Crystal and molecular structures of alkali oxalates: first proof of a staggered oxalate anion in the solid state

The molecular and crystal structures of solvent-free potassium, rubidium, and cesium oxalates have been determined ab initio from high-resolution synchrotron and X-ray laboratory powder patterns. In the case of potassium oxalate K(2)C(2)O(4) (a = 10.91176(7) A, b = 6.11592(4) A, c = 3.44003(2) A, orthorhombic, Pbam, Z = 2), the oxalate anion is planar, whereas in cesium oxalate Cs(2)C(2)O(4) (a = 6.62146(5) A, b = 11.00379(9) A, c = 8.61253(7) A, beta = 97.1388(4) degrees, monoclinic, P2(1)/c, Z = 4) it exhibits a staggered conformation. For rubidium oxalate at room temperature, two polymorphs exist, one (beta-Rb(2)C(2)O(4)) isotypic to potassium oxalate (a = 11.28797(7) A, b = 6.29475(4) A, c = 3.62210(2) A, orthorhombic, Pbam, Z = 2) and the other (alpha-Rb(2)C(2)O(4)) isotypic to cesium oxalate (a = 6.3276(1) A, b = 10.4548(2) A, c = 8.2174(2) A, beta = 98.016(1) degrees, monoclinic, P2(1)/c, Z = 4). The potassium oxalate structure can be deduced from the AlB(2) type, and the cesium oxalate structure from the Hg(99)As type, respectively. The relation between the two types of crystal structures and the reason for the different conformations of the oxalate anion are discussed.