Sheets of Alternating Chirality in the Structure of a Novel Iron(III) Complex with a Cyclic Oxamide Ligand

Abstract

An organic–metalloorganic analogue of the inorganic clay minerals has been obtained from the cyclization of N,N′-bis(ethoxalyl)phenylenediamine in basic medium in the presence of iron(III) ions leading to formation of a cyclic oxamide ligand (L). The combination of intramolecular (covalent) interactions between metal and ligand and intermolecular (noncovalent) ionic interactions creates a novel layered compound with an intriguing crystal structure (shown on the right).