Unique chains of alternating octahedral and tetrahedral cobalt(ii) sites: crystal structures of the novel chloro-bridged complexes [Co4(μ-Cl)6Cl2(thf)4(MeOH) 2]n and [{Co4(μ-Cl)6Cl2(thf)4( H2O)2}·2THF]n Electronic supplementary information (ESI) available: elemental analysis, FTIR, VIS–NIR, temperature dependence of magnetic moment, data and apparatus for 1. See http://www.rsc.org/suppdata/cc/b0/b003213l/

Abstract

[Co₄(μ-Cl)₆Cl₂(thf)₄ (MeOH)₂]_n, a catena-polycobalt(II) complex with an unusual linear chain of octahedral/tetrahedral/octahedral cobalt sites, is obtained quantitatively from the reaction between cobalt chloride hydrate and trimethylorthoformate in THF.