Synthesis, structure, and properties of a new trinuclear iron cluster, [(MeOH)(H2O)(2)Fe-3(mu(3)-O)(mu-OOCC6H4OCH2C5H4NH)(6)](ClO4)(7)center dot center dot 8MeOH center dot 3.5H(2)O

Reactions of iron(III) salts with a new bidentate ligand, which is potentially capable of forming binuclear iron complexes upon complexation, were studied. Under various conditions, we succeeded in isolating only the trinuclear cationic complex [Fe-3(III)(O(2)CR)(6)(mu(3)-O)](7+) (1), where RCO(2) is 2-(pyrid-2-ylmethoxy)benzoic acid protonated at the pyridyl moiety. The structure of 1 was established by spectral, magnetic, and X-ray structural studies. Cyclic voltammetry in MeCN in the temperature range from -35 to 20 degrees C demonstrated that 1 undergoes successive Fe-III-->Fe-II reduction in three one-electron stages, which is indicative of the electronic interaction between iron atoms in the complex.