Copper–Zinc Oxide Catalysts. III. Structure of [Zn(NH3)3][Cu(CN)2]2

The structure of the new Cu-Zn bimetallic compound triamminezinc(II) bis[dicyanocuprate(I)] is built up from infinite -Cu-AA-Cu-AA- (where AA represents a disordered CN group) helical chains with 2(1) symmetry. Terminal cyano groups and -CN-Zn(NH3)(3) groups are bonded alternately to the Cu atoms of the chains. Both crystallographically independent Cu-I atoms are trigonally coordinated by three cyano groups. The Zn-II atom is tetrahedrally coordinated by three ammonia molecules and one nitrogen-bonded cyano group. The intra- and interchain CN ... HN hydrogen bonds contribute to the stabilization of the structure.