trans-bis(benzoato-O)tetrakis(methanol-O)iron(II): ligand bulk is not structure-determining

The title compound, [Fe(C7H5O2)2(CH4O)4], is a centrosymmetric six-coordinate Fe(II) complex coordinated by two axial monodentate benzoate ligands and four methanol ligands in the equatorial plane [Fe-O(benzoate) 2.0935 (7) A, and Fe-O(methanol) 2.1310 (7) and 2.1290 (7) A]. The benzoate ligands adopt monodentate ligation, rather than a bridged polymeric structure, because of strong intra- and intermolecular hydrogen bonds to the methanol ligands. This structure is nearly identical to that obtained with a much bulkier carboxylate ligand [Chavez, Que & Tolman (2001). Chem. Commun. pp. 111-112].