Unexpected Reduction of a Coordinated Diazapyridinophane Ligand Bound to Chromium(III) Ion Leading to Delocalization of the Unpaired Electron across Two Isolated Pyridine Units

In the tetraazamacrocyclic ligand N,N’-dimethyl-2,11-diaza-[3.3](2,6)pyridinophane (L-N4Me2), the two pyridine units are separated from each other by sp3-hybridized triatomic bridges. Such electronically isolated pyridine moieties are considerably less prone to reductions than di- or triimines.