A Pentanuclear Cu/Co/Ni Complex with 2‐(Dimethylamino)ethanol – Observation of a Rare Molecular Structure Type and Its Place in General Structural Types: An Analysis of the Cambridge Structural Database

Abstract

AbstractHeterotrimetallic complex [CuII2CoIINiII2(Me2Ea)5Cl5(H2O)]·CH3CN·H2O has been prepared in a one‐pot reaction of zero‐valent copper with cobalt and nickel chlorides in an acetonitrile solution of 2‐(dimethylamino)ethanol (HMe2Ea) in the open air. The metal stoichiometry obtained by atomic absorption analysis was further confirmed by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction investigations. The pentanuclear molecule is formed by a previously unknown combination of incomplete cube M3(μ3‐X)(μ‐X)3 and triangle bipyramidal M3(μ3‐X)2(μ‐X)2 fragments, resulting in a zigzag arrangement of metal centers within one molecule. This type of arrangement is very uncommon for pentanuclear complexes and in particular for complexes with an odd number of metal centers. A search of the Cambridge Structural Database showed that the number of coordination compounds possessing an even number of metals is significantly greater than those containing an odd number. Possible reasons for such a distribution, as well as the synthetic and structural features of the presented compound, are discussed.(© Wiley‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2009)