{[Ba2(C2O4)(H2O)6](NCS)2}n: a layered mixed‐anion barium oxalate

We present the first example of a compound containing Ba²⁺, C₂O₄²⁻, water and some additional halide or pseudo‐halide anions, viz. hexa‐μ₂‐aqua‐μ₆‐oxalato‐dibarium(II) diiso­thio­cyanate, {[Ba₂(C₂O₄)(H₂O)₆](NCS)₂}_n. The structure consists of positively charged planar covalent layers of Ba²⁺ cations, oxalate anions and water mol­ecules. The first coordination sphere of the Ba²⁺ cation contains six water mol­ecules and four O atoms from two planar oxalate anions. The oxalate anion lies on an inversion centre and is coordinated to six Ba²⁺ cations, each donor O atom being bonded to two cations. Pairs of water mol­ecules are coordinated by two Ba²⁺ cations. The layers are interspersed with non‐coordinated NCS⁻ anions.     

K2[Mo2O4(C2O4)2(H2O)2]·3H2O

The crystal and molecular structure of dipotassium di‐μ‐oxo‐bis[aqua(oxalato‐O¹,O²)oxomolybdenum(III)] trihydrate, K₂­[Mo₂O₄(C₂O₄)₂(H₂O)₂]·3H₂O, has been determined from X‐ray diffraction data. In the dimeric anion, which has approximate twofold symmetry, each Mo atom is in a distorted octahedral coordination, being bonded to one terminal oxo‐O atom, two bridging O atoms, two O atoms from the oxalato ligand and one from the water mol­ecule. Bond lengths trans to the multiple‐bonded terminal oxo ligand are larger than those in the cis position, confirming the trans influence as a generally valid rule.     

A novel three‐dimensional heterometallic coordination polymer: poly[[hexaaquabis[μ3‐3,5‐dicarboxylatopyrazolato‐κ5O3,N2:N1,O5:O5′](μ2‐oxalato‐κ4O1,O2:O1′,O2′)copper(II)dierbium(III)] trihydrate]

The title novel heterometallic 3d–4f coordination polymer, {[CuEr₂(C₅HN₂O₄)₂(C₂O₄)(H₂O)₆]·3H₂O}_n, has a three‐dimensional metal–organic framework composed of two types of metal atoms (one Cu^II and two Er^III) and two types of bridging anionic ligands [3,5‐dicarboxylatopyrazolate(3−) (ptc³⁻) and oxalate]. The Cu^II atom is four‐coordinated in a square geometry. The Er^III atoms are both eight‐coordinated, but the geometries at the two atoms appear different, viz. triangular dodecahedral and bicapped trigonal prismatic. One of the oxalate anions is located on a twofold axis and the other lies about an inversion centre. Both oxalate anions act as bis‐bidentate ligands bridging the latter type of Er atoms in parallel zigzag chains. The pdc³⁻ anions act as quinquedentate ligands not only chelating the Cu^II and the triangular dodecahedral Er^III centres in a bis‐bidentate bridging mode, but also connecting to Er^III centres of both types in a monodentate bridging mode. Thus, a three‐dimensional metal–organic framework is generated, and hydrogen bonds link the metal–organic framework with the uncoordinated water molecules. This study describes the first example of a three‐dimensional 3d–4f coordination polymer based on pyrazole‐3,5‐dicarboxylate and oxalate, and therefore demonstrates further the usefulness of pyrazoledicarboxylate as a versatile multidentate ligand for constructing heterometallic 3d–4f coordination polymers with interesting architectures.     

