The new hexadentate ligand 2,11-bis-(N,N-[bis-(2-methylpyridyl)amino]
methyl)benzo[c]phenanthrene has been designed to hold and stabilize a
(mu-oxo)diiron(III) unit. Its synthesis and that of a (CL-oxo) (bis-mu
-carboxylato)diiron(III) complex are described. The iron compound is c
haracterized by several physicochemical techniques: UV-Vis spectroscop
y, magnetism, electrochemistry and mass spectrometry. The latter techn
ique shows the binuclear (as opposed to tetranuclear) nature of the co
mpound. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.