Crystal structure of the sodium salt of mesotrione: a triketone herbicide.

The crystal structure of the sodium salt of mesotrione, namely, -poly[[sodium-μ-2-[(4-methane-sulfonyl-2-nitro-phen-yl)carbon-yl]-3-oxo-cyclo-hex-1-en-1-olato] ethanol monosolvate], {[Na(CHNOS)]CHOH}, is described. The X-ray structural analysis results reveal that the coordination sphere is established by two chelating O atoms, the O atom of the coordinated ethanol mol-ecule, and an O atom from the methyl-sulfonyl group of a neighboring mol-ecule. Simultaneously, an O atom of the cyclo-hexane fragment serves as a bridge to a neighboring sodium ion, forming a flat Na-O-Na-O quadrangle, thereby forming a mono-periodic polymer. The structure displays O-H⋯O hydrogen bonds and C-H⋯O short contacts. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) data indicate that the sodium salt of mesotrione decomposes in four stages.