A polymeric cobalt(II) complex derived from citric acid (H4cit) and 2,6‐diaminopurine (dap): {[Co4(cit)2(dap)4(H2O)4]·6.35H2O}n

Poly[[tetraaquadi‐μ₄‐citrato‐tetrakis(2,6‐diaminopurine)tetracobalt(II)] 6.35‐hydrate], {[Co₄(C₆H₄O₇)₂(C₅H₆N₆)₄(H₂O)₄]·6.35H₂O}_n, presents three different types of Co^II cations in the asymmetric unit, two of them lying on symmetry elements (one on an inversion centre and the other on a twofold axis). The main fragment is further composed of one fully deprotonated citrate (cit) tetraanion, two 2,6‐diaminopurine (dap) molecules and two aqua ligands. The structure is completed by a mixture of fully occupied and disordered solvent water molecules. The two independent dap ligands are neutral and the cit tetraanion provides for charge balance, compensating the 4+ cationic charge. There are two well defined coordination geometries in the structure. The simplest is mononuclear, with the Co^II cation arranged in a regular centrosymmetric octahedral array, coordinated by two aqua ligands, two dap ligands and two O atoms from the β‐carboxylate groups of the bridging cit tetraanions. The second, more complex, group is trinuclear, bisected by a twofold axis, with the metal centres coordinated by two cit tetraanions through their α‐ and β‐carboxylate and α‐hydroxy groups, and by two dap ligands bridging through one of their pyridine and one of their imidazole N atoms. The resulting coordination geometry around each metal centre is distorted octahedral. Both groups are linked alternately to each other, defining parallel chains along [201], laterally interleaved and well connected via hydrogen bonding to form a strongly coupled three‐dimensional network. The compound presents a novel μ₄‐κ⁵O:O,O′:O′,O′′,O′′′:O′′′′ mode of coordination of the cit tetraanion.     

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).     

Dy2(SO3)2(SO4)(H2O)2: the first lanthanide mixed sulfate–sulfite inorganic compound

The first lanthanide mixed sulfate–sulfite inorganic coordination polymer, poly[diaqua‐μ₄‐sulfato‐di‐μ₄‐sulfito‐didysprosium(III)], [Dy₂(SO₃)₂(SO₄)(H₂O)₂]_n, has been obtained, in which both sulfate and sulfite groups originate from the disproportionation of S₂O₃²⁻ under hydrothermal and weakly acidic conditions. The crystal structure of the title compound exhibits a three‐dimensional framework. The Dy^III ion is surrounded by eight O atoms from one water molecule and two sulfate and five sulfite groups. These DyO₈ polyhedra have two shared edges and form an infinite zigzag Dy—O chain. In the bc plane, neighbouring chains are integrated through SO₃ trigonal pyramids, forming a two‐dimensional sheet. Along the a‐axial direction, the sulfate group, with the central S atom lying on a twofold axis, links adjacent two‐dimensional sheets via two S—O—Dy connections, thus generating the three‐dimensional framework.     

The new one‐dimensional coordination polymer catena‐poly[[diaquasodium(I)]‐μ‐oxalato‐[diaquairon(III)]‐μ‐oxalato]

The oxalate dianion is one of the most studied ligands and is capable of bridging two or more metal centres and creating inorganic polymers based on the assembly of metal polyhedra with a wide variety of one‐, two‐ or three‐dimensional extended structures. Yellow single crystals of a new mixed‐metal oxalate, namely catena‐poly[[diaquasodium(I)]‐μ‐oxalato‐κ⁴O¹,O²:O^1′,O^2′‐[diaquairon(III)]‐μ‐oxalato‐κ⁴O¹,O²:O^1′,O^2′], [NaFe(C₂O₄)₂(H₂O)₄]_n, have been synthesized and the crystal structure elucidated by X‐ray diffraction analysis. The compound crystallizes in the noncentrosymmetric space group I4₁ (Z = 4). The asymmetric unit contains one Na^I and one Fe^III atom lying on a fourfold symmetry axis, one μ₂‐bridging oxalate ligand and two aqua ligands. Each metal atom is surrounded by two chelating oxalate ligands and two equivalent water molecules. The structure consists of infinite one‐dimensional chains of alternating FeO₄(H₂OW1)₂ and NaO₄(H₂OW2)₂ octahedra, bridged by oxalate ligands, parallel to the [100] and [010] directions, respectively. Because of the cis configuration and the μ₂‐coordination mode of the oxalate ligands, the chains run in a zigzag manner. This arrangement facilitates the formation of hydrogen bonds between neighbouring chains involving the H₂O and oxalate ligands, leading to a two‐dimensional framework. The structure of this new one‐dimensional coordination polymer is shown to be unique among the A^IM^III(C₂O₄)₂(H₂O)_n series. In addition, the absorption bands in the IR and UV–Visible regions and their assignments are in good agreement with the local symmetry of the oxalate ligand and the irregular environment of iron(III). The final product of the thermal decomposition of this precursor is the well‐known ternary oxide NaFeO₂.     

