Synthesis and crystal structure of Fe(III) and Al(III) complexes with 2-diphenylacetyl-1,3-indandione

Iron(III) and aluminum(III) complexes with 2-diphenylacetyl-1,3-indandione (HL) have been synthesized. The structures of the obtained compounds FeL₃(I) and AlL₃(II) were studied. The isostructural crystals are monoclinic, I: Z = 8, space group P2_1/c, a = 16.061(3) Å, b = 16.658(3) Å, c = 22.015(4) Å, β = 111.41(3)°; II: Z = 8, space group P2_1/c, a = 16.115(14) Å, b = 16.476(8) Å, c = 21.949(20) Å, β = 111.04(11)°. The structural units of crystals I and II are neutral molecules in which each ligand is bidentately coordinated to a central metal atom through the oxygen atom of the acyl keto group and an oxygen atom of the indandione fragment to form a six-membered chelate ring. In the crystals, neutral molecules I and II form pseudodimers due to stacking of indandione moieties of two adjacent coordination spheres and additional C-H…O contacts. Each pseudodimer is in contact with six neighboring dimers also through hydrogen bonds C-H…O to form an infinite framework.