Synthesis and structure determination of racemic (Δ/Λ)-tris-(ethyl-enedi-amine)-cobalt(III) trichloride hemi(hexa-aqua-sodium chloride).

The synthesis and crystal structure of the title racemic compound, [Co(C2H8N2)3]Cl3.{[Na(H2O)6]Cl}0.5, are reported. The trivalent cobalt atom, which resides on a crystallographic threefold axis, is chelated by a single ethyl-ene di-amine (en) ligand and yields the tris-chelate [Co(en)3]3+ cation with distorted octa-hedral geometry after the application of crystal symmetry. The sodium cation (site symmetry ), has a single water mol-ecule bound to it in the asymmetric unit and yields a distorted, octa-hedrally coordinated hydrated [Na(H2O)6]+ cation after the application of symmetry. One of the chloride ions lies on a general position and the other has site symmetry. An extensive array of C-H⋯O, N-H⋯Cl and O-H⋯Cl hydrogen bonds exists between the ethyl-ene di-amine ligands, the water mol-ecules of hydration, and the anions present, thereby furnishing solid-state stability.