Thermostructural Behavior in a Series of Lanthanide-Containing Polyoxotungstate Hybrids with Copper(II) Complexes of the Tetraazamacrocycle Cyclam: A Single-Crystal-to-Single-Crystal Transformation Study.

A series of 14 isostructural [Cu(cyclam)]2[{Cu(cyclam)}4{(α-GeW11O39)Ln(H2O)(OAc)}2]·18H2O (1-Ln, where Ln = La-Lu; cyclam = 1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane) polyoxometalate-based hybrids reported herein represent (i) the first example of a two-dimensional covalent hybrid lattice involving the [{(α-XW11O39)Ln(H2O)(OAc)}2] n- archetype and (ii) the first structural characterization of such a dimeric polyoxotungste for Ln = La and Pr as well as for the combination of X = Ge and Ln = Ce, Nd, Sm, or Lu. Compounds 1-Ln have been characterized by elemental analyses, infrared spectroscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis, and their thermostructural behavior has been monitored by powder and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The title compounds undergo two single-crystal-to-single-crystal transformations triggered by thermal dehydration leading to the [{Cu(cyclam)}6{(α-GeW11O39)Ln(H2O)(OAc)}2]·4H2O intermediate (2-Ln, where Ln = Eu or Er) and [Cu(cyclam)]0.5[{Cu(cyclam)}5.5{(α-GeW11O39)Ln(OAc)}2] (3-Ln, where Ln = Ce or Eu) final anhydrous phases, the latter evidencing a coordinatively unsaturated derivative of the dimeric archetype for the first time. These transitions involve formation and disruption of Cu-OPOM bonds that result in different {Cu(cyclam)}2+ moieties grafting onto and being released from Keggin surfaces, which reduces the dimensionality of 1-Ln to one-dimensional covalent assemblies for 2-Ln and 3-Ln. While all 3-Ln phases rehydrate fully upon exposure to air for 24 h, the kinetics governing the crystal transitions back toward 1-Ln through 2-Ln depend on the nature of Ln. Under ambient moisture, the anhydrous structures fully revert back to the parent framework for Ln = La-Sm, while the samples containing Eu to Lu afford mixtures of 1-Ln and 2-Ln and require immersion in water for the structural reversion to reach completion. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction analyses of the rehydrated 1R-Ln samples (Ln = Ce, Eu, and Er) support these observations.

A Charge-Transfer Salt Based on Ferrocene/Ferrocenium Pairs and Keggin-Type Polyoxometalates.

A new hybrid inorganic-organometallic salt has been obtained from the reaction of the Keggin-type silicotungstate anion with ferrocene in a water/methanol mixture as a result of the partial oxidation of ferrocene molecules to ferrocenium cations. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis reveals the presence of four ferrocenium (FeIII) cations and one ferrocene (FeII) molecule per plenary Keggin anion in the crystal structure of [FeIII (Cp)2]4[SiW12O40]·[FeII(Cp)2]·2CH3OH (1). Compound 1 thus constitutes the first example in the literature in which ferrocenium and ferrocene species coexist in the structure of a polyoxometalate-based salt. The two crystallographically independent ferrocenium species in the asymmetric unit of 1 exhibit different configurations: One displays an eclipsed conformation with ideal D5h symmetry, whereas the conformation in the other one is staggered D5d. The crystal packing of 1 can be best described as an organometallic sub-lattice of ferrocenium and ferrocene species linked by a network of π-π interactions that generates rectangular cavities of about 14 × 10 Å in which strings of Keggin anions and methanol molecules are hosted, further connected to each other via weak OPOM···CMeOH-OMeOH···OPOM type hydrogen bonds. The charge-transfer nature of the salt has been studied by solid-state diffuse reflectance UV-Vis spectroscopy and the presence of magnetically isolated FeIII/FeII centres has been confirmed by Mössbauer spectroscopy. A topological study carried out on all of the pristine ferrocenyl species deposited in the Cambridge Structural Database (CSD) has allowed two main conclusions to be drawn: (1) these species tend to adopt extreme conformations (either eclipsed or staggered) with less than a 15% of examples showing intermediate states and (2) the oxidation state of the iron centres can be unequivocally assigned on the basis of a close inspection of the Fe···Cp distances, which allows ferrocene neutral molecules and ferrocenium cations to be easily distinguished.

Functionalization of Krebs-type polyoxometalates with N,O-chelating ligands: a systematic study.

