Structural and Thermal Investigations of L-CuC4H4O6·3H2O and DL-CuC4H4O6·2H2O Single Crystals

Copper(II) L-tartrate trihydrate, L-CuC4H4O6·3H2O, and copper(II) DL-tartrate dihydrate, DL-CuC4H4O6·2H2O, crystals were grown at room temperature by the gel method using silica gels as the growth medium. Differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetric-differential thermal analysis, and X-ray diffraction measurements were performed on both crystals. The space group symmetries (monoclinic P21 and P21/c) and structural parameters of the crystals were determined at room temperature and at 114 K. Both structures consisted of slightly distorted CuO6 octahedra, C4H4O6 and H2O molecules, C4H4O6–Cu–C4H4O6 chains linked by Cu–O bonds, and O–H–O hydrogen-bonding frameworks between adjacent molecules. Weight losses due to thermal decomposition of the crystals were found to occur in the temperature range of 300–1250 K. We inferred that the weight losses were caused by the evaporation of bound water molecules and the evolution of H2CO, CO, and O2 gases from C4H4O6 molecules, and that the residual reddish-brown substance left in the vessels after decomposition was copper(I) oxide (Cu2O).