The first coordination polymers and hydrogen bonded networks containing octahedral Nb6 clusters and alkaline earth metal complexes

Three novel coordination polymers built of octahedral niobium cyanochloride clusters Nb6Cl12(CN)6] and alkaline earth metal complexes have been prepared by reaction of aqueous solutions of (Me4N)4Nb6Cl18 and KCN with solutions of alkaline earth metal salts and 1,10-phenanthroline (phen) (1:2 molar ratio) in H2O/EtOH. The structures of Ca(phen)2(H2O)3]2Nb6Cl12(CN)6] x (phen)(EtOH)1.6 (1), Ca(phen)2(H2O)2]2Nb6Cl12(CN)6] x (phen)2 x 4H2O (2), and Ba(phen)2(H2O)]2Nb6Cl12(CN)6] (3) were determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The three compounds were found to crystallize in the monoclinic system (space group Pn) with a = 11.5499(6) A, b = 17.5305(8) A, c = 21.784(1) A, beta = 100.877(1) degrees for 1; triclinic system (P1) with a = 12.609(4) A, b = 13.262(4) A, c = 16.645(5) A, alpha = 69.933(6) degrees, beta = 68.607(6) degrees, gamma = 63.522(5) degrees for 2; and a = 16.057(1) A, b = 16.063(1) A, c = 16.061(1) A, alpha = 86.830(1) degrees, beta = 64.380(1) degrees, gamma = 67.803(1) degrees for 3. Compounds 1 and 2 are built of cluster anions Nb6Cl12(CN)6]4- trans-coordinated by two Ca2+ complexes via CN ligands to form neutral macromolecular units Ca(phen)2(H2O)3]2Nb6Cl12(CN)6] in 1 and Ca(phen)2(H2O)2]2Nb6Cl12(CN)6] in 2. Water of coordination and cyanide ligands form hydrogen bonded 3D and 2D frameworks for 1 and 2, respectively. The structure of 3 consists of Nb6Cl12(CN)6]4- cluster anions and Ba(phen)2(H2O)]2+ complexes linked through bridging cyanide ligands to form a neutral three-dimensional framework in which each barium complex is bound to three neighboring Nb6 clusters and each Nb6 cluster is linked to six Ba complexes.