Effect of the nature of the anion on the composition and structure of cobalt complex with monoethanolamine

A number of products formed in reactions of cobalt(II) salts with monoethanolamine (HEtm) in a neutral medium were synthesized and studied. X-Ray diffraction study showed that the nitrate and acetate form the dimers [Co(HEtm)3][Co(Etm)3](NO3)3 and [Co(HEtm)3][Co(Etm)3](CH3COO)3 · 8H2O, respectively. In chloride solutions, cobalt is partially oxidized to give the trinuclear complex [CoII{CoIII(Etm)3}2]Cl3 · H2Etm · 2H2O. The reaction of the chelate [Co(Etm)3] · 3H2O with nitric acid is accompanied by complete protonation of the coordinated aminoethanolate ions, and the reaction with formic acid involves complete replacement of the coordinated ligand by acid residue anions and water molecules to give the coordination polymer {Co2(μ-HCOO)4(H2O)4} n .