Geometric isomers of dichloridoiron(III) complexes of CTMC (5,7,12,14-tetramethyl-1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane).

Both trans and cis iron-CTMC complexes, namely, trans-dichlorido[(5SR,7RS,12RS,14SR)-5,7,12,14-tetramethyl-1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane]iron(III) tetrachloridoferrate, [Fe(CHN)Cl][FeCl] (1a), the analogous chloride methanol monosolvate, [Fe(CHN)Cl]Cl·CHOH (1b), and cis-dichlorido[(5SR,7RS,12SR,14RS)-5,7,12,14-tetramethyl-1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane]iron(III) chloride, [Fe(CHN)Cl]Cl (2), were successfully synthesized and structurally characterized using X-ray diffraction. The coordination geometry of the macrocycle is dependent on the stereoisomerism of CTMC. The packing of these complexes appears to be strongly influenced by extensive hydrogen-bonding interactions, which are in turn determined by the nature of the counter-anions (1a versus 1b) and/or the coordination geometry of the macrocycle (1a/1b versus 2). These observations are extended to related ferric cis- and trans-dichloro macrocyclic complexes.