Synthetic, spectroscopic and structural studies on 4-aminobenzoate complexes of divalent alkaline earth metals: x-ray crystal structures of [[Mg(H2O)6] (4-aba)2].2H2O and [Ca(H2O)2(4-aba)2] (4-aba=4-aminobenzoate)

Reactions between MCl2.nH2O (M = Mg, Ca, Sr, and Ba) and 4-aminobenzoic acid (4-abaH) result in the formation of complexes [(Mg(H2O)6)(4-aba)2) .2H2O (I), [Ca(4-aba)2(H2O)2] (2), [Sr(4-aba)2 (H2O)2] (3), and [Ba(4-aba)2Cl] (4), respectively. The new compounds 1 and 2, as well as the previously reported 3 and 4 form an extended intra- and intermolecular hydrogen bonded network in the solid-state. The compounds have been characterized by elemental analysis, pH measurements, thermogravimetric studies, and IR, NMR, and UV-Vis spectroscopy. The solid state structures of the molecules 1 and 2 have been determined by single crystal x-ray diffraction studies. In the case of magnesium complex 1, the dipositively charged Mg cation is surrounded by six water molecules and the two 4-aminobenzoate ligands show no direct bonding to the metal ion. The calcium ion in 2 is octa-coordinated with direct coordination of the 4-aminobenzoate ligands to the metal ion. The Ca-Ca separation in the polymeric chain of 2 is 3.9047(5) A. (author)