Absolute configuration of the tris-(1,10-phenanthroline)nickel(II) and tris(oxalato)cobaltate(III) complex ions by X-ray structure analysis

Abstract

The absolute configurations of the tris-(1,10-phenanthroline)nickel(II)complex cation, (+)₅₈₉-[Ni(C₁₂H₈N₂)₃]²⁺, and the trisoxalatocobaltate(III) complex anion, (–)₅₈₉-[Co(C₂O₄)₃]^3–, have both been derived as Λ[also S(C₃)R(C₂) or M(C₃)P(C₂)] by X-ray structure analysis of a crystal of K (+)₅₈₉-[Ni(C₁₂H₈N₂)₃](–)₅₈₉-[Co(C₂O₄)₃],2H₂O. The crystals are cubic, with a= 16·225 ± 0·010 Å, space group P2₁3, and Z= 4. The metal atoms occupy positions of three-fold symmetry, the complex ions being meshed in accordance with packing requirements: the two water molecules per formula unit are disordered within a cage of six phenanthroline ligands.