Unusual Polymers Containing Alternating <Emphasis Type="Italic">s</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">d</Emphasis> Elements Connected by Bridging Pivalate

From tetrahydrofurane solutions containing Cu(II) or Co(II) and potassium pivalate (KPiv) (molar ratios Cu/K=1/10, Co/K=1/5) one can isolate polynuclear K₃Co₂Piv₇(THF)₃] (1) and K₆Cu₂Piv₁₀(HPiv)(THF)(H₂O)₂]\(\cdot\)2THF (2), respectively. In the solid state the structures of the compounds consist of alternating, oppositely winding helices with a step of 46.085 Å for 1 and 25.260 Å for 2. In 2, the bridging pivalates link the infinite helices into layers. For both compounds, an important peculiarity of the structure is wide separation of transition metal ions (at least 5.327 Å for 1 and 6.791 Å for 2). Due to the presence of excess KPiv in the reaction system, the Cu(II) and Co(II) ions do not “coalesce” into polynuclear complexes typically observed in transition metal pivalates; instead they form unusual polymer systems containing alternating atoms of s and d elements. For transition metal pivalates, this type of structure was found for the first time.