Oxonium trans-bis(oxalato)rhodate and related sodium salts: a rare example of crystalline complex acid

Abstract

New coordination compounds trans-bis(oxalato)diaquarhodiate sodium dihydrate Na[Rh(H2O)2Ox2]·2H2O (crystallizes in two polymorphic forms NaRh-1 and NaRh-2), trans-bis(oxalato)hydroxoaquarhodiate sodium tetrahydrate Na2[Rh(H2O)(OH)Ox2]·4H2O (Na2Rh) and trans-bis(oxalato)diaquarhodic acid tetrahydrate (H3O)[Rh(H2O)2Ox2]·4H2O (HRh) are synthesized. The compounds are characterized by IR spectroscopy, elemental analysis and single crystal X-ray diffraction. NaRh-1, NaRh-2 and Na2Rh crystallize in space group P 1. Trans-bis(oxalato)diaquarhodic acid exists not only in solution, but can also crystallize as a tetrahydrate (space group C2/c). The formation of various species in solution of rhodium hydroxide in oxalic acid and their redistribution were studied using 103Rh NMR spectroscopy.