The crystal structure of Mg51Zn20

The crystal structure of Mg₅₁Zn₂₀, a phase designated conventionally as “Mg₇Zn₃,” has been determined by the single-crystal X-ray diffraction method. It was solved by the examination of a Patterson synthesis, and refined by the ordinary Fourier and least-squares method; the R value obtained was 4.8% for 1167 observed reflections. The crystal is orthorhombic, space group Immm, with a = 14.083(3), b = 14.486(3), c = 14.025(3) Å, and Z = 2. There are 18 independent atomic sites, Zn1Zn6, Mg1Mg10, A, and B, and the last two sites are statistically occupied by Zn and Mg atoms with the occupancies; 0.46(2)Zn7 + 0.52(2)Mg11 and 0.24(2)Zn8 + 0.74(2)Mg12, for A and B, respectively. The structure of the crystal is described as an arrangement of icosahedral coordination polyhedra, to which all the atomic sites but Zn3 site belong. In this arrangement the Zn atoms other than the Zn3 and Zn8(B) center the icosahedral coordination polyhedra with coordination number 12. The Zn3, Zn8 atoms, and all the Mg atoms except Mg11(A) are located at the centers of various coordination polyhedra with the coordination numbers from 11 to 15. The distances between neighboring atoms are 2.71–3.07, 2.82–3.65, and 2.60–3.20 Å for ZnZn, MgMg, and ZnMg, respectively.     

Cation distribution in LiMgVO4 and LiZnVO4: structural and spectroscopic study

The room temperature cation occupancy in LiMgVO(4) and LiZnVO(4) crystallographic sites is obtained by means of the combined use of X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD), (7)Li and (51)V magic angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance (MAS NMR), and micro-Raman measurements. In the LiMgVO(4) Cmcm orthorhombic structure, the 4c (C(2)(v) symmetry) tetrahedral vanadium site is fully ordered; on the contrary, the Li 4c tetrahedral site and the 4b (C(2)(h) symmetry) Mg octahedral site display about 22% of reciprocal cationic exchange. Higher cationic disorder is observed in LiZnVO(4): the three cations can distribute on the three tetrahedral and distinct sites of the R-3 structure. XRPD and MAS NMR analysis results highly agree for what concerns vanadium ion distribution on the three cationic sites (about 25, 26, and 47%). From the full profile fitting of XRPD patterns with the Rietveld method, it is also obtained that Li(+) displays a slightly preferred occupation of the T1 position (approximately 55%) and Zn(2+) of the T2 position (approximately 46%). The vibrational spectra of the two compounds are characterized by different peak positions and broadening of the Raman modes, reflecting the cation distribution and the local vibrational unit distortion. A comparison is also made with recent Raman results on Li(3)VO(4). High temperature XRPD measurements rule out possible structural transitions up to 673 K for both compounds.     

Lithium aryloxo magnesiates: an examination of ligand size and donor effects

The combination of equimolar amounts of LiOAr and Mg(OAr)2 (OAr=aryloxide) in polar media afforded several lithium aryloxomagnesiates. Factors influencing the structural chemistry of the compounds, such as the degree of ligand bulk, type of Lewis base donors, and crystallization solvent, are examined. Structural characterization reveals a discrete, solvent-separated species, [Li(thf)4][Mg(BHT)3].THF (1) (BHT=2,6-tBu2-4-MeC6H2O) and a family of molecular compounds with various Li/Mg stoichimetries, including a 1:1 Li/Mg ratio in [LiMg(Odpp)3(thf)2].0.5PhMe (2) (Odpp=2,6-Ph2C6H3O) and [Li(Et2O)Mg(Odpp)3].0.5PhMe (3), a 2:1 Li/Mg ratio as in [{Li(thf)2}2Mg(OMes)4].2THF (4) (OMes=2,4,6-Me3C6H2O) and [{Li(tmeda)}2Mg(m-Odtp)4].0.5Et2O (5) (m-Odtp=3,5-tBu2C6H3O), and a novel 2:3 Li/Mg ratio in [{Li(thf)2}2Mg3(m-Odtp)8(thf)2].3THF (6). Two new homometallic magnesium bis(aryloxides), Mg(Odpp)2(thf)2 (7) and Mg(Odpp)2(Et2O)2 (8), are also included for the sake of comparison. The solution behavior of the heterobimetallic compounds in arene and polar solvent is analyzed by 1H NMR spectroscopy.     

