Synthesis, crystal structure and thermal properties of poly[bis[μ-3-(aminomethyl)pyridine-κ2N:N′]bis-(thiocyanato-κN)manganese(II)]

The reaction of Mn(NCS)(2) with a stoichiometric amount of 3-(aminomethyl)pyridine in ethanol led to the formation of the title compound, [Mn(NCS)(2)(C6H8N2)(2)](n), which is isotypic to its Zn, Co and Cd analogues. The manganese cation is located on a centre of inversion and is octahedrally coordinated in an all-trans configuration by two terminal N-bonded thiocyanate anions as well as four 3-(aminomethyl)pyridine co-ligands, of which two coordinate with the pyridine N atom and two with the amino N atom. The 3-(aminomethyl)pyridine co-ligands connect the Mn-II cations into layers extending parallel to (10(1) over bar). These layers are further connected into a threedimensional network by relatively strong intermolecular N-H center dot center dot center dot S hydrogen bonding. Comparison of the experimental X-ray powder diffraction pattern with the calculated pattern on the basis of single-crystal data proves the formation of a pure crystalline phase. IR measurements showed the CN stretching vibration of the thiocyanate anions at 2067 cm(-1), which is in agreement with the presence of terminally N-bonded anionic ligands. TG-DTA measurements revealed that the title compound decomposes at about 500 K.