Formation of an Iron(III) Oxo Cubane Core Fe4(μ4-O)4 from FeCl3 and the Unsymmetrical Tripodal Ligand N[(CH2CH2NH2)(CH2CH2OH)(CH2CH2CH2OH)

Abstract

Abstract The coordination chemistry of the unsymmetric, aliphatic, tetradentate tripodal ligand N[(CH2CH2NH2)(CH2CH2OH)(CH2CH2CH2OH)] H4-1 with iron chlorides was investigated. The disodium salt of the deprotonated ligand Na2(H2-1) reacts with FeCl3 to yield a yellow precipitate which upon recrystallization from DMSO/CH2Cl2 gives red crystals of the octanuclear iron(III) complex [{FeIIICl(H2-1)}4FeIII 4(μ4-O)4Cl4] 2 ・ 4CH2Cl2 containing a central Fe4(μ4-O)4 cubane core. Crystals of 2 ・4DMF were obtained by slow oxidation of the green iron(II) complex obtained from ferrous chloride and Na2(H2-1) after recrystallization from DMF. The structure determination of 2 ・4CH2Cl2 also revealed the presence of the iron(III) oxo cubane core. The core is surrounded by four iron atoms each coordinated by η4-(H2-1)2- and Cl- ligands.