Synthesis and characterization of cobalt acrylate–melamine co-crystals

A new co-crystal of tetraaqua acrylato cobalt (II) complex and melamine, [Co(acr)2(H2O)4]·4MA·2DMF (acr = acrylate, MA = melamine, DMF = dimethylformamide), has been synthesized and characterized using IR, UV-Vis, thermogravimetric analysis, and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The complex contains discrete unities of [Co(acr)2(H2O)4], melamine, and DMF linked by hydrogen bonds. Investigations evidenced that Co(II) has an octahedral stereochemistry and both acrylate ions present unidentate coordination mode. Thermal decomposition occurs in four steps and denotes that melamine is lost at high temperatures, and this indicates a greater stability that may be associated with the presence of hydrogen bonds network.