Structure and Magnetic Properties of a Dodecanuclear Twisted-Ring Iron(III) Cluster

An unprecedented nonplanar structure characterizes the complex [Fe(OCH₃)₂(dbm)]₁₂ (on the left in the picture), which contains the largest cyclic ferric cluster yet reported with chemically equivalent bridging units. It is made up of twelve high-spin, antiferromagnetically coupled iron(III ) centers and neatly reacts with Na^I or Li^I templates in organic solution to give hexairon(III ) coronates (right). Fe=•, O=○, NaI or LiI=• Hdbm=dibenzoylmethane.