Solvent-mediated crystal-to-crystal transformation within the CoBr2(1,4-dioxane)m(H2O)n family (m = 2, 3; n = 0, 2, 4) from 2D to 1D, and 0D

Abstract

A family of coordination compounds: CoBr₂(1,4-dioxane)₂ (1), CoBr₂(1,4-dioxane)₂(H₂O)₂ (2), CoBr₂(1,4-dioxane)₃(H₂O)₄ (3) and CoBr₂(1,4-dioxane)₂(H₂O)₄ (4 (C 2/c) and 5 (I 4₁/a)) with different dimensions have been crystallized from a solution of CH₃OH/1,4-dioxane. The solvent-mediated transformation was observed from the blue kinetically favored 2D compound 1 to the red metastable 1D compound 2, 0D compound 3, and finally to the thermodynamically stable 0D compounds 4 and 5. The hydrogen bonds played a key role in the formation of the different networks of 2–5 with the increasing of the coordinated water molecules. The magnetic measurements showed that 1 was a canted antiferromagnet, and 3–5 acted as antiferromagnets.