A C2-symmetric, basic Fe(III) carboxylate complex derived from a novel triptycene-based chelating carboxylate ligand.

A triptycene-based bis(benzoxazole) diacid ligand H(2)L2(Ph4) bearing sterically encumbering groups was synthesized. Treatment of H(2)L2(Ph4) with Fe(OTf)(3) afforded a C(2)-symmetric trinuclear iron(III) complex, [NaFe(3)(L2(Ph4))(2)(μ(3)-O)(μ-O(2)CCPh(3))(2)(H(2)O)(3)](OTf)(2) (8). The triiron core of this complex adopts the well known "basic iron acetate" structure where the heteroleptic carboxylates, comprising two Ph(3)CCO(2)(-) and two (L2(Ph4))(2-) ligands, donate the six carboxylate bridges. The (L2(Ph4))(2-) ligand undergoes only minor conformational changes upon formation of the complex.