The crystal structure of tris (ethylenediamine), cobalt(III) hexacyanoferrate(III)dihydrate,Co(C2H8N2)3[Fe(CN)6] · 2H2O

The crystal structure of the title compound has been determined from three dimensional x-ray data obtained by the multiple film method. The space group is P2_l/n and the cell dimensions are: a = 14.90, b = 16.84, c = 8.38 Å; β = 93.5° Z = 4. The structure is formed by discrete Co (en) and Fe(CN) ions, both of which have an octahedral configuration. The Fe(CN) ions are approximately octahedrally surrounded by the Co (en) ions while arrangement of Fe (CN) ions around the Co(en) ions completely differs from an octahedron. The mean Fe? C and Co? C dustances are 1.91 and 2.01 Å, respectively. The water molecules do not play an important role in the structure and all distances between oxygen and other atoms indicate the presence of very weak hydrogen bonds. The salts M (en)₃ Q(CN)₆ · H₂O, where M = Co and Cr and Q = Cr, Mn, Fe and Co, are all isomorphous.