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

The title compounds form an isomorphous series of the general formula [M(H2 O)(6)] (C8H7SO3)(2), where M = Mn {hexaaquamanganese(II) bis(4-styrenesulfo nate), [Mn(H2O)(6)](C8H7SO3)(2)}, Co {hexaaquacobalt(IT) bis(6 styrenesulfo nate), [Co(H2O)(6)](C8H7SO3)(2)} or Ni {hexaaquanickel(II) bis (4-styrenesu lfonate), [Ni(H2O)(6)](C8H7SO3)(2)}. The three compounds share a structure built of alternating layers of hexaaquametal(II) cations and 4-styrenesulfo nate anions. The coordination environments of the metal cations are octahed ral, with only minor deviations from ideal geometries [Mn-O 2.126 (3)-2.176 (5) Angstrom, O-Mn-O 84.6 (1)-89.9 (2)degrees; Co-O 2.052 (2)-2.087 (4) An gstrom, O-Co-O 86.4 (1)-89.5 (1)degrees; Ni-O 2.021 (3)-2.041 (5) Angstrom, O-Ni-O 87.8 (2)-89.6 (2)degrees]. The 4-styrenesulfonate layers contain al ternating rows of anions, with the sulfonate groups directed towards opposi te faces of the layer. The layers are held together by a two-dimensional ar ray of O-H ... O hydrogen bonds between the coordinated water molecules and sulfonate O atoms [O ... O 2.717 (6)-2.816 (5) Angstrom]. Similarities wit h the structures of other divalent metal arenesulfonate salts are described .