Synthesis and characterization of
tris(acetyacetonato)iron(III)
Prof. Jhon Fredy Pérez-Torres
Inorganic Chemistry Laboratory II – 24733 – School of Chemistry
2025-I
1 Introduction
The tris(acetylacetonato)iron(III), also known as iron(III) acetylacetonate, is a coordination com-
pound formed by a Fe3+ ion coordinated to three ligands of acetylacetonate CH3 COCHCOCH3 –
(acac – ). Under normal conditions, the iron(III) acetylacetonate is a bright dark-red crystalline
oderless solid, of density ρ = 1.36 g/mL, and melting point T = 180 ◦ C. It is soluble in nonpolar
organic solvents. Figure 1 shows the molecular structure of the optical isomer ∆ – Fe(acac)3 .
O
O O
Fe
O O
O
Figure 1: Structure of ∆ – Fe(C5 H7 O2 )3 .
Recently, a new method has been developed that utilizes Fe(acac)3 and visible light to achieve
oxidative ring opening of cyclic ethers and acetals with unmatched efficiency [1].
2 Objective
Synthesize and characterize the coordination compound Fe(acac)3 .
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Inorganic Chemistry Laboratory II – 24733 School of Chemistry
3 Reagents
Iron trichloride hexahydrate, FeCl3 · 6 H2 O 10 mL erlenmeyer
(s)
25 and 50 mL beakers
Acetylacetone (2,4–pentanodione),C5 H8 O2 (l)
1 mL pipet, pipet bulb
Urea, NH2 CONH2 (s) Thermometer
Ethanol, C2 H5 OH(l) Microwave synthesis reactor
IR spectrophotometer
4 Materials UV-Vis spectrophotometer
Balance and teflon coated spatula Magnetic susceptibility balance
5 Hazards
Eye protection, laboratory coat and gloves should always be worn. All the experimental procedure
should be done in a fume hood.
6 Synthesis (part I)
We follow the protocol reported by W. C. Fernelius et. al. [2] but using FeCl3 · 6 H2 O instead of
CrCl3 · 6 H2 O. Place 1 mmol (270 mg) of FeCl3 · 6 H2 O(s) and 3 mL of distilled water in a 10 mL
erlenmeyer. Add 500 mg of urea in four steps with gentle stirring during 15 minutes. Add to the
system, dropwise, 1 mL of acetylacetone from a 1 mL pipet. Heat the mixture to 80 ◦ C during 1
hour, or transfer the mixture to a 10 mL vessel and heat the mixture to 150 ◦ C during 5 minutes
in a microwave synthesis reactor. Dark crystals should appear. Let the system cold down to room
temperature and filter the crystals using a Hirsch funnel, rinse the crystals with water. Dry the
crystals in the stove at 60 ◦ C for 10 minutes, weigh the product and then store it in a sterile
container.
7 Characterization (part II)
Measure the melting point of the synthesized compound. Record the IR and UV-Vis spectra.
For the UV-Vis spectrum, prepare a 20 mM ethanolic solution of the synthesized coordination
compound and measure the absorption of light from 600 nm to 900 nm. Then, from the above
mentioned solution, prepare a 0.2 mM solution and measure the absorption from 300 nm to 600
nm. Measure the magnetic susceptibility of the coordination compound and record the room
temperature.
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Inorganic Chemistry Laboratory II – 24733 School of Chemistry
References
[1] R. Lindroth abd A. Ondrejková and C.-J. Wallentin. Visible-Light Mediated Oxidative Frag-
mentation of Ethers and Acetals by Means of Fe(III) Catalysis. Org. Lett., 24:1662, 2022.
doi:https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.orglett.2c00231.
[2] W. C. Fernelius, J. E. Blanch, B. E. Bryant, K. Terada, R. S. Drago, and J. K. Stille. Inorganic
Syntheses. McGraw-Hill, 1957. doi:https://doi.org/10.1002/9780470132364.ch35.
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Inorganic Chemistry Laboratory II – 24733 School of Chemistry
Report
Practice: Date:
Student: Group: Subgroup:
Professor:
1. Write down the corresponding chemical reactions and provide the percentage yield of the
synthesis. How does urea contribute to the synthesis process? Melting point of Fe(acac)3 :
measured , reported: .
2. Generate the IR spectrum of the coordination compound and explain the most relevant (at
least 3) signals.
3. Assuming a Oh point group and a high-spin complex, draw the crystal field splitting diagram
inserting the metal d electrons and indicate if the coordination compound will undergo a
geometrical distortion (Jahn-Teller effect).
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Inorganic Chemistry Laboratory II – 24733 School of Chemistry
4. Plot the UV-Vis-NIR (attenuation coefficient vs. wavelength) spectra and identify the ab-
sorption bands, distinguishing between those resulting from d-d transitions, if any, and those
resulting from ligand-metal or metal-ligand charge transfer. Explain yout reasoning.
5. From the magnetic susceptibility and the recorded room temperature, obtain the effective
magnetic dipole moment µeff of the Fe(acac)3 compund and compare with the value calculated
from the “spin-only” formula.
