Synthesis, crystal structure and thermal properties of the dinuclear complex bis-(μ-4-methylpyridine -oxide-κ:)bis-[(methanol-κ)(4-methylpyridine -oxide-κ)bis-(thio-cyanato-κ)cobalt(II)].

Reaction of Co(NCS) with 4-methyl-pyridine -oxide in methanol leads to the formation of crystals of the title compound, [Co(NCS)(CHNO)(CHO)] or Co(NCS)(4-methyl-pyridine -oxide)(methanol). The asymmetric unit consist of one Co cation, two thio-cyanate anions, two 4-methyl-pyridine -oxide coligands and one methanol mol-ecule in general positions. The H atoms of one of the methyl groups are disordered and were refined using a split model. The Co cations octa-hedrally coordinate two terminal N-bonded thio-cyanate anions, three 4-methyl-pyridine -oxide coligands and one methanol mol-ecule. Each two Co cations are linked by pairs of μ-1,1(,)-bridging 4-methyl-pyridine -oxide coligands into dinuclear units that are located on centers of inversion. Powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) investigations prove that the title compound is contaminated with a small amount of Co(NCS)(4-meth-yl-pyridine -oxide). Thermogravimetric investigations reveal that the methanol mol-ecules are removed in the beginning, leading to a compound with the composition Co(NCS)(4-methyl-pyridine -oxide), which has been reported in the literature and which is of poor crystallinity.