Structure of tetralithium 1,4,5,8-naphthalenetetracarboxylate dodecahydrate

4Li+.C14H4O8(4-).12H2O, M(r) = 544.18, triclinic, P1, a = 9.608 (2), b = 10.034 (2), c = 7.033 (1) A, alpha = 94.29 (1), beta = 96.95 (1), gamma = 64.52 (1) degree, V = 607.4 (2) A3, Z = 1, D chi = 1.49 g cm-3, lambda (Mo K alpha) = 0.71073 A, mu = 1.29 cm-1, T = 295 K, F(000) = 284, R = 0.039 for 2781 unique reflections having I greater than sigma I. The two inequivalent carboxyl groups adopt a non-planar arrangement with respect to the naphthalene core, making dihedral angles of 52.7 (1) and 54.6 (1) degree with it. The Li+ ions are tetrahedrally coordinated by carboxyl and water O atoms. The Li-O distances are in the range 1.906 (3)-2.041 (3) A, averaging 1.97 (4) A; O-Li-O angles are 101.5 (1)-123.9 (1) degree, averaging 109 (6) degrees. Each of the 12 inequivalent water H atoms is involved in hydrogen bonding. Of these bonds, 11 are typical two-centered hydrogen bonds with an average H...O (acceptor) distance of 1.92 (11) A and an average O-H...O (acceptor) angle of 172 (5) degrees. One water H atom is involved in a three-centered hydrogen bond with an average H...O (acceptor) distance of 2.61 (4) A and an average O-H...O (acceptor) angle of 120 (3) degrees. Adjacent organic anions are separated by the Li+ ions and their coordination polyhedra, with the water molecules occupying positions above and below the naphthalene rings and participating in a three-dimensional hydrogen-bonded network.