Poly[[bis(μ-4,4′-bipyridyl-κ2 N:N′)bis(thiocyanato-κN)manganese(II)] diethyl ether disolvate]

In the title compound, {[Mn(NCS)2(C10H8N2)2]·2C4H10O}n, the MnII ion is coordinated by four N-bonded 4,4′-bipyridine (bipy) ligands and two N-bonded thiocyanate anions in a distorted octahedral coordination geometry. The asymmetric unit consists of one MnII ion and two bipy ligands each located on a twofold rotation axis, as well as one thiocyanate anion and one diethyl ether molecule in general positions. In the crystal structure, the metal centers with terminally bonded thicyanate anions are bridged by the bipy ligands into layers parallel to (001). The diethyl ether solvent molecules occupy the voids of the structure.

In the title compound, {[Mn(NCS) 2 (C 10 H 8 N 2 ) 2 ]Á2C 4 H 10 O} n , the Mn II ion is coordinated by four N-bonded 4,4 0 -bipyridine (bipy) ligands and two N-bonded thiocyanate anions in a distorted octahedral coordination geometry. The asymmetric unit consists of one Mn II ion and two bipy ligands each located on a twofold rotation axis, as well as one thiocyanate anion and one diethyl ether molecule in general positions. In the crystal structure, the metal centers with terminally bonded thicyanate anions are bridged by the bipy ligands into layers parallel to (001). The diethyl ether solvent molecules occupy the voids of the structure.

Related literature
For general background to thermal decomposition reactions as an alternative tool for the discovery and preparation of new ligand-deficient coordination polymers with defined magnetic properties, see: Wriedt & Nä ther (2009a,b); Wriedt et al. (2009a,b). For the isotypic cobalt(II) structure, see: Lu et al. (1997).
MW thanks the Stiftung Stipendien-Fonds des Verbandes der Chemischen Industrie and the Studienstiftung des deutschen Volkes for a PhD scholarship. We gratefully acknowledge financial support by the State of Schleswig-Holstein and the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (Project 720/3-1). We thank Professor Dr Wolfgang Bensch for the opportunity to use his experimental facilities. manganese(II) chloride, potassium thiocyanate and 4,4-bipyridine (bipy). In this reaction single crystals of the title compound were grown.
The title compound ( Fig. 1) represents a two-dimensional layered coordination polymer, in which the Mn II atom is coordinated by four bipy ligands and two thiocyanate anions in an octahedral coordination mode. The crystal structure is isotypic to its cobalt(II) analogue (Lu et al., 1997). In the crystal structure the metal atoms are bridged by the bipy ligands into layers with terminally N-bonded thicyanate anions. The layers are stacked perpendicular to the crystallographic c axis in order that the metal atoms in one layer sit above or below the squares formed by the metal atoms of the adjacent layers.

Experimental
MnCl 2 (117.0 mg, 0.93 mmol) and KNCS (180.8 mg, 1.86 mmol) obtained from Alfa Aesar were dissolved in a mixture of 10 ml water and 15 ml ethanol. This mixture was layered with a solution of 4,4-bipyridine (306.3 mg, 2 mmol) in 10 ml diethyl ether. After one day colourless block-shaped single crystals of the title compound were grown at the phase interface.