Topological relationships and building blocks in Zintl phases of the composition Ba(n+1)(Mg,Li)2nSi2(n+1)

The structures of two novel Zintl phases, Ba6Mg5.2Li2.8Si12 and BaMg0.1Li0.9Si2, are presented. Both compounds contain chains in cis-trans conformation. The silicon partial structure of Ba6Mg5.2Li2.8Si12 (C2/m; a = 1212.0(1), b = 459.78(4), c = 1129.10(9) pm; beta = 91.77(2) degrees; Z = 1) is built of unbranched, planar Si6 chains while BaMg0.1Li0.9Si2 (Pnma; a = 725.92(5), b = 461.36(3), c = 1169.08(8) pm; Z = 4) consists of infinite Si(n) chains. The compounds show all electronic and structural characteristics that are typical for the special subset of Zintl phases with highly charged planar anions. The structures of the new compounds, as well as that of Ba2Mg3Si4, can be derived from the common parent type BaMg2Si2. It is shown that a comprehensive picture of a chemical twinning based on BaMg2Si2 can be derived.     

Cluster-assembled compounds comprising an all-metal subunit Li3Al4-

The recent, experimentally-discovered, all-metal antiaromatic Li3Al4- has attracted great interest and extensive investigations due to its unique chemical bonds and exotic properties. Although a very recent theoretical study demonstrated that the all-metal species Li3Al4- can be effectively stabilized by complexation with 3d transition metals, unfortunately such stabilization is at the expense of losing antiaromaticity (rectangular Al4) to become aromatic (square Al4). Here, we predict theoretically a series of cluster-assembled compounds [DM(Li3Al4)]q- (D=Li3Al4-, Cp-; M=Li, Na, K, Be, Mg, Ca). The assembled species are ground states containing the all-metal antiaromatic Li3Al4- subunits. Many fusion isomers are energetically lower than the homo-decked cluster-assembled compounds, thus, the homo-decked assembly species [M(Li3Al4)2]q- are less likely due to their thermodynamic instability. In addition, the well-retained all-metal antiaromaticity is mainly ascribed to the ionic electrostatic interactions and the protections of rigid organic aromatic Cp-deck avoiding the fusion of Li3Al4-. Our results represent the first example that the all-metal antiaromaticity is well retained in assembled compounds as that in the free Li3Al4- cluster. Sufficiently large interaction energies make the realization of all-metal antiaromatic Li3Al4--incorporated compounds very promising.     

Theoretical study on the assembly and stabilization of a magic cluster Al4N-

We report the first attempt to assemble the magic cluster Al4N- on the basis of the density functional theory calculations on a series of pi-stacked dimers (Al4N-)2, sandwich-like compounds [D(Al4N)M]q- (where D = Al4N-, Cp-(C5H5-); M = Li, Na, K, Be, Mg, Ca) and extended compounds (Cp-)m(Li+)n(Al4N-)o (where m, n, and o are integers). For the six metals, the magic Al4N- can only be assembled and grow up in our newly proposed "hetero-decked sandwich" scheme (e.g., [CpM(Al4N)]q-) so as to avoid cluster fusion. The ground-state hetero-decked sandwich species (Cp-)(M)q+(Al4N)- (M = Li, Na, K, q = 1; M = Be, Mg, Ca, q = 2) and the extended sandwich species (Cp-)m(Li+)n(Al4N-)o are mainly ionically bonded, cluster-assembled "polyatomic molecules", grown from the combination of Cp-, M-atoms, and Al4N-. As a prototype for ionic bonding involving intact Al4N- subunits, [CpM(Al4N)]q- may be a stepping stone toward forming ionic, cluster-assembled AlN compounds.     

Pseudopotential calculations for methyl compounds of zinc and magnesium

Pseudopotentials and valence basis sets to be used in calculations for organometallic compounds of zinc and magnesium have been tested in calculations for the M(CH₃)_n (M = Zn, Mg; n = 1,2) molecules. Valence correlation effects are treated at the SDCI and CEPA levels. The capability of a polarization potential on zinc to account for the valence shell contracting effect of core valence correlation is studied. Properties considered are geometries, force constants, Mulliken populations, ionization potentials, atomization, and binding energies. Differences in bonding between the two dimethyl compounds are discussed.     

