The crystal and molecular structure of NN′-bis(salicylideneiminato)-iron(III)chloride as a five-co-ordinate monomer

Abstract

Recrystallisation of dimeric (Fe salen Cl)₂[salen =NN′(bis-salicylideneiminato)] from nitromethane yields crystals of monomoric (Fe salen Cl) whose crystal and molecular structures have been determined by X-ray methods. Five-co-ordinate, square-pyramidal complex molecules and nitromethane solvent molecules pack together in the space group Pn2₁a which appears to be a superlattice resulting from a cell alternation of left- and right-handed (Fe salen Cl) molecules in the space group P2₁2₁2₁. The distortions of the “salen” ligand and the position of the metal atom with respect to it are described and compared with similar details in other molecules.