preorganized for chelation. Phenanthroline is a stronger base than bipy. According to one ligand ranking scale, phen is a weaker donor than bipy.[6]
Several homoleptic complexes are known of the type [M(phen)32+. Particularly well studied is [Fe(phen)32+, called "
ferroin." It can be used for the
photometric determination of Fe(II).[7] It is used as a
redox indicator with
standard potential +1.06 V. The reduced ferrous form has a deep red colour and the oxidised form is light-blue.[8] The pink complex [Ni(phen)32+ has been resolved into its Δ and Λ isomers.[9] The complex [Ru(phen)32+ is bioactive.[10]
Copper(I) forms [Cu(phen)2+, which is luminescent.[11][12]
Bioinorganic chemistry
1,10-Phenanthroline is an
inhibitor of
metallopeptidases, with one of the first observed instances reported in carboxypeptidase A.[13] Inhibition of the enzyme occurs by removal and chelation of the metal ion required for catalytic activity, leaving an inactive apoenzyme. 1,10-Phenanthroline targets mainly zinc metallopeptidases, with a much lower affinity for calcium.[14]
Related phen ligands
A variety of substituted derivatives of phen have been examined as ligands.[12][15] Substituents at the 2,9 positions confer protection for the attached metal, inhibiting the binding of multiple equivalents of the phenanthroline. Such bulky ligands also favor trigonal or tetrahedral coordination at the metal.[16] Phen itself form complexes of the type [M(phen)3]Cl2 when treated with metal dihalides (M = Fe, Co, Ni). By contrast,
neocuproine and
bathocuproine form 1:1 complexes such as [Ni(neocuproine)Cl22.[17]
Basicities of 1,10-Phenanthrolines and 2,2'-Bipyridine[18]
Alkyllithium reagents form deeply colored derivatives with phenanthroline. The alkyllithium content of solutions can be determined by treatment of such reagents with small amounts of phenanthroline (ca. 1 mg) followed by titration with alcohols to a colourless
endpoint.[26]Grignard reagents may be similarly titrated.[27]
^Luman, C.R. and Castellano, F.N. (2003) "Phenanthroline Ligands" in Comprehensive Coordination Chemistry II. Elsevier.
ISBN978-0-08-043748-4.
^Sammes, Peter G.; Yahioglu, Gokhan (1994). "1,10-Phenanthroline: A versatile ligand". Chemical Society Reviews. 23 (5): 327.
doi:
10.1039/cs9942300327.
^Halcrow, Barbara E.; Kermack, William O. (1946). "43. Attempts to find new antimalarials. Part XXIV. Derivatives of o-phenanthroline (7 : 8 : 3′ : 2′-pyridoquinoline)". J. Chem. Soc.: 155–157.
doi:
10.1039/jr9460000155.
PMID20983293.
^Teng, Qiaoqiao; Huynh, Han Vinh (2017). "A Unified Ligand Electronic Parameter Based on C NMR Spectroscopy of N-Heterocyclic Carbene Complexes". Dalton Transactions. 46 (3): 614–627.
doi:
10.1039/C6DT04222H.
PMID27924321.
^Bellér, G. B.; Lente, G. B.; Fábián, I. N. (2010). "Central Role of Phenanthroline Mono-N-oxide in the Decomposition Reactions of Tris(1,10-phenanthroline)iron(II) and -iron(III) Complexes". Inorganic Chemistry. 49 (9): 3968–3970.
doi:
10.1021/ic902554b.
PMID20415494.
^George B. Kauffman; Lloyd T. Takahashi (1966). "Resolution of the tris-(1,10-Phenanthroline)Nickel(II) Ion". Inorganic Syntheses. Vol. 5. pp. 227–232.
doi:
10.1002/9780470132395.ch60.
ISBN978-0-470-13239-5.
^Armaroli N (2001). "Photoactive Mono- and Polynuclear Cu(I)-Phenanthrolines. A Viable Alternative to Ru(Ii)-Polypyridines?". Chemical Society Reviews. 30 (2): 113–124.
doi:
10.1039/b000703j.
^
abPallenberg A. J.; Koenig K. S.; Barnhart D. M. (1995). "Synthesis and Characterization of Some Copper(I) Phenanthroline Complexes". Inorganic Chemistry. 34 (11): 2833–2840.
doi:
10.1021/ic00115a009.
^Felber, Jean-Pierre; Coombs, Thomas L.; Vallee, Bert L. (1962). "The mechanism of inhibition of carboxypeptidase A by 1,10-phenanthroline". Biochemistry. 1 (2): 231–238.
doi:
10.1021/bi00908a006.
PMID13892106.
^Salvesen, GS & Nagase, H (2001). "Inhibition of proteolytic enzymes". In Beynon, Rob & Bond, J S (eds.). Proteolytic Enzymes: A Practical Approach. Vol. 1 (2nd ed.). Oxford University Press. pp. 105–130.
ISBN978-0-19-963662-4.
^Accorsi, Gianluca; Listorti, Andrea; Yoosaf, K.; Armaroli, Nicola (2009). "1,10-Phenanthrolines: Versatile building blocks for luminescent molecules, materials and metal complexes". Chemical Society Reviews. 38 (6): 1690–2300.
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^Preston, H. S.; Kennard, C. H. L. (1969). "Crystal Structure of di-mu-Chloro-sym-trans-Dichloro-Bis-(2,9-Dimethyl-1,10-Phenanthroline)dinickel(II)-2-Chloroform". J. Chem. Soc. A: 2682–2685.
doi:
10.1039/J19690002682.
^Leipoldt, J.G.; Lamprecht, G.J.; Steynberg, E.C. (1991). "Kinetics of the substitution of acetylacetone in acetylactonato-1,5-cyclooctadienerhodium(I) by derivatives of 1,10-phenantrholine and 2,2′-dipyridyl". Journal of Organometallic Chemistry. 402 (2): 259–263.
doi:
10.1016/0022-328X(91)83069-G.
^Lin, Ho-Shen; Paquette, Leo A. (1994). "A Convenient Method for Determining the Concentration of Grignard Reagents". Synth. Commun. 24 (17): 2503–2506.
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