M = Co,4; Ni,5; Zn,6) in an ethanol solution, where the layered structures shrink from 11.23 Å to 6.22 Å. This is attributed to the dehydration of interesting 2D water layers based on X-ray structural analysis. The quasi-interconversion was monitored by IR, NMR measurements and product isolations, which involved complicated hydrated-dehydrated reactions.