The first organic derivatives of 3d-metal-disubstituted Krebs-type polyoxometalates have been synthesized under mild bench conditions via straightforward replacement of labile aqua ligands with N,O-chelating planar anions on either preformed or in situ-generated precursors. Nine hybrid clusters containing carboxylate derivatives of five- or six-membered aromatic N-heterocycles as antenna ligands have been obtained as pure crystalline phases and characterized by elemental and thermal analyses, infrared spectroscopy, and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. They all show the general formula [{M(II)L(H2O)}2(WO2)2(B-ß-XW9O33)2](n-) and can be classified as follows: 1-SbM, where L = 1H-imidazole-4-carboxylate (imc), X = Sb(III), n = 12, and M(II) = Mn, Co, Ni, Zn; 1-TeM, where L = imc, X = Te(IV), n = 10, and M(II) = Mn, Co; 2-SbNi, where L = 1H-pyrazole-3-carboxylate (pzc), X = Sb(III), n = 12, and M(II) = Ni; and 3-SbM, where L = pyrazine-2-carboxylate (pyzc), X =Sb(III), n = 12, and M(II) = Co, Zn. The 3d-metal-disubstituted tungstotellurate(IV) skeleton of compounds 1-TeM is unprecedented in polyoxometalate chemistry. The stability of these hybrid Krebs-type species in aqueous solution has been confirmed by (1)H NMR spectroscopy performed on the diamagnetic 1-SbZn and 3-SbZn derivatives. Our systematic study of the reactivity of disubtituted Krebs-type polyoxotungstates toward diazole-, pyridine-, and diazinecarboxylates demonstrates that organic derivatization is strongly dependent on the nature of the ligand, as follows: imc displays a "universal ligand" character, as functionalization takes place regardless of the external 3d metal and heteroatom; pzc and pyzc show selectivity toward specific 3d metals; pyridazine-3-carboxylate and pyrimidine-4-carboxylate promote partial decomposition of specific precursors, leading to [M(II)L2(H2O)2] complexes; and picolinate is inert under all conditions tested.

Copper(II) complexes of tetradentate pyridyl ligands supported on Keggin polyoxometalates: single-crystal to single-crystal transformations promoted by reversible dehydration processes.

Two new hybrid compounds constructed from Keggin type polyoxometalates and copper(II) complexes of tetradentate ligands containing amine and pyridyl groups, namely [Cu(bpmen)(H2O)][SiW12O40{Cu(bpmen)}] (1) and [SiW12O40{Cu(bpmpn)(H2O)}2]·3H2O (2) (bpmen, N,N'-dimethyl-N,N'-bis-(pyridin-2-ylmethyl)-1,2-diaminoethane; bpmpn, N,N'-dimethyl-N,N'-bis(pyridin-2-ylmethyl)-1,3-diaminopropane), have been synthesized under hydrothermal conditions and characterized by elemental analyses and infrared and Raman spectroscopy. Thermal stability of 1 and 2 has been studied by means of thermogravimetric analyses and variable temperature powder X-ray diffraction. Both compounds undergo single-crystal to single-crystal transformations promoted by reversible dehydration processes that have been followed by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Structures of 1 and 2, and also of their corresponding anhydrous phases 1a and 2a, have been established. The layered structure of 1 shows rows of monodecorated polyanions with complex cations occupying intralamellar spaces, whereas trans-didecorated species in 2 lead to stacked honeycomb-like metal-organic layers forming channels where Keggin clusters are accommodated. Structural differences relate to changes in the complex geometry and ligand conformation when going from bpmen to bpmpn. Dehydration of 1 promotes coordination of the complex countercation and consequent formation of a cis-didecorated species in 1a, whereas changes in the structure of 2a are more subtle. Structural variations upon dehydration are reflected in the electron paramagnetic resonance spectra.

Reversible First-Order Single Crystal to Single Crystal Thermal Phase Transition in [(CH3)3CNH3]4[V4O12].

The well-known compound tetrakis(tert-butylammonium)-cyclo-tetrametavanadate (V), [(CH3)3CNH3]4[V4O12] (1h_RT), which crystallizes in the tetragonal I4/m space group, undergoes an irreversible solid state transformation upon heating, constituting one of the few examples in which the initial and the final stages are structurally characterized by sc-XRD. Now, we observed the ability of the same compound to undergo an additional single-crystal-to-single-crystal (SCSC) transformation upon thermal stimuli, but this time at low temperatures (153 K). Compound 1h_RT contains a discrete unprotonated [V4O12]4- tetrahedral anion in which V and O bridging atoms are coplanar. In both phases, these tetrameric anions are linked through tert-butylammonium cations in an extensive network of hydrogen bonds, but at low temperatures, this phase loses its characteristic O-V-O coplanarity, with the resulting rearrangement of the crystal packing and hydrogen-bond network which provide its reversibility at low temperatures. Again, the initial and final stages have been characterized structurally by sc-XRD.

