110fenantroliini

1,10-phenanthroline, often abbreviated as phen, is a heterocyclic organic compound with the chemical formula C12H8N2. It is a colorless solid that is soluble in water and ethanol. 1,10-phenanthroline is characterized by its planar structure, consisting of three fused rings, with two nitrogen atoms positioned at the 1 and 10 positions. This arrangement makes it an excellent bidentate ligand, capable of forming stable complexes with many metal ions.

The coordination chemistry of 1,10-phenanthroline is extensive and has led to its widespread use in various scientific fields. It readily forms complexes with transition metals such as iron, copper, zinc, and nickel, often resulting in intensely colored solutions. This property has been exploited in analytical chemistry for the spectrophotometric determination of these metal ions. For instance, the ferroin complex, formed between 1,10-phenanthroline and iron(II), is a well-known redox indicator due to its distinct color change.

Beyond analytical applications, 1,10-phenanthroline and its derivatives find use in catalysis, materials science, and biochemistry. Its ability to intercalate into DNA has also made it a subject of study in molecular biology and medicinal chemistry. The synthesis of 1,10-phenanthroline typically involves the Skraup synthesis or related methods, starting from o-phenylenediamine.