Heterodinuclear metal arrangement in a flat macrocycle with two chemically-equivalent metal chelating sites

A phenanthroline-based macrocycle 1 has been newly developed which has two chemically equivalent metal chelating sites within the spatially restricted cavity for dinuclear metal arrangement. The macrocycle 1 reacts with Zn(CF(3)CO(2))(2) or ZnCl(2) to form homodinuclear Zn(II)-complexes. A single-crystal X-ray structural analysis of the resulting Zn(2)1(CF(3)CO(2))(4) determined the complex structure in which two Zn(II) ions are bound by two phenanthroline sites and two CF(3)CO(2)(-) ions bind to each Zn(II) ion in a tetrahedral geometry. Similarly, a homodinuclear Cu(I)-macrocycle was formed from 1 and Cu(CH(3)CN)(4)BF(4). Notably, from 1 and an equimolar mixture of Cu(CH(3)CN)(4)BF(4) and Zn(CF(3)CO(2))(2), a heterodinuclear Cu(I)-Zn(II)-macrocycle was exclusively formed in high yield (>90%) because of the relatively low stability of the dinuclear Cu(I)-macrocycle. A heterodinuclear Ag(I)-Zn(II)-macrocycle was similarly formed with fairly high selectivity from a mixture of Ag(I) and Zn(II) ions. Such selective heterodinuclear metal arrangement was not observed with other combinations of M-Zn(II) (M = Li(I), Mg(II), Pd(II), Hg(II), La(III), and Tb(III)).     

Sandwich-like compounds based on the all-metal aromatic unit Al(4)2- and the main-group metals M (M=Li, Na, K, Be, Mg, Ca)

Inspired by the pioneering experimental characterisation of the all-metal aromatic unit Al(4)2- in the bimetallic molecules MAl4- (M=Li, Na, Cu) and by the very recent theoretical design of sandwich-type transition-metal complexes [Al4MAl4]q- (q=0-2; M=Ti, V, Cr, Zr, Nb, Mo, Hf, Ta, W), we used density functional theory (DFT) calculations (B3LYP/6-311+G(d) to design a series of novel non-transition-metal sandwich complexes based on the all-metal aromatic unit Al4(2-) and the main-group metals M (M=Li, Na, K, Be, Mg, Ca). The traditional homo-decked sandwich compounds [Al4MAl4]q- (without counterions) and (nM)q+[Al4MAl4]q- (with counterions M) (q=2-3, M=Li, Na, K, Be, Mg, Ca), although some of them are truly energy minima, have a much higher energy than many fused isomers. We thus concluded that it seems unlikely for Al4(2-) to sandwich the main-group metal atoms in the homo-decked sandwich form. Alternatively, we proposed a new type of sandwich complex, namely hetero-decked sandwich compounds [CpMAl4]q-, that are the ground-state structures for each M both with and without counterions. It was shown that with the rigid Cp- partner, the all-metal aromatic unit Al(4)2- might indeed act as a "superatom". These new types of all-metal aromatic unit-based sandwich complexes await future experimental verification.     

Atomic distributions in the gamma-brass structure of the Cu-Zn system: a structural and theoretical study

The crystal structures, atomic distributions, and theoretical electronic structures of five different Cu5-xZn8+x gamma-brass compounds (x = -0.59(3), -0.31(3), 0.00(3), 0.44(3), and 0.79(3)) are reported with the goal of identifying chemical influences on the observed phase width. These structures have been refined by both neutron and X-ray powder diffraction to obtain accurate crystal chemical parameters. All compounds crystallize in the space group Iz3m (No. 217) (Z = 4), and the unit cell parameters are a = 8.8565(4), 8.8612(5), 8.8664(3), 8.8745(4), and 8.8829(7) A, respectively, for Cu5.59Zn7.41, Cu5.31Zn7.69, Cu5.00Zn8.00, Cu4.56Zn8.44, and Cu4.21Zn8.79. The results indicate specific site substitutions on both sides of the ideal composition "Cu5Zn8". In all cases, the 26-atom cluster building up the -brass structure shows a constant inner [Cu4Zn4] tetrahedral star with compositional variation occurring at the outer octahedron and cuboctahedron. First principles and semiempirical electronic structure calculations using both a COHP and Mulliken population analysis were performed to understand the observed compositional range and to address the "coloring problem" for the site preferences of Cu and Zn atoms for this series of compounds.     

