Hydro/solvothermal synthesis, crystal structure, and thermal behaviour of piperazine-templated nickel(II) and cobalt(II) sulfates

Two piperazine-templated metal sulfate complexes, $(C_4N_2H_{12})[Ni(H_2O)_6](SO_4)_2$, I and ($C_4N_2H_{12}$) $[Co(H_2O)_6](SO_4)_2$, II, have been synthesized by hydro/solvothermal reactions and their crystal structures analyzed by single crystal X-ray diffraction methods. Complex I crystallizes in the monoclinic system, $P2_1/n$ space group, a=12.920(3), b=10.616(2), $c=13.303(2){\AA}$, ${\beta}=114.09(1)^{\circ}$, Z=4, $R_1=0.030$ for 3683 reflections; II: monoclinic $P2_1/n$, a=12.906(3), b=10.711(2), $c=13.303(2){\AA}$, ${\beta}=114.10(2)^{\circ}$, Z=4, $R_1=0.032$ for 4010 reflections. The crystal structures of the piperazine-templated metal(II) sulfates demonstrate zero-dimensional compound constituted by diprotonated piperazine cations, metal(II) cations and sulfate anions. The structures of complex I and II are substantially isostructural to that of the previously reported our piperazine-templated copper(II) sulfate complex $(C_4N_2H_{12})[Cu(H_2O)_6](SO_4)_2$. The central metal(II) atoms are coordinated by six water molecules in the octahedral geometry. The crystal structures are stabilized by three-dimensional networks of the $O_{water}-H{\cdots}O_{sulfate}$ and $N_{pip}-H{\cdots}O_{sulfate}$ hydrogen bonds between the water molecules and sulfate anions and protonated piperazine cations. Based on the results of thermal analysis, the thermal decomposition reactions of the complex I was analyzed to have three distinctive stages whereas the complex II proceed through several stages.