Synthesis, crystal structure and thermal properties of the dinuclear complex bis(μ-4-methylpyridine N-oxide-κ² O:O)bis[(methanol-κO)(4-methylpyridine N-oxide-κO)bis(thiocyanato-κN)cobalt(II)]

Reaction of Co(NCS) 2 with 4-methylpyridine N -oxide in methanol leads to the formation of crystals of the title compound, [Co 2 (NCS) 4 (C 6 H 7 NO) 4 (CH 4 O) 2 ] or Co 2 (NCS) 4 (4-methylpyridine N -oxide) 4 (methanol) 2 . The asymmetric unit consist of one Co II cation, two thiocyanate anions, two 4-methylpyridine N -oxide coligands and one methanol molecule in general positions. The H atoms of one of the methyl groups are disordered and were refined using a split model. The Co II cations octahedrally coordinate two terminal N-bonded thiocyanate anions, three 4-methylpyridine N -oxide coligands and one methanol molecule. Each two Co II cations are linked by pairs of μ-1,1( O , O )-bridging 4-methylpyridine N -oxide coligands into dinuclear units that are located on centers of inversion. Powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) investigations prove that the title compound is contaminated with a small amount of Co(NCS) 2 (4-methylpyridine N -oxide) 3 . Thermogravimetric investigations reveal that the methanol molecules are removed in the beginning, leading to a compound with the composition Co(NCS) 2 (4-methylpyridine N -oxide), which has been reported in the literature and which is of poor crystallinity.