A Discrete μ4‐Oxido Tetranuclear Iron(III) Cluster

Reaction of a Schiff base ligand derived from salicyloyl hydrazide and diacetyl monooxime (H2L) with a triangular μ3‐oxido‐centered [Fe3(μ3‐O)]7+ core yields a new tetranuclear iron(III) complex. FeIII4(μ4‐O) crystallizes in the triclinic space group P1̄ . Structural studies reveal that this tetranuclear iron(III) complex is a new structure type of an uncharged (alkoxido)(oxido)iron(III) cluster in which the four iron(III) ions are located at the corners of a distorted tetrahedron. A study of the magnetic properties supports the presence of antiferromagnetic interactions through the central μ4‐oxido ion as well as the μ2‐methoxy groups present, giving an an S = 0 ground state. Mössbauer spectroscopy confirms the presence of high‐spin iron(III) ions in this complex.