Crystal structure ofcatena-poly[[tetraaquamagnesium]-μ-(dihydrogen hypodiphosphato)-κ2O:O′]

Abstract

The crystal structure of the title compound, [Mg(H2P2O6)(H2O)4]n, is built up from (H2P2O6)2−anions bridging Mg2+cations into chains extending parallel to [011]. The Mg2+ion is located on an inversion centre and is octahedrally coordinated by the O atoms of two (H2P2O6)2−anions and four water molecules. The centrosymmetric (H2P2O6)2−anion has a staggered conformation whereby the tetravalent phosphorus atom is surrounded tetrahedrally by three O atoms and by one symmetry-related P atom. A three-dimensional O—H...O hydrogen-bonded network of medium strength involving the P—OH group of the anion and the water molecules is present.