High-frequency and -field EPR and FDMRS study of the [Fe(H2O)6]2+ ion in ferrous fluorosilicate

The complex [Fe(H2O)6]SiF6 is one of the most stable and best characterized high-spin Fe(II) salts and as such, is a paradigm for the study of this important transition metal ion. We describe high-frequency and -field electron paramagnetic resonance studies of both pure [Fe(H2O)6]SiF6 and [Zn(H2O)6]SiF6 doped with 8% of Fe(II). In addition, frequency domain magnetic resonance spectroscopy was applied to these samples. High signal-to-noise, high resolution spectra were recorded which allowed an accurate determination of spin Hamiltonian parameters for Fe(II) in each of these two, related, environments. For pure [Fe(H2O)6]SiF6, the following parameters were obtained: D=+11.95(1) cm(-1), E=0.658(4) cm(-1), g=[2.099(4),2.151(5),1.997(3)], along with fourth-order zero-field splitting parameters: B4(0)=17(1)×10(-4) cm(-1) and B4(4)=18(4)×10(-4) cm(-1), which are rarely obtainable by any technique. For the doped complex, D=+13.42(1) cm(-1), E=0.05(1) cm(-1), g=[2.25(1),2.22(1),2.23(1)]. These parameters are in good agreement with those obtained using other techniques. Ligand-field theory was used to analyze the electronic absorption data for [Fe(H2O)6]SiF6 and suggests that the ground state is 5A1, which allows successful use of a spin Hamiltonian model. Density functional theory and unrestricted Hartree-Fock calculations were performed which, in the case of latter, reproduced the spin Hamiltonian parameters very well for the doped complex.