Tetra-kis(µ(2)-ferrocene-carboxyl-ato-κO:O')bis-[(methanol-κO)copper(II)] methanol disolvate.

The complex mol-ecule of the title compound, [Cu(2)Fe(4)(C(5)H(5))(4)(C(6)H(4)O(2))(4)(CH(3)OH)(2)]·2CH(3)OH, lies about an inversion centre and contains two centrosymetrically related Cu(II) atoms bridged by four O:O'-bidentante ferrocene-carboxyl-ate anions, leading to a dimeric tetra-bridged unit with a paddle-wheel geometry. The Cu(II) atom has a distorted square-pyramidal coordination environment with four O atoms from four ferrocene-carboxyl-ate ligands in basal positions and an O atom from a methanol mol-ecule in an apical position. One of the two crystallographically independent ferrocenyl groups has a staggered conformation, while the other is eclipsed. The mol-ecules are connected into a chain along the b axis by O-H⋯O hydrogen bonds involving coordinated and uncoordinated methanol mol-ecules and the O atom from a ferrocene-carboxyl-ate unit.

Aqua-(dicyanamido-κN)(nitrato-κO,O')(2,3,5,6-tetra-2-pyridylpyrazine-κN,N,N)manganese(II).

In the title compound, [Mn(C(2)N(3))(NO(3))(C(24)H(16)N(6))(H(2)O)], the central manganese(II) ion is hepta-coordinated to a tridentate 2,3,5,6-tetra-2-pyridylpyrazine ligand (tppz), a bidentate nitrate ligand, a terminal monodentate dicyanamide ligand (dca) and a water mol-ecule. The structure contains isolated neutral complexes, which are linked by O(water)-H⋯N hydrogen bonds generating chains along [010].

Tetrahydroxy-p-benzoquinone as a source of polydentate O-donor ligands. Synthesis, crystal structure, and magnetic properties of the [Cu(bpy)(dhmal)]2 dimer and the two-dimensional [{SiW12O40}{Cu2(bpy)2(H2O)(ox)}2].16H2O inorganic-metalorganic hybrid.

The use of tetrahydroxy-p-benzoquinone as a slow source of dihydroxymalonato and oxalato ligands led to the isolation under open-air mild reaction conditions of five different compounds, two of them prepared for the first time: [Cu(bpy)(dhmal)]2 (1) and [{SiW12O40}{Cu2(bpy)2(H2O)(ox)}2].16H2O (5) (bpy, 2,2'-bipyridine; dhmal, dihydroxymalonate; ox, oxalate). A possible mechanism for the oxidation of the benzoquinone to give the croconate dianion, which undergoes further ring-opening oxidation to decompose into dihydroxymalonate and oxalate, is proposed. All compounds have been characterized by elemental analysis, thermogravimetry, infrared spectroscopy, and powder X-ray diffraction. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction, electron paramagnetic resonance, and magnetic susceptibility measurements have been performed for compounds 1 and 5. A complete band assignment of the experimental FT-IR spectra is given through comparison with the ones calculated using density functional theory (DFT). The neutral dimer 1 constitutes the first structurally characterized example of a transition metal-dhmal complex, and it contains two copper atoms bridged by two dihydroxymalonato ligands acting in a mu2-kappa3O,O',O":kappa1O coordination fashion, so that an equatorial-axial Cu2(mu2-O)2 rhomboid core is formed. On the other hand, the inorganic-metalorganic hybrid compound 5 shows a two-dimensional arrangement of Keggin polyanions linked by one of the Cu atoms of the oxalate cationic dimers to give layers parallel to the (10) plane, the remaining ox-Cu-bpy fragments acting as interlamellar separators. In both cases, magnetic and EPR results are discussed with respect to the crystal structure of the compounds and, for compound 1, also with respect to DFT calculations of the exchange coupling constant.

Coexistence of five different copper(II)-phenanthroline species in the crystal packing of inorganic-metalorganic hybrids based on Keggin polyoxometalates and copper(II)-phenanthroline-oxalate complexes.

