Tris[di(chloromethyl)phosphinate]lanthanum dihydrate: Crystal structure

The X-ray crystal structure of LaL3 . 2H(2)O, where HL is di(chloromethyl)p hosphinic acid, is determined. Two crystallographically nonequivalent atoms , La(1) and La(2) are each coordinated in the vertexes of a pentagonal bipy ramid by six O(P) atoms of six L- anions, which behave as bidentate mu (2)- bridging ligands, and the O(w) atom of a water molecule. The La(H2O)L-3 spe cies of both types are linked in polymeric chains running along the x axis of the crystal. The chains are linked by O-H . . .O hydrogen bonds between coordinated and crystal water molecules and by short Cl . . . Cl contacts. A polycrystalline sample of the complex is shown by X-ray powder diffractio n to be single-phase.