Isostructural organic–inorganic hybrid compounds: triethylcholine tribromidocadmate and triethylcholine tribromidomercurate

In order to search for new anionic architectures and develop useful organic–inorganic hybrid materials in halometallate systems, two new crystalline organic–inorganic hybrid compounds have been prepared, i.e. catena ‐poly[triethyl(2‐hydroxyethyl)azanium [[bromidocadmate(II)]‐di‐μ‐bromido]], {(C 8 H 20 NO)[CdBr 3 ]} n , (1), and catena ‐poly[triethyl(2‐hydroxyethyl)azanium [[bromidomercurate(II)]‐di‐μ‐bromido]], {(C 8 H 20 NO)[HgBr 3 ]} n , (2), and the structures determined by X‐ray diffraction analysis. The compounds are isostructural, crystallizing in the space group P 2 1 / n . The metal centres are five‐coordinated by bromide anions, giving a slightly distorted trigonal–bipyramidal geometry. The crystal structures consist of one‐dimensional edge‐sharing chains of M Br 5 trigonal bipyramids, between which triethylcholine counter‐cations are intercalated. O—H...Br hydrogen‐bonding interactions are present between the cations and anions.