Crystal structure, synthesis and thermal properties of bis(4-benzoylpyridine-κN)bis(isothiocyanato-κN)bis(methanol-κN)iron(II)

Abstract

In the crystal structure of the title compound, [Fe(NCS)2(C12H9NO)2(CH4O)2], the FeII cations are octahedrally coordinated by two N atoms of 4-benzoylpyridine ligands, two N atoms of two terminal isothiocyanate anions and two methanol molecules into discrete complexes that are located on centres of inversion. These complexes are linked via intermolecular O—H...O hydrogen bonds between the methanol O—H H atoms and the carbonyl O atoms of the 4-benzoylpyridine ligands, forming layers parallel to (101). Powder X-ray diffraction proved that a pure sample was obtained but that this compound is unstable and transforms into an unknown crystalline phase within several weeks. However, the solvent molecules can be removed by heating in a thermobalance, which for the aged sample as well as the title compound leads to the formation of a compound with the composition Fe(NCS)2(4-benzoylpyridine)2, which exhibits a powder pattern that is similar to that of Mn(NCS)2(4-benzoylpyridine)2.