Reaction of in situ generated copper(II)-monosubstituted Keggin polyoxometalates and copper(II)-phenanthroline-oxalato complexes in ammonium or rubidium acetate buffers led to the formation of the hybrid inorganic-metalorganic compounds E4[Cu(phen)(H2O)4]2[Cu4(phen)4(H2O)4(ox)3]0.6[Cu2(phen)2(H2O)4(ox)]0.4[Cu(phen)(ox)]0.8[{SiW11O39Cu(H2O)}2{Cu2(phen)2(ox)}].20H2O [E: Rb (1), NH4 (2)]. The two compounds have been characterized by means of elemental analysis, thermogravimetry, infrared and electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopies, and magnetic susceptibility measurements, and their structures have been established by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Both compounds are isostructural, and they contain a discrete bimolecular hybrid polyanion and several types of copper-phenanthroline complexes of variable nuclearity. The main structural features of these compounds are the presence of the new hybrid POM [{SiW11O39Cu(H2O)}2{Cu2(phen)2(mu-ox)}]10-, where the dinuclear copper-oxalato complex is sandwiched by two copper-monosubstituted POMs, and the coexistence of five different copper-phenanthroline species with nuclearities ranging from one to four.

Analysis of weak interactions in the crystal packing of inorganic metalorganic hybrids based on Keggin polyoxometalates and dinuclear copper(II)-acetate complexes.

Reaction of in situ generated copper-monosubstituted Keggin polyoxometalate (POM) and copper-phenanthroline complexes in potassium or sodium acetate buffers led to the formation of the potassium salt of [[SiW(11)O(39)Cu(H(2)O)][Cu(2)(phen)(2)(H(2)O)(ac)(2)]](4-) (1) and [[Si(2)W(22)Cu(2)O(78)(H(2)O)][u(2)(phen)(2)(H(2)O)(ac)(2)](2)](8-) (2, where phen = phenanthroline and ac = acetate) hybrid polyanions, respectively. Both compounds are the first discrete mono- and bimolecular transition-metal-substituted Keggin POMs that support a binuclear copper-acetate complex. Despite the different nature of the POMs, the crystal packing of the two compounds is closely related, being formed of hybrid parallel layers that give rise to an alternate sequence of inorganic and metalorganic regions. This packing type seems to be determined by the extensive network of weak intermolecular interactions established by the dicopper complexes, as a Hirshfeld surface analysis shows. Electron paramagnetic resonance studies indicate that both the supported [Cu(2)(ac)(2)(phen)(2)(H(2)O)](2+) complexes and the copper(II)-monosubstituted POMs are magnetically isolated.

Hybrid inorganic-metalorganic compounds containing copper(II)-monosubstituted Keggin polyanions and polymeric copper(I) complexes.

Four hybrid inorganic-metalorganic compounds containing copper(II)-monosubstituted Keggin polyoxotungstates, K3[Cu(I)(4,4'-bpy)]3[SiW11Cu(II)O39].11H2O (1), (paraquat)3[SiW11Cu(II)O39].6H2O (2; paraquat = N,N'-dimethyl-4,4'-bipyridinium), K3[Cu(I)(4,4'-bpy)]3[GeW11Cu(II)O39].11H2O (3), and Na2[Cu(I)(4,4'-bpy)]3[PW11Cu(II)O39(H2O)].4H2O (4), have been synthesized under autogenous pressure hydrothermal conditions and characterized by elemental analysis and infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). The crystal structures of 1, 2, and 4 have been established by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The crystal packings are characterized by the presence of monodimensional extended entities: either the polymeric polyanion [SiW11CuO39]n(6n-) (2), the cationic [Cu(4,4'-bpy)]n(n+) chain (4), or both simultaneously as in compound 1, where the inorganic and metalorganic sublattices are mutually perpendicular. To asses the influence of packing in the copper(I) complex structural diversity found in compounds 1 and 4, a search in the CSD database has been performed and the resulting geometrical features have been analyzed and compared with experimental crystallographic data and DFT calculations.

Organic-inorganic hybrids based on novel bimolecular [Si2W22Cu2O78(H2O)]12- polyoxometalates and the polynuclear complex cations [Cu(ac)(phen)(H2O)]n n+ (n=2, 3).

