Synthesis, spectroscopic characterization and X-ray structure determination of tetrabutylammonium trans-diamminetetranitrocobaltate(III)

The cobalt(III) complex salt [(C₄H₉)₄N][trans-Co(NH₃)₂(NO₂)₄] has been synthesized in high yield by reacting equimolar quantities of [(C₄H₉)₄N]Br and K[trans-Co(NH₃)₂(NO₂)₄] in aqueous medium at room temperature. The product thus formed has been re-crystallised from acetone-water mixture, in the monoclinic space group P 2₁/n, with cell dimensions a=11.651(3) ?, b=19.005(4) ?, c=11.733(5) ?, β=90.28(3)°. The X-ray structure determination revealed the presence of discrete ions, [(C₄H₉)₄N]⁺ and [trans-Co(NH₃)₂(NO₂)₄]⁻. The central metal ion cobalt(III) in the anion is found in octahedral environment, in trans geometry, while the organic counterion is a quaternary alkylammonium cation. The crystal lattice is stabilized by electrostatic interactions between the cations and anions.Supplementary material Crystallographic data (excluding structure factors) for the structure(s) reported in this paper have been deposited with the Cambridge Crystallographic Data Centre as supplementary publication no. CCDC 291300. Copies of the data can be obtained free of charge on application to CCDC, 12 Union Road, Cambridge CB2 1EZ, UK (fax: (44) 1223 336-033; e-mail: deposit@ccdc.cam.ac.uk.