THE STRUCTURES OF 2 HYDRATES OF SODIUM PHENOXIDE - C6H5ONA-CENTER-DOT-H2O AND C6H5ONA-CENTER-DOT-3H2O

In the monohydrate of sodium phenoxide sodium is coordinated by 4 oxygen atoms having an average distance Na-O of about 2.631 angstrom being arranged in form of a distorted tetrahedron. The oxygen atoms of water and phenoxid serve as bridging ligands. Hence, the structure can be considered as a network with a general formula 2infinity[Na[4]O2[2]]. Moreover, the oxygen atoms are linked via hydrogen bonding. In the trihydrate of sodium phenoxide sodium is surrounded with 5 oxygen atoms with an average distance of 2.39 angstrom forming a tetragonal pyramide. The oxygen of the phenoxide, however, does not participate in the coordination of the sodium ion. The coordination polyhedrons are connected by sharing edges and verteces. The resulting layer can be descibed by the general formula 2infinity[Na[5]2[2]O[2]O[1]]. Via hydrogen bonding the phenoxide ions are attached to this layer.