; a = 10.224(4) Angstrom, b = 10.603(3) Angstrom; c = 6.628(2) Angstrom; alpha = 100.70(2)degrees, beta = 108.17(2)degrees, gamma = 92.06(2)degrees; R = R-w = 0.033). Of the three unidentate chloride ions, two are coplanar with phenanthroline ligand while the third is out of plane and is trans to the water molecule. The metal environment is distorted from regular octahedral due to the non-equivalent ligand donor set. The N-Fe-N bite angle of 75.6 degrees is compressed below right-angular with a corresponding opening of the other bond angles around the iron in this plane. The Fe-Cl bonds are inequivalent, ranging from 2.25 to 2.35 Angstrom the axial Fe-Cl bond being elongated. The axial aquo group is tilted towards the phenanthroline ring, making an angle of 83.8 degrees with N(1) and 81.8 degrees with N(2), respectively Comparison with the Mn(III) analog Yields the effect of changing from a high spin d(5) to a high spin d(4) center. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.