Diverse coordination modes in solvated alkali metal phenolates: The crystal structures of rubidium phenolate · 3 phenol and cesium phenolate · 2 phenol

Two alkali metal phenolate/phenol complexes are reported. The cations are pseudo-octahedrally coordinated by oxygen atoms and the π-systems of phenolates and solvent phenols. The ratio of phenolate/phenol determines whether the oxygen atom of the phenolate participates in the coordination of the metal. In cesium phenolate · 2 phenol, both phenolate and phenol solvent coordinate the metal via oxygen and the π-system, whereas in rubidium phenolate · 3 phenol, the phenolate oxygen is excluded from coordination and instead linked via hydrogen bonds to the phenol solvent. In both structures, the coordination polyhedra share edges or faces and form infinite chains.