Poly[[μ-(1-azaniumylethane-1,1-diyl)bis(hydrogen phosphonato)]sodium]: a powder X-ray diffraction study

The title two-dimensional coordination polymer, [Na(C₂H₈NO₆P₂)]n, was characterized using powder X-ray diffraction data and its structure refined using the Rietveld method. The asymmetric unit contains one Na⁺ cation and one (1-azaniumylethane-1,1-diyl)bis(hydrogen phosphonate) anion. The central Na⁺ cation exhibits distorted octahedral coordination geometry involving two deprotonated O atoms, two hydroxy O atoms and two double-bonded O atoms of the bisphosphonate anion. Pairs of sodium-centred octahedra share edges and the pairs are in turn connected to each other by the biphosphonate anion to form a two-dimensional network parallel to the (001) plane. The polymeric layers are connected by strong O-H∙∙∙O hydrogen bonding between the hydroxy group and one of the free O atoms of the bisphosphonate anion to generate a three-dimensional network. Further stabilization of the crystal structure is achived by N-H∙∙∙O and O-H∙∙∙O hydrogen bonding.