Synthesis and crystal structure of a mononuclear iron(III) (η2-acetato) complex of a β-cis folded salen type ligand

Fe(H2SB)(eta(2)-O2CMe) (.) MeCN [H4SB: N,N'-bis(5-hydroxysalicylidene)-1,4-diaminobutane] was synthesised via an electro-chemical procedure and its crystal structure was determined. The metal ion assumes a distorted octahedral coordination geometry that involves the two O-atoms of a chelating acetate and the N2O2 compartment of the bisdeprotonated diimine, which is asymmetrically folded in a beta-cis arrangement. Moderate hydrogen bonds between adjacent complex molecules, which also interact with lattice acetonitrile molecules, lead to a linear interaction, predominant in the crystal packing. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.