The reaction of a monosubstituted Keggin polyoxometalate (POM) generated in situ with copper-phenanthroline complexes in excess ammonium or rubidium acetate led to the formation of the hybrid metal organic-inorganic compounds A7[Cu2(ac)2(phen)2(H2O)2][Cu3(ac)3(phen)3(H2O)3][Si2W22Cu2O78(H2O)].approximately 18 H2O (A=NH4+ (1), Rb+ (2); ac=acetate; phen=1,10-phenanthroline). These compounds are constructed from inorganic and metalorganic interpenetrated sublattices containing the novel bimolecular Keggin POM, [Si2W22Cu2O78(H2O)]12-, and Cu-ac-phen complexes, [Cu(ac)(phen)(H2O)]n n+ (n=2, 3). The packing of compound 1 can be viewed as a stacking of open-framework layers parallel to the xy plane built of hydrogen-bonded POMs, and zigzag columns of pi-stacked Cu-ac-phen complex cations running along the [111] direction. Magnetic and EPR results are discussed with respect to the crystal structure of the compounds. DFT calculations on [Cu(ac)(phen)(H2O)]n n+ cationic complexes have been performed, to check the influence of packing in the complex geometry and determine the magnetic exchange pathways.

Inorganic-metalorganic hybrids based on copper(II)-monosubstituted Keggin polyanions and dinuclear copper(II)-oxalate complexes. Synthesis, X-ray structural characterization, and magnetic properties.

Reaction of in situ generated copper(II)-monosubstituted Keggin polyoxometalates and copper(II)-bipyridine-oxalate complexes in the corresponding alkaline acetate buffer led to the formation of hybrid metal organic-inorganic compounds K(2)[{SiW(11)O(39)Cu(H(2)O)}{Cu(2)(bpy)(2)(H(2)O)(2)(mu-ox)}(2)].14H(2)O (1), K(14)[{SiW(11)O(39)Cu(H(2)O)}{Cu(2)(bpy)(2)(mu-ox)}](2)[SiW(11)O(39)Cu(H(2)O)].55H(2)O (2), (NH(4))(4)[{SiW(11)O(39)Cu(H(2)O)}{Cu(2)(bpy)(2)(mu-ox)}].10H(2)O (3), and Rb(4)[{SiW(11)O(39)Cu(H(2)O)}{Cu(2)(bpy)(2)(mu-ox)}].10H(2)O (4). Their structures have been established by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The main structural feature of these compounds is the presence of copper(II)-monosubstituted alpha-Keggin polyoxoanions as inorganic building blocks, on which the mu-oxalatodicopper metalorganic blocks are supported. Compound 1contains the discrete hybrid polyanion [{SiW(11)O(39)Cu(H(2)O)}{Cu(2)(bpy)(2)(H(2)O)(2)(mu-ox)}(2)](2)(-), whereas the polymeric hybrid polyanion [{SiW(11)O(39)Cu(H(2)O)}{Cu(2)(bpy)(2)(mu-ox)}(2)](n)(4)(n)(-) gives a monodimensional character to compounds 2-4. Magnetic and EPR results are discussed with respect to the crystal structure of the compounds. DFT calculations on both the [Cu(2)(bpy)(2)(H(2)O)(4)(mu-ox)](2+) cationic complex and the metalorganic blocks have been performed in order to determine the optimized geometry and the magnetic coupling constants, respectively.

A novel organic-inorganic hybrid based on a dinuclear copper complex supported on a keggin polyoxometalate.

The autoassembly process of copper-oxalate dimers and Keggin type polyoxometalates leads to the first example of a new family of organic-inorganic hybrids, K(14)[(Cu(2)(bpy)(2)(mu-ox))(SiW(11)O(39)Cu(H(2)O))](2)[SiW(11)O(39)Cu(H(2)O)]. approximately 55H(2)O. This compound crystallizes in the monoclinic space group C2/m, a = 37.932(6) A, b = 21.303(3) A, c = 12.546(2) A, beta = 106.16(1) degrees, Z = 2. The crystal structure reveals the presence of a polymeric hybrid built up of alternating dimer and polyoxometalate entities.

A novel hybrid inorganic-metalorganic compound based on a polymeric polyoxometalate and a copper complex: synthesis, crystal structure and topological studies.

Reaction of monosubstituted Keggin polyoxometalates (POMs) and [Cu(ac)(pmdien)]+ generated in situ led to the formation of the hybrid metal organic-inorganic compound K5[Cu(ac)(pmdien)][SiW11CuO39].12H2O; its crystal structure and magnetic properties have also been determined. The packing of this compound can be viewed as a stacking of hydrogen-bonded chiral double chains, with the cationic complexes located between the two-dimensional arrangement of POM double chains. DFT calculations performed on [Cu(ac)(pmdien)]+ suggest that the distortion presented in this cationic copper complex is due to electronic effects. An AIM stability study of the cationic copper complex, in order to determine the relationship between the bond angle Cu-O-C and the denticity of the acetate ligand, has been carried out. Topological analyses over the polyhedral distortion, both of the monosubstituted polyanion and copper complexes, have been performed by means of continuous shape measures (CSM).

