The pentadentate ligand (LH2)-L-5 = saldptn = N,N'-bis(1-hydroxy-2-benzylid
en)-1,7-diamino-4-azaheptane has been prepared by a Schiff base condensatio
n between 1,7-diamino-4-azaheptane and the corresponding salicyaldehyde. It
s complexation with Fe(III) gave the high-spin (S = 5/2) complex of [Fe-III
(L-5)Cl]. This precursor was combined with [Fe(CN)(6)](4-) and a blue hepta
nuclear complex [Fe-II{(CN)Fe-III(L-5)}(6)]Cl-2 resulted. This system belon
gs to the class of high-spin molecules possessing twelve unpaired electrons
(S = 6) as proven by the magnetic susceptibility measurements and Mossbaue
r spectra. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.