Double-salt formation in crystal structures containing [Co(en)3]Cl3

The structures of three racemic double salts of [Co(en)₃]Cl₃ (en is ethane-1,2-diamine, C₂H₈N₂), namely, bis[tris(ethane-1,2-diamine-κ²N,N′)cobalt(III)] hexaaquasodium(I) heptachloride, [Co(en)₃]₂[Na(H₂O)₆]Cl₇, bis[tris(ethane-1,2-diamine-κ²N,N′)cobalt(III)] hexaaquapotassium(I) heptachloride, [Co(en)₃]₂[K(H₂O)₆]Cl₇, and ammonium bis[tris(ethane-1,2-diamine-κ²N,N′)cobalt(III)] heptachloride hexahydrate, (NH₄)[Co(en)₃]₂Cl₇·6H₂O, have been determined, and the structural similarities with the parent compound, tris(ethane-1,2-diamine-κ²N,N′)cobalt(III) trichloride tetrahydrate, [Co(en)₃]Cl₃·4H₂O, are highlighted. All four compounds crystallize in the trigonal space group Pc1. When compared with the parent compound, the double salts show a modest increase in the unit-cell volume. The structure of the chiral derivative [Λ-Co(en)₃]₂[Na(H₂O)₆]Cl₇ has also been redetermined at cryogenic temperatures (120 K) and the disorder noted in a previous report has been accounted for.