Binding of arylsulphonates by cationic cobalt(III) complex: Syntheses, characterization and single crystal structure determination of [Co(phen)2CO3](arylsulphonate)⋅nH2O

In an effort to study the binding of substituted arylsulphonates by cationic cobalt(III) complex [Co(phen)2CO3]+, two complex salts [Co(phen)2CO3](4-chlorobenzenesulphonate)⋅3H2O, 1 and [Co(phen)2CO3] (2,4-dinitrobenzenesulphonate)⋅H2O, 2 have been synthesized. These complex salts were characterized by elemental analysis, solubility product, conductivity measurements, thermal and spectroscopic studies. The crystal structures of 1 and 2 have been determined by single-crystal X-ray structure determination. Both complex salts crystallize in triclinic system (space group P 1 ¯ ) with cell dimensions a = 10.215(5) Ǻ, b = 12.013(5) Ǻ, c = 12.822(5) Ǻ, α = 69.497(5), β = 88.855(5), γ = 78.430(5)°, Z = 2, V = 1441.6(11) Ǻ3 for 1 and a = 7.730(5) Ǻ, b = 13.958(5) Ǻ, c = 14.020(5) Ǻ, α = 73.763(5), β = 88.352(5), γ = 81.035(5)°, Z = 2, V = 1434.5(11) Ǻ3 for 2. The hydrogen bonding (CH⋯O and OH⋯O) and π–π stacking interactions result in the formation of bi-layered and zig–zag structures in 1 and 2 respectively. The facile formation of complex salts with small Ksp values and detailed packing analysis suggests that the [Co(phen)2CO3]+ complex ion may be effective as a binding agent for substituted arylsulphonates in an aqueous medium.