The crystal structure of dicobalt octacarbonyl

Abstract

The crystal structure of dicobalt octacarbonyl has been determined and refined by two cycles of three-dimensional, isotropic, least-squares calculations. The crystals are monoclinic, space group P21/m with a =6-62, b = 15.59, c= 11.31 /~ and fl =90 °0' +20'. There are two pairs of crystallographically independent molecules per unit cell. The measured density was 1.87 g.cm-a. The molecular structure of Co2(CO)8 is very nearly that of Fe2(CO)9 less one bridge carbonyl group. The consequent lack of trigonal molecular symmetry results in a crystal structure which is a slightly rearranged F%(CO)9 structure.