PREPARATIONS, PHYSICAL-PROPERTIES AND REACTIVITIES OF THE LITHIUM POTASSIUM-SALTS OF TARTARIC ACID (ANHYDROUS AND HYDRATED)

Lithium potassium tartrate hydrates constitute a set of crystalline compounds that contain identical functional groups which are arranged differently in space and which result in different distributions of bonds that retain the water molecules of crystallisation. The preparations, physical properties and reactivities of the d, dl- and meso-salts are described together with results of measurements of TGA, IR spectra, XRD patterns and NMR spin-lattice relaxation times. From these observations, four different crystal structures were distinguished and four distinct hydrates recognized for which the dehydrations proceeded in appreciably different temperature intervals. The anhydrous residues also exhibit variations in structure. © 1990.