A Symmetric Co(N5 )2 (H2 O)4 ⋅4 H2 O High-Nitrogen Compound Formed by Cobalt(II) Cation Trapping of a Cyclo-N5- Anion.

The reactions of (N5 )6 (H3 O)3 (NH4 )4 Cl with Co(NO3 )2 ⋅6 H2 O at room temperature yielded Co(N5 )2 (H2 O)4 ⋅4 H2 O as an air-stable orange metal complex. The structure, as determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction, has two planar cyclo-N5- rings and four bound water molecules symmetrically positioned around the central metal ion. Thermal analysis demonstrated the explosive properties of the material.