A tetranuclear dianion consisting of linked dirhenate units arranged in aninfinite one-dimensional chain through ligand-ligand hydrogen bonding in the solid state

The reaction of 1,4-dicyanobenzene with tetrabutylammonium octachlorodirhen ate in refluxing ethanol, in the presence of excess water, produces a tetra rhenate dianion in which ligand hydrolysis results in a unique structure. I n this structure, two dirhenium units are linked by a benzene-1,4-dicarboxa midate ligand. The product has been characterized by X-ray crystallography and spectroscopic means. In the crystallographically-determined structure, the tetrarhenate dianions are joined by hydrogen bonding into an infinite o ne-dimensional chain with a 'zigzag' motif. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.