More crystal field theory in action: the metal-4-picoline (pic)-sulfate [M(pic)x]SO4 complexes (M = Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, and Cd).

Seven crystal structures of five first-row (Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, and Zn) and one second-row (Cd) transition metal-4-picoline (pic)-sulfate complexes of the form [M(pic)x]SO4 are reported. These complexes are catena-poly[[tetrakis(4-methylpyridine-κN)metal(II)]-μ-sulfato-κ2O:O'], [M(SO4)(C6H7N)4]n, where the metal/M is iron, cobalt, nickel, and cadmium, di-μ-sulfato-κ4O:O-bis[tris(4-methylpyridine-κN)copper(II)], [Cu2(SO4)2(C6H7N)6], catena-poly[[bis(4-methylpyridine-κN)zinc(II)]-μ-sulfato-κ2O:O'], [Zn(SO4)(C6H7N)2]n, and catena-poly[[tris(4-methylpyridine-κN)zinc(II)]-μ-sulfato-κ2O:O'], [Zn(SO4)(C6H7N)3]n. The Fe, Co, Ni, and Cd compounds are isomorphous, displaying polymeric crystal structures with infinite chains of MII ions adopting an octahedral N4O2 coordination environment that involves four picoline ligands and two bridging sulfate anions. The Cu compound features a dimeric crystal structure, with the CuII ions possessing square-pyramidal N3O2 coordination environments that contain three picoline ligands and two bridging sulfate anions. Zinc crystallizes in two forms, one exhibiting a polymeric crystal structure with infinite chains of ZnII ions adopting a tetrahedral N2O2 coordination containing two picoline ligands and two bridging sulfate anions, and the other exhibiting a polymeric crystal structure with infinite chains of ZnII ions adopting a trigonal bipyramidal N3O2 coordination containing three picoline ligands and two bridging sulfate anions. The structures are compared with the analogous pyridine complexes, and the observed coordination environments are examined in relation to crystal field theory.