Poly[[μ‐(1‐azaniumylethane‐1,1‐diyl)bis(hydrogen phosphonato)]sodium]: a powder X‐ray diffraction study

The title two‐dimensional coordination polymer, [Na(C₂H₈NO₆P₂)]_n, was characterized using powder X‐ray diffraction data and its structure refined using the Rietveld method. The asymmetric unit contains one Na⁺ cation and one (1‐azaniumylethane‐1,1‐diyl)bis(hydrogen phosphonate) anion. The central Na⁺ cation exhibits distorted octahedral coordination geometry involving two deprotonated O atoms, two hydroxy O atoms and two double‐bonded O atoms of the bisphosphonate anion. Pairs of sodium‐centred octahedra share edges and the pairs are in turn connected to each other by the biphosphonate anion to form a two‐dimensional network parallel to the (001) plane. The polymeric layers are connected by strong O—H...O hydrogen bonding between the hydroxy group and one of the free O atoms of the bisphosphonate anion to generate a three‐dimensional network. Further stabilization of the crystal structure is achived by N—H...O and O—H...O hydrogen bonding.