Synthesis and characterization of transition metal fluoride complexes with imidazole: X-ray crystal structure reveals short hydrogen bonds between lattice water and lattice fluoride

A new series of complexes of cobalt(II) fluoride, nickel(II) fluoride, copper(II) fluoride and zinc(II) fluoride with imidazole were synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, molar conductance, magnetic moments, IR and electronic absorption measurements. Based on elemental and spectral data, the complexes were found to be of [M(im)6]F2 · XH2O type, where M is Co(II), Ni(II), Cu(II) and Zn(II) and X 4–5. The magnetic moments and spectral data suggested that all the complexes possessed an octahedral geometry. The crystal structure of the nickel complex, [Ni(im)6]F2 · 5H2O, is also reported in which nickel atom is surrounded by six nitrogen atoms of imidazole. Strong intra- and inter-molecular hydrogen bonding exists between fluoride ions (uncoordinated), nitrogen of imidazole and the –OH of water molecules.