Isotypic MnIIand FeIIbinuclear complexes of the ligand 5,6-bis(pyridin-2-yl)-pyrazine-2,3-dicarboxylic acid

Abstract

The title isotypic complexes, bis[μ-5,6-bis(pyridin-2-yl)pyrazine-2,3-dicarboxylato]-κ4N1,O2,N6:O3;κ4O3:N1,O2,N6-bis[diaquamanganese(II)] tetrahydrate, [Mn2(C16H8N4O4)2(H2O)4]·4H2O, (I), and bis[μ-5,6-bis(pyridin-2-yl)pyrazine-2,3-dicarboxylato]-κ4N1,O2,N6:O3;κ4O3:N1,O2,N6-bis[diaquairon(II)] tetrahydrate, [Fe2(C16H8N4O4)2(H2O)4]·4H2O, (II), are, respectively, the manganese(II) and iron(II) complexes of the ligand 5,6-bis(pyridin-2-yl)-pyrazine-2,3-dicarboxylic acid. The complete molecule of each complex is generated by inversion symmetry. Each metal ion is coordinated by a pyrazine N atom, a pyridine N atom, two carboxylate O atoms, one of which is bridging, and two water O atoms. The metal atoms haveMN2O4coordination geometries and the complexes have a cage-like structure. In the crystals of both compounds, the complexes are linked by O—H...O and O—H...N hydrogen bonds involving the coordinating water molecules, forming chains along [100]. These chains are linked by O—H...O hydrogen bonds involving the non-coordinating water molecules, forming layers parallel to (011). The layers are linked by pairs of C—H...O hydrogen bonds and offset π–π interactions, so forming a hydrogen-bonded three-dimensional framework.