Coordination Chemistry of Polynitriles, Part X. [Li{C5(CN)5}(H2O)]: Synthesis, Molecular and Crystal Structure of the Last Missing Alkali Metal Pentacyanocyclopentadienide.

[Li{C5(CN)5}(H2O)] was prepared by salt metathesis between LiCl and [Ag{C5(CN)5}], followed by recrystallization from methanol. The compound crystallizes in the orthorhombic space group Pnma and forms a coordination polymer. Three cyano substituents in 1,2,3 position coordinate to three different lithium ions forming a ribbon structure with adjacent 14‐membered rings, while the remaining two cyano groups act as hydrogen bond acceptors towards two water hydrogen atoms of a neighboring ribbon. As a consequence, a wavy sheet structure results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]