Synthesis of a Series of Long Chain Lamellar Inorganic/Organic Iron(II) Alkylsulfonate Hydrates

A series of the long-chain iron(II) alkylsulfonate hydrates were synthesized via self-assembly of surfactant alkyl chains in aqueous medium. Reaction of iron(II) salts with n-alkylsulfonate yields lamellar $Fe(CnH2n+1SO3)2{\cdot}4H_2O$. These compounds show a layered structure, as determined by XRD, consisting of alternating organic alkylsulfonate layers and inorganic iron(II) hydrate layers, with interlayer distances of upto 3.2 nm. This lamellar structure may be attributed to the amphiphilic nature of the surfactants, mediating the coordination and H-bionding interactions, and the hydrophobic alkyl chains. An alkyl chain packing of present system are differ from those of similar Cu(II) series, which are attributed from the size of hydrated metal(II) ions.