Synthesis and crystal structure of poly[ethanol(μ-4-methylpyridine N-oxide)di-μ-thiocyanato-cobalt(II)]

Reaction of 4-methylpyridine N -oxide and Co(NCS) 2 in ethanol as solvent accidentally leads to the formation of single crystals of Co(NCS) 2 (4-methylpyridine N -oxide)(ethanol) or [Co(NCS) 2 (C 6 H 7 NO)(C 2 H 6 O)] n . The asymmetric unit of the title compound consists of one Co II cation, two crystallographically independent thiocyanate anions, one 4-methylpyridine N -oxide coligand and one ethanol molecule on general positions. The cobalt cations are sixfold coordinated by one terminal and two bridging thiocyanate anions, two bridging 4-methylpyridine N -oxide coligands and one ethanol molecule, with a slightly distorted octahedral geometry. The cobalt cations are linked by single μ-1,3( N , S )-bridging thiocyanate anions into corrugated chains, that are further connected into layers by pairs of μ-1,1( O , O )-bridging 4-methylpyridine N -oxide coligands. The layers are parallel to the bc plane and are separated by the methyl groups of the 4-methylpyridine N -oxide coligands. Within the layers, intralayer hydrogen bonding is observed.