Preparation and crystal and molecular structure of two trialkylamine adducts of HCo(CO)4 showing a preferential NR3H+⋯[(OC)3Co(CO)]– interaction

Abstract

HCo(CO)₄ and trialkylamines in hydrocarbon solution form 1:1 adducts, which may be described as NR₃H⁺⋯[Co(CO)₄]^– ion pairs; X-ray crystal structure determinations show that in the solid state the inter-acting unit NEt₂H⁺⋯[Co(CO)₄]^– has an N ⋯ Co contact of 3.72 Å with the nitrogen hydrogen on the threefold axis of rotation interacting with the C₃Co part of the [Co(CO)₄]^– anion, in a sort of ‘elongated’ HCo(CO)₄ structure, and a substantially similar molecular structure was found for NMe₃H⁺⋯[Co(CO)₄]^–, the N ⋯ Co contact being reduced to 3.39 Å.