Gadolinium acetylacetonate tetraphenyl monoporphyrinate complex and some of its derivatives: EXAFS study and molecular dynamics simulation

Many attempts to obtain single crystals appropriate for X-ray diffraction analysis of the Ln(tpp)(acac) derivatives (where Ln = Gd or Sm, tpp = tetraphenylporphyrin and acac = acetylacetonate) have failed so far. A suitable way to get structural parameters for these monoporphyrinates is to use extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) spectroscopy. We recorded spectra of the monoporphyrins, Ln(tpp)(acac) and Gd(tpyp)(acac) (where tpyp = tetrapyridylporphyrin), and the bisporphyrin GdH(tpyp)₂ in the solid state. We particularly focused our structural analysis on Gd(tpp)(acac), applying both molecular modeling and EXAFS, which allowed us to get accurate results about the local environment of the central atom. The Gd³⁺ ion of the complex at room temperature was found to be bonded to four monoporphyrin nitrogen atoms at an average distance R(Gd-N_av) = 2.48 Å and to three or four oxygen atoms at R(Gd-O_ac,w) = 2.38 Å from an acetylacetonato anion and a water molecule. The presence of the second water molecule in the coordination sphere was barely discernible by EXAFS analysis. Molecular modeling has provided further information about the coordination core geometry of the Gd(tpp)(acac) monoporphyrinate, including a bishydrated coordination sphere. Also, it has enabled the construction of a 3D structural model on which multiple scattering analyses were attempted. Monte Carlo simulation was used to validate the adjustments. EXAFS spectra analysis was carried out on the derivatives, displaying slight distortions in the lanthanide central-atom coordination geometry.