Names | |
---|---|
Preferred IUPAC name
1,10-Phenanthroline
|
|
Identifiers | |
3D model (Jmol)
|
|
ChEBI | |
ChemSpider | |
DrugBank | |
ECHA InfoCard | 100.000.572 |
RTECS number | SF8300000 |
|
|
|
|
Properties | |
C12H8N2 | |
Molar mass | 180.21 g/mol |
Appearance | colourless crystals |
Density | 1.31 g/cm3 |
Melting point | 117 °C (243 °F; 390 K) |
moderate | |
Solubility in other solvents | acetone
ethanol |
Acidity (pKa) | 4.86 (phenH+) |
Hazards | |
Main hazards | mild neurotoxin, strong nephrotoxin, and powerful diuretic |
R-phrases | R25, R50/53 |
S-phrases | S45,S60,S61 |
Related compounds | |
Related compounds
|
2,2'-bipyridine ferroin phenanthrene |
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
|
|
what is ?) | (|
Infobox references | |
ethanol
Phenanthroline (phen) is a heterocyclic organic compound. It is a white solid that is soluble in organic solvents. It is used as a ligand in coordination chemistry, it forms strong complexes with most metal ions.
Phenanthroline may be prepared by two successive Skraup reactions of glycerol with o-phenylenediamine, catalyzed by sulfuric acid, and an oxidizing agent, traditionally aqueous arsenic acid or nitrobenzene. Dehydration of glycerol gives acrolein which condenses with the amine followed by a cyclization.
In terms of its coordination properties, phen is similar to 2,2'-bipyridine (bipy) but binds metals more tightly since the chelating nitrogen donors are preorganized.
Many homoleptic complexes are known. Particularly well studied is [Fe(phen)3]2+, called "ferroin." It was used for the photometric determination of Fe(II). 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. The pink complex [Ni(phen)3]2+ has been resolved into its Δ and Λ isomers. Copper(I) forms [Cu(phen)2]+, which is luminescent.
The ferroin analogue [Ru(phen)3]2+ has long been known to be bioactive.
1,10-Phenanthroline is an inhibitor of metallopeptidases, with one of the first observed instances reported in carboxypeptidase A. 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.