Abstract

A number of different compounds have been synthesised by reaction of solutions containing Fe(NCE) <inf>2</inf> (E = S, Se) with solutions containing 3,3′-bipyridine. When the solvent used is methanol, the products are the monomeric compounds trans-{Fe(NCS) <inf>2</inf>(3,3′-bipy) <inf>2</inf>(MeOH) <inf>2</inf>} 1 or trans-{Fe(NCSe) <inf>2</inf>(3,3′- bipy) <inf>2</inf>(MeOH) <inf>2</inf>} 2, but when acetonitrile is used the layered coordination network {Fe(NCS) <inf>2</inf>(3,3′-bipy) <inf>2</inf>} 3 or doubly interpenetrated coordination network {Fe(NCSe) <inf>2</inf>(3, 3′-bipy) <inf>2</inf>} 4 is formed instead. Using methanol to dissolve the Fe(NCE) <inf>2</inf> and CHX <inf>3</inf> (X = Cl, Br) to dissolve the 3,3′-bipyridine yields solvated coordination networks of stoichiometry {Fe(NCE) <inf>2</inf>(3,3′-bipy) <inf>2</inf>}·2CHX <inf>3</inf>. The crystal structures of all of these compounds except 4 are presented. © 2012 The Royal Society of Chemistry.