Synthesis, Crystal Structure and Sulfoxidation of an Iron(III) Complex Derived From 3-Methoxysalicylaldehyde

A new iron(III) complex, [FeL2(OH2)(2)]center dot 2H(2)O, where L is the deprotonated form of 3-methoxysalicylaldehyde, was prepared and structurally characterized by physicochemical methods and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The complex crystallizes in the orthorhombic space group Pna2(1), with a = 13.376(2) angstrom, b = 22.802(3), c = 7.228(1) angstrom, V = 2204.6(5) angstrom(3), Z = 4, R-1 = 0.0800, and wR(2) = 0.1990. X-ray structural analysis indicates that the ligand coordinates to the Fe atom through the phenolate O and carbonyl O atoms. The Fe atom in the complex is coordinated by two L ligands and two water molecules, forming an octahedral coordination. The crystal structure of the complex is stabilized by hydrogen bonds. The complex is an effective catalyst for sulfoxidation.