Hexaaquametal(II) 4-styrenesulfonates of manganese, cobalt and nickel

The title compounds form an isomorphous series of the general formula [M(H 2 O) 6 ](C 8 H 7 SO 3 ) 2 , where M = Mn {hexaaquamanganese(II) bis(4- styrenesulfonate), [Mn(H 2 O) 6 ](C 8 H 7 SO 3 .) 2 } Co {hexaaquacobalt(II) bis(4-styrenesulfonate), [Co(H 2 O) 6 ](C 8 H 7 SO 3 ) 2 } or Ni {hexaaquanickel(II) bis (4-styrenesulfonate), [Ni(H 2 O) 6 ](C 8 H 7 SO 3 ) 2 }. The three compounds share a structure built of alternating layers of hexaaquametal(II) cations and 4-styrenesulfonate anions. The coordination environments of the metal cations are octahedral, with only minor deviations from ideal geometries [Mn-O 2.126 (3)-2.176 (5) A, O-Mn-O 84.6 (1)-89.9 (2)°; Co-O 2.052 (2)-2.087 (4) A, O-Co-O 86.4 (1)-89.5 (1)°; Ni-O 2.021 (3)-2.041 (5) A, O-Ni-O 87.8 (2)-89.6 (2)°]. The 4-styrenesulfonate layers contain alternating rows of anions, with the sulfonate groups directed towards opposite faces of the layer. The layers are held together by a two-dimensional array of OH…O hydrogen bonds between the coordinated water molecules and sulfonate O atoms [O…O 2.717(6)-2.816 (5) A]. Similarities with the structures of other divalent metal arenesulfonate salts are described.