Crystal structures of bis(4-dimethylaminopyridinium) tetrachlorocobaltate(II) and bis-[1,3-di (ammoniummethyl)benzene]tetrachlorocobaltate(II)

The crystal structures consist of organoammonium cations hydrogen bonded to tetrahedral CoCl₄^2– anions. In the 4-dimethylaminopyridinium salt, [(CH₃)₂NC₅H₅NH]₂CoCl₄, pairs of cations hydrogen bond in an asymmetric fashion to two of the chlorines in each anion. The planar cations form two sets of – stacks, first parallel to the a axis and the second parallel to the b axis. The anions lie between these two nonintersecting sets of stacks. In contrast, for the second compound, [C₆H₄(CH₂NH₃)₂]CoCl₄, the tetrahedral CoCl₄^2– anions form layers lying parallel to the bc plane. The 1,3-di(ammoniummethyl)benzene cations crosslink adjacent anionic layers, forming a lamellar structure of alternating organic and inorganic layers.