Synthesis, structure, and characterization of a cubic thallium cluster phase of the Bergman type, Na13(Cd-0.70Tl-0.30)27

Samples of Na(13)(Cd(1-x)Tl(x))(27) crystallize with a cubic Bergman-type Im3 structure (formerly called the R-phase) (Z = 4, a approximately 15.92 A) and exhibit a small phase width, 0.24 < x < 0.33. The crystal structure exhibits a Cd/Tl (=M) network of concentric empty M(12) and Cd(12) icosahedra and M(60) buckyball clusters, with the sodium cations in the annuli between clusters. The compound is unusually electron deficient with respect to electron counting rules applied to most Bergman phases with less electropositive cations, and because of the sodium component it is probably better described as an electron-poor Zintl phase. The new compound is metallic according to both EHTB band calculations for the anion and the measured resistivities and magnetic susceptibilities. Site preferences observed for Na, Cd, and Tl among the seven crystallographic sites are consistent with their relative Mulliken electron populations.     

New layered compounds with honeycomb ordering: Li3Ni2BiO6, Li3NiM'BiO6 (M' = Mg, Cu, Zn), and the delafossite Ag3Ni2BiO6

The new layered compound Li(3)Ni(2)BiO(6) has been prepared by a solid-state reaction. It crystallizes in the monoclinic C2/m space group; its lamellar structure is characterized by a honeycomb ordering between Ni(2+) and Bi(5+) within the slabs, while Li(+) ions occupy octahedral sites in the interslab space. Stacking defects weakly alter the XRD pattern. By substitution of half of the nickel ions, the new phases Li(3)NiM'BiO(6) (M' = Mg, Cu, Zn) isostructural with Li(3)Ni(2)BiO(6) have been synthesized under similar conditions. All these compounds demonstrate paramagnetic behavior at high temperature, and Li(3)Ni(2)BiO(6) exhibits an antiferromagnetic ordering at 5.5 K. By topotactic molten salt ionic exchange, the new delafossite compound Ag(3)Ni(2)BiO(6) has been also obtained and characterized.     

Crystal structure of novel compounds in the systems Zr-Cu-Al, Mo-Pd-Al and partial phase equilibria in the Mo-Pd-Al system

The crystal structures of three Al-rich compounds have been solved from X-ray single crystal diffractometry: τ(1)-MoPd(2-x)Al(8+x) (x = 0.067); τ(7)-Zr(Cu(1-x)Al(x))(12) (x = 0.514) and τ(9)-ZrCu(1-x)Al(4) (x = 0.144). τ(1)-MoPd(2-x)Al(8+x) adopts a unique structure type (space group Pbcm; lattice parameters a = 0.78153(2), b = 1.02643(3) and c = 0.86098(2) nm), which can be conceived as a superstructure of the Mo(Cu(x)Al(1-x))(6)Al(4) type. Whereas Mo-atoms occupy the 4d site, Pd(2) occupies the 4c site, Al and Pd(1) atoms randomly share the 4d position and the rest of the positions are fully occupied by Al. A B?rnighausen tree documents the crystallographic group-subgroup relation between the structure types of Mo(Cu(x)Al(1-x))(6)Al(4) and τ(1). τ(7)-Zr(Cu(1-x)Al(x))(12) (x = 0.514) has been confirmed to crystallize with the ThMn(12) type (space group I4/mmm; lattice parameters a = 0.85243(2) and c = 0.50862(3) nm). In total, 4 crystallographic sites were defined, out of which, Zr occupies site 2a, the 8f site is fully occupied by Cu, the 8i site is entirely occupied by Al, but the 8j site turned out to comprise a random mixture of Cu and Al atoms. The compound τ(9)-ZrCu(1-x)Al(4) (x = 0.144) crystallizes in a unique structure type (space group P4/nmm; lattice parameters a = 0.40275(3) and c = 1.17688(4) nm) which exhibits full atom order but a vacancy (14.4%) on the 2c site, shared with Cu atoms. τ(9)-ZrCu(1-x)Al(4) is a superstructure of Cu with an arrangement of three unit cells of Cu in the direction of the c-axis. A B?rnighausen tree documents this relationship. The ZrCu(1-x)Al(4) type (n = 3) is part of a series of structures which follow this building principle: Cu (n = 1), TiAl(3) (n = 2), τ(5)-TiNi(2-x)Al(5) (n = 4), HfGa(2) (n = 6) and Cu(3)Pd (n = 7). A partial isothermal section for the Al-rich part of the Mo-Pd-Al system at 860 °C has been established with two ternary compounds τ(1)-MoPd(2-x)Al(8+x) and τ(2) (unknown structure). The Vickers hardness (H(v)) for τ(1) was found to be 842 ± 40 MPa.     

