(C\(_{4}\)H\(_{12}\)N\(_{2}\))[CoCl\(_{4}\)] -tetrahedrally coordinated Co\(^{2+}\) without the orbital degeneracy

We report on the synthesis, crystal structure, and magnetic properties of a previously unreported Co\(^{2+}\) \(S={3 \over 2}\) compound, (C\(_{4}\)H\(_{12}\)N\(_{2}\))[CoCl\(_{4}\)], based upon a tetrahedral crystalline environment. The \(S={3 \over 2}\) magnetic ground state of Co\(^{2+}\), measured with magnetization, implies an absence of spin-orbit coupling and orbital degeneracy. This contrasts with compounds based upon an octrahedral and even known tetrahedral Co\(^{2+}\) based systems where a sizable spin-orbit coupling is measured. The compound is characterized with single crystal x-ray diffraction, magnetic susceptibility, infrared, and ultraviolet/visible spectroscopy. Magnetic susceptibility measurements find no magnetic ordering above 2 K. The results are also compared with the previously known monoclinic hydrated analogue.