An unusual axial–axial combination of alternating cyclic rings in the chair conformations of hexameric water and chlorine-water clusters

Abstract

An alternating hexameric water (H 2 O) 6 cluster and a chlorine-water cluster [Cl 2 (H 2 O) 4 ] 2- in the chair forms combine axially to each other to form a 1D chain [{Cl 2 (H 2 O) 6 } 2− ] n in complex [FeL 2 ]Cl·(H 2 O) 3 (L = 2-[(2-methylaminoethylimino)-methyl]-phenol)]. The water molecules display extensive H-bonding interactions with monomeric iron–organic units to form a hydrogen-bonded 2D supramolecular assembly. A 1D water-chloro anionic layer [{Cl 2 (H 2 O) 6 } 2− ] n in which alternating chair conformations of hexameric cyclic water clusters (H 2 O) 6 and chlorinated water clusters [Cl 2 (H 2 O) 4 ] 2– are connected axially which is unprecedented as presumed to be energetically unfavourable. ► Synthetic, structural and spectral study of the complex [FeL 2 ]Cl•(H 2 O) 3 . ► An unusual water-chloro anionic chain, [{Cl 2 (H 2 O) 6 } 2− ] n is stabilized. ► The chain contains alternating (H 2 O) 6 and [Cl 2 (H 2 O) 4 ] 2– in chair conformations. ► Two alternating chair conformations are connected axially.