(Mu-oxalato-O1,O2:O1',O2')bis[aqua(diethylenetriamine)nickel(II)] bis(hexafluorophosphate) dihydrate.

The title compound, [Ni(2)(C(2)O(4))(C(4)H(13)N(3))(2)(H(2)O)(2)](PF(6))(2).2H(2)O, contains a dinuclear oxalato-bridged nickel(II) complex cation. The structure determination reveals the presence of a centrosymmetric binuclear complex where the oxalate ligand is coordinated in a bis-bidentate mode to the Ni atoms. The distorted octahedral environment of each Ni atom is completed by the three N atoms of the diethylenetriamine ligand in a fac arrangement and by one O atom from a water molecule. PF(6)(-) acts as counter-anion. A two-dimensional network of hydrogen bonds links the cations and anions and stabilizes the structure.

Water displacement by cyanogold complexes in binuclear nickel(II) compounds based on bridging oxalate. Synthesis, structural diversity, magnetic properties, and DFT calculations.

Several cyanogold complexes react with the binuclear nickel complex [(Ni(dien)(H(2)O))(2)(mu-ox)](PF(6))(2).2H(2)O to give the compounds [(Ni(dien)(H(2)O))(2)(mu-ox)]Br(2) (1), [(Ni(dien)(Au(CN)(2)))(2)(mu-ox)] (2), and [(Ni(dien))(2)(mu-ox)(mu-Au(CN)(4))](PF(6)) (3) (dien, diethilenetriamine; ox, oxalate). In the case of compounds 2 and 3, water displacement by the corresponding cyanogold complex takes place, whereas compound 1 is formed by a substitution of the anion. The crystal structures of compounds 1 and 2 present a 2D arrangement where the layers are connected by van der Waals forces (1) or N-H.Ntbd1;C hydrogen bonds (2), where each binuclear complex is hydrogen bonded to its neighbors, whereas compound 3 presents a novel structure where the tetracyanoaurate acts as a bridging ligand to give a polymeric compound. Magnetic studies of these compounds reveal an antiferromagnetic behavior. Finally, density functional theory (DFT) calculations have been performed on isolated models of compounds 2 and 3 in order to gain some insight about the different behavior of the [Au(CN)(2)](-) and [Au(CN)(4)](-) groups as ligands and proton acceptors in hydrogen bonds.

Tetracyanometalates of Ni, Pd, and Pt with cyclic diquaternary cations of 2,2'-bipyridine and 1,10-phenanthroline. A vibrational, crystallographic, and theoretical study of intermolecular weak interactions.

The compounds (bpy-dq)[Ni(CN)(4)].2H(2)O (1), (bpy-dq)[Pd(CN)(4)].2H(2)O (2), and ((bpy-dq)[Pt(CN)(4)].2H(2)O (3) (bpy-dq = (C(12)H(12)N(2))(2+), 6,7-dihydrodipyrido[1,2-a:2',1'-c]pyrazinediium) and (phen-dq)[Ni(CN)(4)] (4), (phen-dq)[Pd(CN)(4)].H(2)O (5), and (phen-dq)[Pt(CN)(4)].H(2)O (6) (phen-dq = (C(14)H(12)N(2))(2+), 5,6-dihydropyrazino[1,2,3,4-lmn]-1,10-phenanthrolinediium) have been synthesized and characterized by X-ray diffraction. The three bipyridinium diquaternary salt derivatives are isostructural. The crystal structures of these dihydrated compounds consist of columns formed by alternating anion complexes and diquaternary cations, pi-pi interacting through cyanide ligands and the aromatic rings, and stabilized by an extended hydrogen-bond network. On the other hand, the packing in the phenanthrolinium diquaternary salt derivatives is strongly dependent on the hydration degree. Thus, the anhydrous [Ni(CN)(4)](2-) compound presents a laminar arrangement and the hydrated salts show a columnar packing, similar but not the same as compounds 1-3. The anhydrous form of compound 5 is isostructural with compound 4. Vibrational (IR, Raman) and thermogravimetric studies of these compounds have been carried out. Finally, DFT calculations have been performed on the isolated tetracyanometalate anions and diquaternary cations to assign the fundamental modes in the vibrational spectra. The intermolecular weak interactions were studied through the analysis of the charge density by using the theory of atoms in molecules (AIM).