Magnesium dicarboxylates: First structurally characterized oxydiacetate and thiodiacetate magnesium complexes

The reaction of aqueous solutions of magnesium dichloride with a 1:1 mixture of Na2CO3 and oxydiacetic acid or thiodiacetic acid affords [{Mg(oda)(H2O)2} · H2O]n (1) (oda=O(CH2COO)22-) and [Mg(tda)(H2O)3] · H2O (2) (tda=S(CH2COO)22-), respectively. Complex 1 is a one-dimensional polymer with a planar bridging oxydiacetate ligand, whereas 2 is a monomer containing a thiodiacetate ligand with a facial configuration.