Synthesis and Structure of Di(1,2,4,6-tetraphenylpyridinium) Octachlorodirhenate(III)

The (NC 5 H 2 (C 6 H 5 ) 4 ) 2 [Re 2 Cl 8 ] · 2CH 3 CN compound was prepared by the reaction of ( n -Bu 4 N) 2 [Re 2 Cl 8 ] with the 1,2,4,6-tetraphenylpyridinium tosylate in the acetonitrile; it crystallizes upon cooling of the solution at –15°C. The structure consists of the ((C 6 H 5 ) 4 C 5 H 2 N) + cation and Re 2 Cl 8 2− anion with virtual D 4 h symmetry. The average Re–Re and Re–Cl bond distances are 2.2205 and 2.3431 Å, respectively. In the structure, the Re 2 Cl 8 2− anions are disordered, such that 71.34% of the Re–Re units are aligned in one direction while 28.66% are aligned orthogonal to it. The principal crystallographic data are as follows: sp. gr. R ̅3; a = 26.554(1) Å, c = 23.666(1) Å; V = 14451.6(1) Å 3 ; Z = 9; D x = 1.643 g cm –3 .