KCd2[N(CN)2]5(H2O)4: an enmeshed honeycomb grid

The title compound, poly[potassium [diaquapenta‐μ₂‐dicyanamido‐dicadmium(II)] dihydrate], {K[Cd₂(C₂N₃)₅(H₂O)₂]·2H₂O}_n, contains two‐dimensional anionic sheets of {[Cd₂{N(CN)₂}(H₂O)₂]⁻}_n with a modified (6,3)‐net (layer group , No. 35). Two sets of equivalent sheets interpenetrate orthogonally to form a tetragonal enmeshed grid.     

Poly[[diaquabis(μ2‐crotonato‐κ3O:O,O′)(crotonato‐κ2O,O′)lanthanum(III)] adenine monosolvate monohydrate]

The asymmetric unit of the title compound, {[La(C₄H₅O₂)₃(H₂O)₂]·C₅H₅N₅·H₂O}_n, consists of an La^III cation, three crotonate (but‐2‐enoate) anions and two coordinated water molecules forming the neutral complex, completed by an external adenine molecule and one hydration water molecule. The LaO₁₀ coordination polyhedra, connected through the sharing of a single edge, form isolated chains running along the [100] direction. These one‐dimensional structures are characterized by two different centrosymmetric La₂O₂ loops, with La...La distances of 4.5394 (6) and 4.5036 (6) Å. The unbound adenine and water solvent molecules form a highly planar hydrogen‐bonded array parallel to (110) (r.m.s. deviation from the mean plane < 0.10 Å) which intersects the isolated La–crotonate chains in a slanted fashion to form an extremely connected hydrogen‐bonded three‐dimensional structure.     

[Cd{C2(COO)2}(H2O)3]·H2O,the first cadmium salt of acetylenedicarboxylic acid

In catena‐poly­[[[tri­aqua­cadmium(II)]‐μ‐acetyl­enedi­carboxyl­ato‐κ⁴O,O′:O′′,O′′′] hydrate], {[Cd(C₄O₄)(H₂O)₃]·­H₂O}_n, the Cd^II atom is coordinated by two bidentate carboxyl­ate groups and three water mol­ecules, thus forming a sevenfold coordination polyhedron with all atoms located on general sites. These polyhedra are connected by the bifunctional acetyl­enedi­carboxyl­ate ligands, forming zigzag chains running parallel to [120]. Hydro­gen bonds, which involve the non‐coordinated water mol­ecule, connect these chains to form a three‐dimensional framework.     

Li+ cation coordination in [Li2(CF3SO3)2(diglyme)] and [Li3(C2F3O2)3(diglyme)]

The title compounds, poly­[[[bis(2‐methoxy­ethyl) ether]­lithium(I)]‐di‐μ₃‐tri­fluoro­methanesulfonato‐lithium(I)], [Li₂(CF₃SO₃)₂(C₆H₁₄O₃)]_n, and poly­[[[bis(2‐methoxy­ethyl) ether]­lithium(I)]‐di‐μ₃‐tri­fluoro­acetato‐dilithium(I)‐μ₃‐tri­fluoro­acetato], [Li₃(C₂F₃O₂)₃(C₆H₁₄O₃)]_n, consist of one‐dimensional polymer chains. Both structures contain five‐coordinate Li⁺ cations coordinated by a tridentate diglyme [bis(2‐methoxy­ethyl) ether] mol­ecule and two O atoms, each from separate anions. In both structures, the [Li(diglyme)X₂]^? (X is CF₃SO₃ or CF₃CO₂) fragments are further connected by other Li⁺ cations and anions, creating one‐dimensional chains. These connecting Li⁺ cations are coordinated by four separate anions in both compounds. The CF₃SO₃^? and CF₃CO₂^? anions, however, adopt different forms of cation coordination, resulting in differences in the connectivity of the structures and solvate stoichiometries.     

