The Crystal Structure of Purpureo Salt, [Co(NH3)5Cl]Cl2

The crystal structure of [Co(NH3)5Cl]Cl2has been determined by the two-dimensional Fourier method. The orthorhombic unit cell has dimensions of a=13.34, b=10.33 and c=6.73 Å, and it contains four formula units.The space group is Pnma-D2h16.The shape and the size of a complex ion were found to be approximately similar to those of the crystal of the corresponding rhodium(III) compound.One NH3group is co-ordinated to the central cobalt atom in the trans position to the chlorine atom; the Co-N(1) distance is 1.91Å, rather shorter than the four other Co-N distances, 1.97Å.