A reactive intermediate in the synthesis of iron arsenates: synthesis of the first one-dimensional iron arsenate oxalate and its transformation into two- and three-dimensional iron arsenates.

Abstract

Three-dimensions from one: One-dimensional iron arsenate oxalate is prepared, and shown to be reactive, giving rise to a two- and a mixed-valent (FeIII/FeII) three-dimensional iron arsenate structure (see picture). The sequential crystallization provides evidence for the building up of open architectures from low to higher dimensional structures, demonstrating the “life of a chemical system”.