Synthesis, structure and electrochemical properties of tris-picolinate complexes of rhodium and iridium

Reaction of picolinic acid (Hpic) with rhodium and iridium trichloride affords complexes of type [M(pic)3] · H2O (M = Rh, Ir). Structure determination shows that the water of crystallization is hydrogen bonded to the carboxylate fragments of two adjacent [M(pic)3] molecules and thus acts as a bridge between the individual complex molecules.