Di-μ-aqua-bis[(trimethanol-O)sodium] anti-bis(μ-2-propanethioiato-S:S)bis[bis(2-propanethiolato-S)iron(II)] and bis(benzyltrimethylammonium) anti-bis(μ-2-propane-selenolato-Se:Se)bis[bis(2-propaneselenolato-Se)iron(II)]

In the [Fe-2((SC3H7)-C-i)(6)](2-) and [Fe-2((SeC3H7)-C-i)(6)](2-) complex anions of the title compounds, [Na-2(CH4O)(6)(H2O)(2)][Fe-2(C3H7S)(6)] and (C10H16N)(2)[Fe-2(C3H7Se)(6)], the Fe atoms are coordinated by four chalcogen atoms in a distorted tetrahedral fashion. The FeE4 tetrahedra of the Fe2E6 frameworks (E = S or Se) share a common edge. The central Fe2E2 unit is an exactly planar rhomb with acute M-E-M angles. The oxidation state of iron is +2. The [Fe-2(S2C3H7)(6)](2-) anion was crystallized with the novel counter-cation [(MeOH)(3)Na(H2O)(2)Na(MeOH)(3)](2+).