Interaction of barium oxide and hydroxide with methanol:: X-ray single crystal study of Ba(OH)2 methanol solvates

Dissolution of BaO in 90-95% MeOH provides [Ba(OH)(2)(H2O)(2)](MeOH)(2) (1) as rectangular platelet crystals. Interaction of BaO or Ba(OH)2 with 98-100% methanol results in the formation of needle shaped crystals of [Ba(OH)2(MeOH)2](MeOH) (2). The structure of I is composed of planar layers of tetragonally distorted [Ba(OH)(4/2)(H2O)(4/2)] cubes altered by the layers of alcohol molecules oriented in the direction perpendicular to the metal hydroxide layers. The structure of 2 is formed by layers of distorted antiprisms of Ba(mu(3)-ROH)(mu-OH)(4)(mu-ROH)(2)(ROH)] and [Ba(mu(3)-ROH)(2)(p-ROH)(2)(mu-OH)(4)] composition. IR spectra of 1 and 2 are in good agreement with the observed structures. The structures of compounds 1 and 2 are compared with those of Ba(OH)(2) (.) nH(2)O (n = 1, 3). (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.