CRYSTAL-STRUCTURE AND MOSSBAUER STUDY OF TRILITHIUM IRON(III) TRIOXALATE PENTAHYDRATE

The crystal structure of the complex Li-3[Fe(C2O4)(3)]. 5H(2)O has bee n determined by X-ray diffraction analysis. The coordination of the ir on atom is a distorted octahedron composed of the oxygen atoms of thre e oxalate ions. Two of the lithium ions are octrahedral and the third one is tetrahedral. Infinite chains appear along the b-axis, with alte rnation of Fe3+ and Li+ cations separated by oxalate anions. In agreem ent with this, the Mossbauer spectrum consists of an asymmetric and st rongly broadened absorption pattern, indicating the presence of both p aramagnetic relaxation effects and quadrupolar interaction which resul t from an Fe3+ interionic shortest distance of 6.559 Angstrom and from a non-cubic iron environment, respectively.