OXYGEN-TRANSFER FROM IRON NITRATES IN THE PRESENCE OF 2-(DIPHENYLPHOSPHINE OXIDE)PYRIDINE (OPPH(2)PY) - MOLECULAR-STRUCTURE OF FE(NO3)(2)CL(OPPH(2)PY)CENTER-DOT-CH2CL2

[Fe(Cl)(4)][Fe(NO3)(2)(OPPh(2)py)(2)], 2, and [Fe(NO3)(2)(Cl)(OPPh(2)p y)], 3, were obtained when [Fe(Cl)(4)][Fe(Cl)(2)(OPPh(2)py)(2)], 1, wa s allowed to react with respectively 2 and 4 eq. silver nitrate. Compl exes 2 and 3 catalysed the autoxidation of cyclohexene. They transfer the oxygens of their nitrate groups to phosphines. Complex 3 has been characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction. The bite of the OPP h(2)py ligand repels the presence of the chlorine atom in the Fe(NO3)( 2) plane of 3 which influences the geometric features of the nitrate g roups, their oxygen transfer ability.