Synthesis and structure of lithium and rubidium compounds with 2-(diphenylacetyl)-1,3-indanedione

Complexes RbL (I) and Li₂(C₂H₅OH)L₂] (II) (L = C₂₃H₁₅O₃) have been synthesized and their crystal structures have been studied. Both compounds have monoclinic crystals with space group P2₁/c and Z = 4; I: a = 11.632(2) Å, b = 15.154(3) Å, c = 11.457(2) Å, β = 104.34(3)°; II: a = 12.982(3)Å, b = 12.083(2) Å, c = 25.317(5) Å β = 100.11(3)°. In the structure of I, dimeric groups Rb₂O₆] with a shared edge are linked by the ligands to give infinite layers perpendicular to the x axis and cavities that form oblong channels. In the structure of II, Li₂O₇ dimers are formed by vertex sharing. The coordination of one of the lithium atoms (Li(1)) is completed to tetrahedral by the oxygen atom of the ethanol molecule. The structure of II, like that of I, is layered.