Crystal and molecular structure of Cu(II) succinate monohydrate or ''Never wash copper minerals with detergents''

Cu succinate was obtained by treating of naturally occuring azurite with detergent which presumedly contained succinic acid. The tetragonal structure of Cu(C4H4O4)H2O was established from X-ray single crystal diffraction, lambda (CuKalpha = 1.5418 Angstrom); space group P4(2)2(1)2; a = 8.853(4) Angstrom, c = 14.866(8) Angstrom, V = 1165.1 Angstrom(3); M = 197.63; D-x = 2.25 g/cm(3); Z = 8; mu = 5.049 mm(-1); F(000) = 792; R = 0.078 for 366 reflections. The new phase is characterized by a layered structure, which consists of Cu cations linked by chelating - bridging dicarboxylate anions. The structure is closely related to that of copper maleate hydrate.