Self assembly of a novel water soluble iron(II) macrocyclic phosphine complex from tetrakis(hydroxymethyl)phosphonium sulfate and iron(II) ammonium sulfate: single crystal X-ray structure of the complex [Fe(H2O)(2){RP(CH2N(CH2PR2)CH2)(2)PR}]SO4 center dot 4H(2)O (R = CH2OH)

The water soluble Fe(ii) macrocyclic phosphine complex [Fe(H2O)(2){RP(CH2N(CH2PR2)CH2)(2)PR}]SO4. 4H(2)O (R = CH2OH) has been characterised by single crystal X-ray diffraction and is formed by a remarkable self-assembly reaction between iron(II) ammonium sulfate and tetrakis(hydroxymethyl)phosphonium sulfate (THPS).