Synthesis and structures of some bimetallic (Li/Ca, Li/Zn, Li/Li) diamides derived from 1,2-bis(neopentylamino)benzene and of Li2[{N(SiMe2NPr(i)2)}2C6H4-1,2](thf)3

The following crystalline, or microcrystalline (4), metal diamides have been prepared under mild conditions from the N,N'-disubstituted 1,2-diaminobenzene [{N(R)H}2C6H4-1,2] (H(2): R = CH2But; H2L': R = SiMe2NPri2): [Li(thf)(mu-L)(mu-I)Ca(thf)] (1), [Li(thf)4][{Zn(mu-L)}3(mu3-Cl)] (2), [Li(thf)4][Zn(L)2] (3), [{Li(OEt2)(mu-L)Zn}2(mu-L)] (4), [Li(OEt2)(mu-L)Zn(mu-L)Zn(LH)] (5) and [Li(thf)(mu-L')Li(thf)2] (6). Compounds 1-5 were obtained from [Li2(L)] and CaI2 (1) or ZnCl2 (2-5) while 6 was derived from H2(L') and LiBun. Compound 5 was isolated as a very minor by-product from the synthesis of 4, and is assumed to have been formed therefrom by adventitious hydrolysis. The green salt 3 was paramagnetic with the negative charge uniformly delocalised on the two ligands. The other compounds were colourless and diamagnetic. The X-ray structures of each, except 4, are reported and discussed.     

Versatile conversion of N-heterocyclic silylene to silyl metal compounds by insertion of divalent silicon into metal-carbon and metal-hydrogen bonds

The facile one-pot reaction of the stable N-heterocyclic silylene LSi: 1 (L=(ArN)C(=CH(2))CH=C(Me)(NAr), Ar=2,6-iPr(2)C(6)H(3)) with Me(2)Zn, Me(3)Al, H(3)Al-NMe(3), and MeLi has been investigated. The silicon(II) atom in 1 is capable of insertion into the corresponding M-C and Al-H bonds under very mild reaction conditions. Thus, Me(2)Zn furnishes the bis(silyl) zinc complex LSi(Me)ZnSi(Me)L 2 as the sole product, irrespective of the molar ratio of the starting materials applied. Moreover, the reactions of 1 with Me(3)Al, H(3)Al-NMe(3), and MeLi lead directly to the 1,1-addition products LSi(Me)(Al(thf)Me(2)) 3, LSi(H)(AlH(2)(NMe(3))) 4, and LSi(Me)Li(thf)(3) 5, respectively. All new compounds 2-5 were fully characterized by multinuclear NMR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, elemental analyses, and single-crystal X-ray diffraction analyses.     

Interactions of metal ions with monoaza crown ethers A15C5 and A18C6 carrying dansyl fluorophore as pendant in acetonitrile solution

The influence of metal cations Li(+), Na(+), K(+), Cs(+), Mg(2+), Ca(2+), Sr(2+), Ba(2+), Co(2+), Ni(2+), Cu(2+), Zn(2+), Pb(2+) and Al(3+) on the spectroscopic properties of the dansyl (1-dimethylaminonaphthalene-5-sulfonyl) group covalently linked to monoaza crown ethers 1-aza-15-crown-5 (1,4,7,10,-tetraoxa-13-azacyclopentadecane) (A15C5) and 1-aza-crown-6 (1,4,7,10,13-pentaoxa-16-azacyclooctadecane) (A18C6) was investigated by means of absorption and emission spectrophotometry. Interaction of the alkali metal ions with both fluoroionophores is weak, while alkaline earth metal ions interact strongly causing 50 and 85% quenching of dansyl fluorescence of N-(5-dimethylamine-1-naphthalenesulfonylo)-1,4,7,10,-tetraoxa-13-azacyclopentadecane (A15C5-Dns) and N-(5-dimethylamine-1-naphthalenesulfonylo)-1,4,7,10,13-pentaoxa-16-azacyclooctadecane (A18C6-Dns), respectively. The Cu(2+), Pb(2+) and Al(3+) cations interact very strongly with dansyl chromophore, causing a major change in absorption spectrum of the chromophore and forming non-fluorescent complexes. The Co(2+), Ni(2+), Zn(2+), Mg(2+) cations interact moderately with both fluoroionophores causing quenching of dansyl fluorescence by several percent only.     

