μ-Oxido-bis[bis(phenanthroline-κ2N,N′)(sulfato-κO)iron(III)] octahydrate

The title complex, [Fe2O(SO4)(2)(C12H8N2)(4)]center dot 8H(2)O, contains two unique Fe-III cations, one oxide anion, four 1,10-phenanthroline (phen) ligands, two coordinated sulfate anions and eight lattice water molecules. Each Fe-III ion has an approximate octahedral geometry, coordinated by four N atoms from two phen molecules, two O atoms from oxide and sulfate anions, respectively. The parallel phen molecules form two-dimensional supermolecules through pi-pi stacking interactions [centroid-centroid distances = 3.684 (3), 3.711 (3), 3.790 (3), 3.847 (3), 3.746 (3), 3.732 (3) and 3.729 (3) angstrom]. This architecture is further stabilized by O-H center dot center dot center dot O hydrogen bonds involving the lattice water molecules and sulfate O atoms.