Synthesis and crystal structure of (CH3NH3)(2)[Cu(NO3)(4)]: a rare example of a tetranitratocuprate(II) with a light cation of the type M-2[Cu(NO3)(4)]

The reaction of methylammonium nitrate and copper(H) nitrate pentahemihydrate in concentrated nitric acid yields the novel bis(monomethylammonium) tetranitratocuprate(II). By evaporation of the nitric acid at elevated temperatures single crystals suitable for crystal structure analysis by X-ray diffraction were obtained. The crystal structure shows a clear Jahn-Teller distortion in the octahedral nitratocuprate anion.