RbCrIII(C2O4)2·2H2O,Cs2Mg(C2O4)2·4H2O and Rb2CuII(C2O4)2·2H2O: three new complex oxalate hydrates

Rubidium chromium(III) dioxalate dihydrate di­aqua­bis(μ‐oxalato)­chromium(III)­rubidium(I)], RbCr(C₂O₄)₂(H₂O)₂], (I), and dicaesium magnesium dioxalate tetrahydrate tetra­aqua­bis(μ‐oxalato)­magnesium(II)­dicaesium(I)], Cs₂Mg(C₂­O₄)₂(H₂O)₄], (II), have layered structures which are new among double‐metal oxalates. In (I), the Rb and Cr atoms lie on sites with imposed 2/m symmetry and the unique water molecule lies on a mirror plane; in (II), the Mg atom lies on a twofold axis. The two non‐equivalent Cr and Mg atoms both show octahedral coordination, with a mean Cr—O distance of 1.966 Å and a mean Mg—O distance of 2.066 Å. Dirubid­ium copper(II) dioxalate dihydrate di­aqua­bis(μ‐oxalato)­copper(II)­dirubidium(I)], Rb₂Cu(C₂O₄)₂(H₂O)₂], (III), is also layered and is isotypic with the previously described K₂‐ and (NH₄)₂Cu^II(C₂O₄)₂·2H₂O compounds. The two non‐equivalent Cu atoms lie on inversion centres and are both (4+2)‐coordinated. Hydro­gen bonds are medium‐strong to weak in the three compounds. The oxalate groups are slightly non‐planar only in the Cs–Mg compound, (II), and are more distinctly non‐planar in the K–Cu compound, (III).