A lanthanum complex with 3,4,5,6-tetrabromophthalate as ligand

A lanthanum-based complex, heptaaqua(3,4,5,6-tetrabromobenzene-1,2-dicarboxylato)(3,4,5,6-tetrabromo-2-carboxybenzoato)lanthanum(III), [La(C 8 Br 4 O 4 )(C 8 HBr 4 O 4 )(H 2 O) 7 ] or [La(tbpa)(Htbpa)(H 2 O) 7 ], where H 2 tbpa is 3,4,5,6-tetrabromophthalic acid, was prepared by microwave-assisted reaction between lanthanum chloride and 3,4,5,6-tetrabromobenzene-1,2-dicarboxylic or tetrabromophthalic acid in water. The La 3+ is nine-coordinated by seven oxygen atoms from coordinated water molecules and two oxygen atoms from two different ligands in a slightly distorted D 3 h spherical tricapped trigonal prismatic geometry. The crystal packing features a hydrogen-bonding network and Br...Br interactions.