(μ‐Oxalato‐O1,O2:O1′,O2′)bis[aqua(diethyl­enetri­amine)nickel(II)] bis(hexafluorophosphate) dihydrate

The title compound, [Ni₂(C₂O₄)(C₄H₁₃N₃)₂(H₂O)₂](PF₆)₂·‐2H₂O, contains a dinuclear oxalato‐bridged nickel(II) complex cation. The structure determination reveals the presence of a centrosymmetric binuclear complex where the oxalate ligand is coordinated in a bis­‐bidentate mode to the Ni atoms. The distorted octahedral environment of each Ni atom is completed by the three N atoms of the diethyl­enetri­amine ligand in a fac arrangement and by one O atom from a water mol­ecule. PF₆^? acts as counter‐anion. A two‐dimensional network of hydrogen bonds links the cations and anions and stabilizes the structure.     

ACr(C2O4)2(H2O)4 (A = Li or Na): two new coordination polymers of low dimensionality with different hydrogen‐bond networks

Single crystals of two new bimetallic oxalate compounds with the formula [ACr(C₂O₄)₂(H₂O)₄]_n (A = Li or Na), namely catena‐poly[[diaqualithium(I)]‐μ‐oxalato‐κ⁴O¹,O²:O^1′,O^2′‐[diaquachromium(III)]‐μ‐oxalato‐κ⁴O¹,O²:O^1′,O^2′], ( I ), and catena‐poly[[diaquasodium(I)]‐μ‐oxalato‐κ⁴O¹,O²:O^1′,O^2′‐[di‐aquachromium(III)]‐μ‐oxalato‐κ⁴O¹,O²:O^1′,O^2′], ( II ), have been synthesized, characterized and their crystal structures elucidated by X‐ray diffraction analysis and compared. The compounds crystallize in the monoclinic space group C2/m for ( I ) and in the triclinic space group P for ( II ); however, they have somewhat similar features. In the asymmetric unit of ( I ), the Li and Cr atoms both have space‐group‐imposed 2/m site symmetry, while only half of the oxalate ligand is present and two independent water molecules lie on the mirror plane. The water O atoms around the Li atom are disordered over two equivalent positions separated by 0.54 (4) Å. In the asymmetric unit of ( II ), the atoms of one C₂O₄^2? ligand and two independent water molecules are in general positions, and the Na and Cr atoms lie on an inversion centre. Taking into account the symmetry sites of both metallic elements, the unit cells may be described as pseudo‐face‐centred monoclinic for ( I ) and as pseudo‐centred triclinic for ( II ). Both crystal structures are comprised of one‐dimensional chains of alternating trans‐Cr(CO)₄(H₂O)₂ and trans‐A(CO)₄(H₂O)₂ units μ₂‐bridged by bis‐chelating oxalate ligands. The resulting linear chains are parallel to the [101] direction for ( I ) and to the [11] direction for ( II ). Within the two coordination polymers, strong hydrogen bonds result in tetrameric R₄⁴(12) synthons which link the metal chains, thus leading to two‐dimensaional supramolecular architectures. The two structures differ from each other with respect to the symmetry relations inside the ligand, the role of electrostatic forces in the crystal structure and the molecular interactions of the hydrogen‐bonded networks. Moreover, they exhibit the same UV–Vis pattern typical of a Cr^III centrosymmetric geometry, while the IR absorption shows some differences due to the oxalate‐ligand conformation. Polymers ( I ) and ( II ) are also distinguished by a different behaviours during the decomposition process, the precursor ( I ) leading to the oxide LiCrO₂, while the residues of ( II ) consist of a mixture of sodium carbonate and Cr^III oxide.     

