The reaction of zinc chloride with 1,2-ethanediylbis(iminomethylene)bis(phosphonic acid) in acidic conditions yielded dichloro[1,2-ethanediylbis(iminomethylene)bis(phosphonato)]trizinc dihydrate, Zn 3 Cl 2 (HO 3 PCH 2 NHCH 2 CH 2 NHCH 2 -PO 3 H) 2 ·2 H 2 O which crystallizes in the monoclinic system and space group P2 1 /n, with the unit cell parameters a = 9.94316(4), b = 10.44577(5), c = 24.3240(1) Å, β = 90.003(1)°, and Z = 4. The crystal structure was determined ab initio

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The cover picture shows the richness of 1,2-ethanediylbis-(iminomethylene)bis(phosphonic acid) (H 4 L) used as a ligand. The left compound is cadmium phosphonate, Cd 2 Cl 2 (H 2 O) 4 (H 2 L), in which the Cd atoms form dimers through bridging chloride ions. These dimers are, in turn, formed into rows by the phosphonate groups, and the rows are crosslinked by the organic chain of the ligand into layers. The second picture shows Zn 3 Cl 2 (H 2 L) 2 ⋅2H 2 O, in which Zn atoms are tetrahedrally coordinated. One of the Zn atoms lies in rows parallel to the b-axis, which are sandwiched between rows formed by the two other Zn atoms. The carbonϪnitrogen chains crisscross each other forming a three-dimensional structure. The structure of this latest compound is presented in the article by A. Clearfield et al. on p. 829 ff.