A neutron diffraction study of potassium lead hexanitrocuprate(II), an example of a regular octahedral copper(II) complex

Abstract

The crystal structure of potassium lead hexanitrocuprate(II), K₂Pb[Cu(NO₂)₆], has been redetermined using three-dimensional neutron diffraction data. The compound crystallises in the cubic system, space group Fm3 or F₂₃, with a= 10·66 ± 0·01 Å. The copper atom is surrounded by six nitro-groups to form a regular octahedron. The Cu–N bond distance of 2·11 Å is significantly longer than that usually observed.