Synthesis, X-Ray Structure, and Characterization of a Complex Containing the Hexakis(urea)cobalt(II) Cation and Lattice Urea Molecules

The 12: 1 reaction of urea (U) with CoI(2) in EtOH yielded the “clathrate-coordination” compound [Formula: see text] 4U (1). The complex crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P2(1)/c. The lattice constants are a = 9.844(4), b = 7.268(3), c = 24.12(1) Å, and [Formula: see text]. The crystal structure determination demonstrates the existence of octahedral [Formula: see text] cations, [Formula: see text] counterions, and two different types (two [Formula: see text] and two [Formula: see text]) of hydrogen-bonded, lattice urea molecules. The [Formula: see text] cations and the [Formula: see text] lattice molecules form two-dimensional hydrogen-bonded layers which are parallel to the ab plane. The [Formula: see text] anions are placed above and below each layer, and are hydrogen bonded both to [Formula: see text] molecules and [Formula: see text] cations. Each [Formula: see text] molecule is connected to a [Formula: see text] cation through an [Formula: see text] hydrogen bond resulting in a three-dimensional network. Room temperature magnetic susceptibility and spectroscopic (solid-state UV/Vis, IR, Raman) data of 1 are discussed in terms of the nature of bonding and the known structure.