Poly[3-methyl-1,3-oxazolidin-2-iminium[µ3-cyanido-tri-µ2-cyanido-κ9C:N-tricuprate(I)]]

The unexpected formation of an oxazole ring has occurred during synthesis of a copper(I) cyanide network polymer as part of our ongoing studies of the structural chemistry of these networks. Crystals of the title compound were formed during the synthesis of a previously reported CuCN network solid containing protonated N-methylethanolamine and have been characterized by single crystal X-ray structure analysis. The structure shows well-defined oxazole-2-iminium cations sitting in continuous channels along the short a-axis of the crystal in a new three-dimensional copper(I) cyanide polymeric network. Evidently, a reaction has occurred between the cyanide ion and the protonated N-methylethanolamine base.