Two oxo complexes with tetra­nuclear [Fe4(μ3‐O)2]8+ and trinuclear [Fe3(μ3‐O)]7+ units

Two new oxo complexes, namely hexa‐μ₂‐acetato‐acetato­aquabis­(di‐3‐pyridylamine)di‐μ₃‐oxo‐tetra­iron(III) chloride mono­hydrate ethanol 1.25‐solvate, [Fe₄(C₂H₃O₂)₇O₂(C₁₀H₉N₃)₂(H₂O)]Cl·1.25C₂H₆O·H₂O, (I), containing a tetra­nuclear [Fe₄(μ₃‐O)₂]⁸⁺ unit, and 2‐methyl­imidazolium hexa‐μ₂‐acetato‐acetatodiaqua‐μ₃‐oxo‐triiron(III) chloride dihydrate, (C₄H₇N₂)[Fe₃(C₂H₃O₂)₇O(H₂O)₂]Cl·2H₂O, (II), with a trinuclear [Fe₃(μ₃‐O)]⁷⁺ unit, are presented. Both structures are formed by two well differentiated entities, viz. a compact isolated cluster composed of Fe^III ions coordinated to O²⁻ and CH₃CO₂⁻ anions, and an external group formed by a central Cl⁻ ion surrounded by different solvent groups to which the anion is bound through hydrogen bonding. In the case of (I), charge balance cannot be achieved within the groups, so the structure is macroscopically ionic; in the case of (II), in contrast, each group is locally neutral owing to the inter­nal compensation of charges. The trinuclear complex crystallizes with the metal cluster, chloride anion and 2‐methyl­imidazolium cation bisected by a crystallographic mirror plane.     

A neodymium(III)–ammonium complex involving oxalate and carbonate ligands: (NH4)2[Nd2(C2O4)3(CO3)(H2O)]·H2O

The title compound, di­ammonium aqua‐μ‐carbonato‐tri‐μ‐­oxalato‐dineodymium(III) hydrate, (NH₄)₂[Nd₂(CO₃)(C₂O₄)₃(H₂O)]·H₂O, involving the two ligands oxalate and carbonate, has been prepared hydro­thermally as single crystals. The Nd atoms form a tetranuclear unit across the inversion centre at (,,). Starting from this tetranuclear unit, the oxalate ligands serve to develop a three‐dimensional network. The carbonate group acts as a bis‐chelating ligand to two Nd atoms, and is monodentate to a third Nd atom. The oxalate groups are all bis‐chelating. The two independent Nd atoms are ninefold coordinated and the coordination polyhedron of these atoms is a distorted monocapped antiprism.     

The synthesis,crystal structure and magnetic properties of a one‐dimensional terbium(III)–octacyanidomolybdate(V) assembly

A one‐dimensional cyanide‐bridged coordination polymer, poly[[aquadi‐μ‐cyanido‐κ⁴C:N‐hexacyanido‐κ⁶C‐(dimethylformamide‐κO)bis(3,4,7,8‐tetramethyl‐1,10‐phenanthroline‐κ²N,N′)terbium(III)molybdate(V)] 4.5‐hydrate], [MoTb(CN)₈(C₁₆H₁₆N₂)₂(C₃H₇NO)(H₂O)]·4.5H₂O}_n, has been prepared and characterized through IR spectroscopy, elemental analysis and single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction. The compound consists of one‐dimensional chains in which cationic [Tb(tmphen)₂(DMF)(H₂O)]³⁺ (tmphen is 3,4,7,8‐tetramethyl‐1,10‐phenanthroline) and anionic [Mo^V(CN)₈]³⁻ units are linked in an alternating fashion through bridging cyanide ligands. Neighbouring chains are connected by three types of hydrogen bonds (O—H...O, O—H...N and C—H...O) and by π–π interactions to form a three‐dimensional supramolecular structure. In addition, magnetic investigations show that ferromagnetic interactions exist in the compound.     

