Synthesis, crystal structure and thermal properties of the dinuclear complex bis(μ-4-methylpyridine N-oxide-κ2O:O)bis[(methanol-κO)(4-methylpyridine N-oxide-κO)bis(thiocyanato-κN)cobalt(II)]

Reaction of Co(NCS)(2) with 4-methylpyridine N-oxide in methanol leads to the formation of crystals of the title compound, [Co-2(NCS)(4)(C6H7NO)(4)(CH4O)(2)] or Co-2(NCS)(4)(4-methylpyridine N-oxide)(4)(methanol)(2). The asymmetric unit consist of one CoII cation, two thiocyanate anions, two 4-methylpyridine N-oxide coligands and one methanol molecule in general positions. The H atoms of one of the methyl groups are disordered and were refined using a split model. The CoII cations octahedrally coordinate two terminal N-bonded thiocyanate anions, three 4-methylpyridine N-oxide coligands and one methanol molecule. Each two CoII cations are linked by pairs of.-1,1(O,O)-bridging 4-methylpyridine N-oxide coligands into dinuclear units that are located on centers of inversion. Powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) investigations prove that the title compound is contaminated with a small amount of Co(NCS)(2)(4-methylpyridine N-oxide)(3). Thermogravimetric investigations reveal that the methanol molecules are removed in the beginning, leading to a compound with the composition Co(NCS)(2)(4-methylpyridine N-oxide), which has been reported in the literature and which is of poor crystallinity.