Synthesis, Crystal structure, and Magnetic Properties of Dinuclear Iron(III) Complexes with Methoxo Bridges

Synthesis, Crystal structure, and Magnetic Properties of Dinuclear Iron(III) Complexes with Methoxo Bridges

The reaction of stoichiometric amount of $FeCl_2{\cdot}4H_2O$, (2-pyridylmethyl, 3-pyridylmethyl)amine (2,3-pyma) and sodium azide/sodium thiocyanate in methanol under aerobic conditions affords the dinuclear Fe(III) complexes, [(2,3-pyma) $(N_3)_2Fe({\mu}-OCH_3)_2Fe(N_3)_2$(2,3-pyma)]${\cdot}CH_3OH$ (1) and [(2,3-pyma)$(NCS)_2Fe({\mu}-OCH_3)_2Fe(NCS)_2$(2,3-pyma)] (2) in good yield. Two bis-methoxy-bridged diiron(III) complexes are isolated and characterized. The coordination geometries around iron(III) ions in 1 and 2 are the same tetragonally distorted octahedron. The iron(III) ions are coordinated by two nitrogens of a 2,3-pyma, two nitrogens of two azide/thiocyanate ions, and two oxygens of two methoxy groups. Both compounds are isomorphous. The structures of 1 and 2 display the C-$H{\cdots}\pi$ and/or $\pi-\pi$ stacking interactions as well as hydrogen bonding interactions, respectively. Compounds 1 and 2 show significant antiferromagnetic couplings through the bridged methoxy groups between the iron(III) ions in the temperature range from 5 to 300 K ($H=-2JS_1{\cdot}S_2$, J=-19.1 and $-13.9\;cm^{-1}$ for 1 and 2).