Bis(citrato)hydroxogermanic(IV) acid dimer [H5O 2][Ge(H2Cit)(H2.5Cit)(OH)]2 · 2CH3COOH · 2H2O: Synthesis, properties, and crystal and molecular structure

Bis(citrato)hydroxogermanic(IV) acid was obtained for the first time in the complex [H5O2][Ge(H2Cit)(H2.5Cit)(OH)]2 · 2CH3COOH · 2H2O (H4Cit is citric acid). The complex was characterized by chemical analysis, X-ray powder diffraction, TGA, and IR spectroscopy. Complex I was studied by X-ray crystallography. The crystals are triclinic; a = 10.0651(4) Å, b = 10.1918(4) Å, c = 10.5838(4) Å, α = 85.0110(10)°, β = 85.2170(10)°, γ = 86.7670(10)°, V = 1076.50(7) Å3, Z = 1, space group $$P\bar 1$$, R1 = 0.0353 for 5709 reflections with I > 2σ(I). Complex I is composed of centrosymmetric dimeric complex anions [Ge2(H2Cit)2(H2.5Cit)2(OH)2]−, dioxonium cations [H5O2]+, and acetic acid and water molecules of crystallization. The coordination polyhedron of the Ge atom is a trigonal bipyramid. Its equatorial plane comprises two O atoms of the deprotonated alcohol groups of two ligands H2Cit (A) and H2.5Cit (B) and the O atom of the terminal OH group (Ge-O, 1.7585–1.7754 Å; OeqGe(1)Oeq, 116.26°–127.64°). The axial positions are occupied by the carboxy O atom of the deprotonated carboxylate group of the α branch of ligand A (α-Ge-O(C)(carb), 1.8882(12) Å)) and the carbonyl O atom of the hemiprotonated acetate α branch of ligand B (α-Ge-O(C) 1.9615(12) Å, O(1)Ge(1)O(8) 170.47(5)°). In structure I, the complex dianion, the cation, and acetic acid and water molecules are united through hydrogen bonds into a three-dimensional framework.