Bis(2-chloro-,-di-methyl-ethan-1-aminium) tetra-chlorido-cobaltate(II) and tetra-chlorido-zincate(II).

The few examples of structures containing the 2-chloro-,-di-methyl-ethan-1-aminium or 3-chloro-,-di-methyl-propan-1-aminium cations show a compet-ition between and conformations for the chloro-alkyl chain. To explore further the conformational landscape of these cations, and their possible use as mol-ecular switches, the title salts, (CHClN)[CoCl] and (CHClN)[ZnCl], were prepared and structurally characterized. Details of both structures are in close agreement.