Triaqua­benzoatocalcium(II) monobenzoate: coordination polymer chains linked into a two‐dimensional framework by hydrogen bonds

In the title complex, catena‐poly[[[diaqua­calcium(I)]‐μ₂‐aqua‐μ₃‐benzoato‐κ⁴O:O,O′:O′] benzoate], {[Ca(C₇H₅O₂)(H₂O)₃](C₇H₅O₂)}_n, obtained by the reaction of CaCl₂ and potassium benzoate in water, the Ca atom is eight‐coordinated by four carboxyl­ate O atoms and four water mol­ecules. The structure consists of polymeric {[Ca(C₆H₅COO)(H₂O)₃]⁺}_∞ chains alternating with layers of uncoordinated C₆H₅COO⁻ anions. The nearly planar anions are linked to the chain by short hydrogen bonds to form a two‐dimensional network.     

catena‐Poly[bis[silver(I)‐μ2‐4,4′‐bipyridine‐κ2N:N′] naphthalene‐2,6‐dicarboxylate tetrahydrate]: self‐assembly of a supramolecular framework via coordination bonds and supramolecular interactions

The ultrasonic reaction of AgNO₃, 4,4′‐bipyridine (bipy) and naphthalene‐2,6‐dicarboxylic acid (H₂NDC) gives rise to the title compound, {[Ag₂(C₁₀H₈N₂)₂](C₁₂H₆O₄)·4H₂O}_n. The NDC dianion is located on an inversion centre. The Ag^I centre is coordinated in a linear manner by two N atoms from two bipy ligands. The crystal structure consists of one‐dimensional Ag^I–bipy cationic chains and two‐dimensional NDC–H₂O anionic sheets, constructed by coordination bonds and supramolecular interactions, respectively.     

Poly[[di‐μ3‐acetato‐di‐μ2‐aqua‐diaqua‐di‐μ3‐hydroxo‐tricopper(II)] naphthalene‐1,5‐disulfonate]

The crystal structure of the title complex, {[Cu₃(C₂H₃O₂)₂(OH)₂(H₂O)₄](C₁₀H₆O₆S₂)}_n, is built of infinite polymeric cationic {[Cu₃(C₂H₃O₂)₂(H₂O)₄(OH)₂]²⁺}_n chains stretching along the a axis, with naphthalene‐1,5‐disulfonate (1,5‐nds) anions in between. One independent Cu^II cation and the 1,5‐nds anion occupy special positions on crystallographic inversion centres. Each Cu^II cation has an octa­hedral coordination environment formed by two carboxyl O atoms, two hydroxo O atoms and two water mol­ecules. The carboxyl­ate and hydroxo groups perform a bridging function, linking adjacent Cu atoms in the chain, with a shortest Cu⋯Cu distance of 2.990 (3) Å. The chains are further linked into a three‐dimensional supra­molecular framework via hydrogen‐bonding inter­actions involving the sulfonate groups of the 1,5‐­nds dianions.     

A candidate for a single‐chain magnet: [Mn3(OAc)6(py)2(H2O)2]n (OAc is acetate and py is pyridine)

The title complex, catena‐poly[di‐μ₃‐acetato‐κ⁶O:O:O′‐tetra‐μ₂‐acetato‐κ⁴O:O;κ⁴O:O′‐diaquabis(pyridine‐κN)trimanganese(II)], [Mn₃(CH₃COO)₆(C₆H₅N)₂(H₂O)₂]_n, is a true one‐dimensional coordination polymer, in which the Mn^II centres form a zigzag chain along [010]. The asymmetric unit contains two metal centres, one of which (Mn1) lies on an inversion centre, while the other (Mn2) is placed close to an inversion centre on a general position. Since all the acetates behave as bridging ligands, although with different μ₂‐ and μ₃‐coordination modes, a one‐dimensional polymeric structure is formed, based on trinuclear repeat units (Mn1...Mn2...Mn2′), in which the Mn2 and Mn2′ sites are related by an inversion centre. Within this monomeric block, the metal–metal separations are Mn1...Mn2 = 3.36180 (18) Å and Mn2...Mn2′ = 4.4804 (3) Å. Cation Mn1, located on an inversion centre, displays an [MnO₆] coordination sphere, while Mn2, on a general position, has a slightly stronger [MnO₅N] ligand field, as the sixth coordination site is occupied by a pyridine molecule. Both centres approximate an octahedral ligand field. The chains are parallel in the crystal structure and interact via hydrogen bonds involving coordinated water molecules. However, the shortest metal–metal separation between two chains [5.3752 (3) Å] is large compared with the intrachain interactions. These structural features are compatible with a single‐chain magnet behaviour, as confirmed by preliminary magnetic studies.