Cationic cobaltammine as anion receptor: Synthesis, characterization, single crystal X-ray structure and packing analysis of hexaamminecobalt(III) chloride (R,R)-tartrate monohydrate

In an effort to utilize the [Co(NH3)6]3+ cation as a new anion receptor (binding agent) for dihydroxy dicarboxylate anion i.e., tartrate, orange single crystals of hexaamminecobalt(III) chloride (R,R)-tartrate monohydrate, [Co(NH3)6]Cl(C4H4O6)·H2O, were obtained by reacting hexaamminecobalt(III) chloride with potassium–sodium tartrate tetrahydrate in a 1:1 molar ratio in hot water. The single crystal X-ray structure determination of [Co(NH3)6]Cl(C4H4O6)·H2O revealed that a distinctive network of hydrogen bonding interactions (N–H⋯O, N–H⋯Cl−, O–H⋯O) stabilize the crystal lattice. This is the first complex salt of hexaamminecobalt(III) with dihydroxy dicarboxylate anion i.e., tartrate.