ironcarboxylate

Iron carboxylates are a class of compounds consisting of iron ions coordinated to carboxylate ligands (RCOO−). They include simple salts such as ferrous and ferric carboxylates and a wide range of extended structures where carboxylate groups bridge iron centers, forming clusters or networks.

In many iron carboxylates, carboxylate ligands act as bridging ligands, giving polynuclear clusters with cores such as Fe2(O2CR)4 and Fe3(O2CR)6. In metal-organic frameworks, carboxylate groups link iron centers to create three-dimensional architectures. The oxidation state of iron (Fe2+ versus Fe3+) strongly influences geometry, magnetic properties, and hydrolytic stability of the material.

They are typically prepared by reacting iron salts (Fe2+ or Fe3+) with carboxylic acids or sodium carboxylates under appropriate conditions. For MOF-like materials, solvothermal or hydrothermal methods are commonly employed to promote crystallization and framework formation.

Many iron carboxylates are sparingly soluble in water, with solubility depending on the ligands and counterions. They can be air- and moisture-sensitive in some forms. Iron carboxylate materials serve as precursors to iron oxide nanoparticles and as catalysts for oxidation and Fenton-type reactions. In extended frameworks, they function as porous materials for gas storage, separation, and heterogeneous catalysis.