Abstract:
The synthesis, crystal structure and properties of the magnesium and calcium salts of p-anisic acid viz. [Mg(H sub(2)O) sub(6)](C sub(8)H sub(7)O sub(3))sub(2).2H sub(2)O (C sub(8)H sub(7)O sub(3) = p-anisate or 4-methoxybenzoate) (1) and [Ca(H 2O)(C sub(8)H sub(7)O sub(3))sub(2)] (2) are reported. The p-anisate ion is not coordinated to Mg(II) and functions as a charge balancing counter anion for the centrosymmetric octahedral [Mg(H sub(2)O) sub(6)] sup(2)+ unit in 1. The unique lattice water molecule links pairs of [Mg(H sub(2)O) 6] sup(2)+cations and p-anisate anions with the aid of O-H...O interactions. The mu 2-bridging bidentate and the mu 3-bridging tetradentate binding modes of the crystallographically unique p-anisate ligands in (2) result in a two-dimensional (2-D) coordination polymer.
