The Crystal Structure of cis-β-Λ-Carbonato(S,S-triethylenetetramine)cobalt(III) Perchlorate: Spontaneous Resolution and Determination of Absolute Configuration

Abstract

Abstract The single crystal of cis-β-Λ-S,S-[Co(CO3)(trien)](ClO4)·H2O (trien = triethylenetetramine) has spontaneously resolved from the aqueous solution of cis-α-[CoCl(NH3)(trien)](ClO4)2 containing hydrogencarbonate anion, whose crystal structure has been determined by X-ray diffraction method. The complex crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P21 with a = 7.410(1), b = 12.354(3), c = 8.676(1) Å, β = 108.88(1)°, and Z = 2. The final R and Rw values for the 3056 observed reflections with Io > 3σ(Io) are 0.045 and 0.055, respectively. The tetradentate ligand, trien, is linked to the cobalt atom in cis-β-configuration, and the carbonato anion is coordinated to the metal atom as a didentate ligand. The Co–N bond lengths are 1.904(6), 1.928(4), 1.941(4), and 1.955(5) Å, and the two Co–O bond lengths are both 1.909(4). The absolute configuration of the complex cation can be designated as Λ(λλδ) and those about two secondary nitrogen atoms are both S.