Structural analysis of conformational flexibility in (aqua)(propanediamine-<b><i>N</i></b>,<b><i>N</i></b> '-diacetato-<b><i>N</i></b>-propionato)chromium(III) dihydrate. Crystal structure of <b><i>cis</i></b>-polar, <b><i>trans</i></b>(H₂O,O⁵)-[Cr(1,3-pddap)(H₂O)]<b>·</b>2H₂O

Abstract

The quinquedentate complex trans(H₂O,O⁵)-[Cr(1,3-pddap)(H₂O)] · 2H₂O (where 1,3-pddap is the 1,3-propanediamine-N,N '-diacetate-N-3-propionate ion) was prepared and its structure established by X-ray diffraction method. It crystallizes in the orthorhombic space group Pna2₁, a = 17.290(2), b = 10.821(2), c = 7.872(1) Å, Z = 4. The metal atom is surrounded octahedrally with two nitrogen and three oxygen donors of (1,3-pddap)³⁻, forming two six-membered and two five-membered metal chelate rings, and with one water molecule occupying the trans position with respect to the oxygen of the axial glycinate ring. Conformational analysis of the five geometrical isomers of [Cr(1,3-pddap)(H₂O)], performed with the Consistent Force Field (CFF) program and recently developed edta force field, revealed that the global minimum is indeed the trans(H₂O,O⁵) isomer with the geometry in a very good agreement with the crystallographic structure. General patterns for the conformational preferences of edta-type complexes of trivalent first-row transition metals are exposed and discussed