The nature of the product from the reaction of tetracyanoethylene with iron pentacarbonyl

The reaction of tetracyanoethylene with iron pentacarbonyl in mesitylene at 90° gave an insoluble product, Fe₂C₁₆H₁₂N₈O₇. The Mössbauer and IR spectra, the magnetic susceptibilities over the temperature range 95–298 K, and the thermal decomposition temperatures in a nitrogen atmosphere were measured. The solid is best described as an iron (III) ketoamine polymer with hydroxo bridges between iron atoms.