THE CRYSTAL-STRUCTURE OF TRIS(2,2'-BIPYRIDINE)RUTHENIUM(II) PERCHLORATE

[Ru(bpy)3] (ClO4)2 (bpy = 2,2'-bipyridine) crystallizes from aqueous solution in an anhydrous form as deep red tablets. A single-crystal X-ray study at 293(2) K has shown the material to be monoclinic, space group C 2/ c, a 17 - 633(4), b 10 - 761(2), c 15-924(4) angstrom, 6 90-77(2)-degrees, V 3021 (1) angstrom3, Z 4; R was 0.034 for 2405 'observed' [I > 3sigma(I)] reflections. The [Ru(bpy)3]2+ cation in the perchlorate salt shows very closely similar bond length [Ru-N, 2.056(3)-2.060(3) angstrom], angle and torsion characteristics to those of the known hexafluorophosphate salt, though the two salts are not isomorphous.