Sheets of alternating chirality in the structure of a novel iron(III) complex with a cyclic oxamide ligand

An organic–metalloorganic analogue of the inorganic clay minerals has been obtained from the cyclization of N,N′-bis(ethoxalyl)phenylenediamine in basic medium in the presence of iron(III) ions leading to formation of a cyclic oxamide ligand (L). The combination of intramolecular (covalent) interactions between metal and ligand and intermolecular (noncovalent) ionic interactions creates a novel layered compound with an intriguing crystal structure (shown on the right).