Experimental electron density in the triclinic phase of Co2(CO)6(μ-CO)(μ-C4O2H2) at 120 K
The experimental electron density (ED) of the triclinic phase of Co2(CO)6(μ-CO)(μ-C4O2H2), μ-carbonyl-μ-5-oxo-2,5-dihydrofuran-2-ylbis(tricarbonylcobalt), has been determined through X-ray diffraction at 120 K. The presence of a `closed shell' Co—Co bond in the title compound, found in an experimental ED study of its orthorhombic form, is confirmed by the Quantum Theory of Atoms in Molecules. However, the two phases show a significant Co—Co bond length difference [triclinic: 2.4402 (2) Å; orthorhombic: 2.4222 (3) Å]. The flat distribution of the experimental ED along the Co—Co bond path and on the two Co2C rings allows for variations of the Co—Co bond length which may be easily induced by the different packing arrangements of the two forms.