The coordination chemistry of the C1-symmetric bis(silyl)methyl ligand [CH(SiMe3){SiMe(OMe)2}]- revisited: Li/M- (M = Zn, Tl, Ce), Li4- or Ce2-methoxy-bridged alkyls

The following crystalline oligonuclear metal alkyls have been synthesised under mild conditions and structurally characterised: [(THF)Li(mu-A)(mu-Cl)(mu3-OMe)Zn]2, [Li(mu-A)2Tl]2(4 and 4'), [Li4(mu-A)3(micro3-OMe)]5, [(mu-A)Li2(mu-A)2(mu3-OMe)Ce(A)](6) and [Ce(A)(mu2-OMe){mu2-OS(O)(CF3)O}]2(11)[= CH(SiMe3){SiMe(OMe)2}]. Compounds 2-6 were obtained from [Li(mu-A)]infinity(1) and ZnCl2(3), TlCl (4 and 4' and 5) and CeCl3(6), and 11 was isolated from K(A)(prepared from 1 + KOBu(t)) and cerium(III) triflate Ce(OTf)3. The principal novel features are (i) and (ii) as follows. As for (i), the diversity of ligand-to-metal bonding is noteworthy, the ligand being (a)C,O-bridging in 3{as in the known compounds 1 and in [Li2Mg5(mu3-OMe)6(mu2-OMe)2(mu2-A)4](2)}; (b)C,O,O'-bridging and O,O'-chelating in 4 and 4'; (c)C,O,O'-bridging in 5; (d)C,O,O'-bridging and C,O-chelating in 6; and (e)C,O-chelating in 11. Regarding (ii), it is interesting that the ligand [A]- is surprisingly ready to undergo fragmentation by Si-OMe cleavage and thereby present bridging methoxy ligands (mu2-OMe)2 to a pair of Ce3+ ions in 11, or mu3-OMe acting as a cap for triangular arrays of three hard metal ions (Mg3 in 2, LiZn2 in 3, Li3 in 5, and Li2Ce in 6).     

Poly(pyrazolyl)aluminate complexes containing aluminum-hydrogen bonds

The treatment of LiAlH(4) with 2, 3, or 4 equiv of the 3,5-disubstituted pyrazoles Ph(2)pzH or iPr(2)pzH afforded [Li(THF)(2)][AlH(2)(Ph(2)pz)(2)] (97%), [Li(THF)][AlH(Ph(2)pz)(3)] (96%), [Li(THF)(4)][Al(Ph(2)pz)(4)] (95%), and [Li(THF)][AlH(iPr(2)pz)(3)] (89%). The treatment of ZnCl(2) with [Li(THF)][AlH(Ph(2)pz)(3)] afforded Zn(AlH(Ph(2)Pz)(3))H (70%). X-ray crystal structures of these complexes demonstrated κ(2) or κ(3) coordination of the aluminum-based ligands to the Li or Zn ions. The treatment of [Li(THF)][AlH(Ph(2)pz)(3)] with MgBr(2) or CoCl(2) in THF/Et(2)O solutions, by contrast, afforded the pyrazolate transfer products Mg(2)Br(2)(Ph(2)pz)(2)(THF)(3)·2THF (25%) and Co(2)Cl(2)(Ph(2)pz)(2)(THF)(3)·THF (23%) as colorless and blue crystalline solids, respectively. An analogous treatment of [Li(THF)][AlH(Ph(2)pz)(3)] with MCl(2) (M = Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu) afforded metal powders and H(2), illustrating hydride transfer from Al to M as a competing reaction path.     

New tetragonal structure type for A2Ca10S(9 (A = Li, Mg). Electronic variability around a Zintl phase

The phases LiMgCa(10)Sb(9) (1), Mg(2)Ca(10)Sb(9) (2), and Li(1.38(2))Ca(10.62)Sb(9) (3) have been synthesized by high-temperature solid-state means and characterized by single-crystal means and property measurements. These occur in space group P4(2)/mnm, Z = 4, with a = 11.8658(5), 11.8438(6), 11.9053(7) Angstroms and c = 17.181(2), 17.297(2), 17.152(2) Angstroms, respectively. The two types of A atoms occupy characteristic sites in a Ca-Sb network that contains a 5:2 proportion of (formal) Sb(3-) and Sb(2)(4-) anions and can be described in terms of two slab types stacked along [001]. Bonding appears to be strong in these salts with generally normal distances and high coordination numbers except for the 4-bonded atoms in a C(2)(v) position for the second type of A that is occupied by Li, Mg or Ca(0.62(2))Li(0.38), respectively. The three compounds are, respectively, an ideal electron-precise Zintl phase, one e(-)-rich and 0.40(4) e(-)-short per formula unit. The LiMgCa(10)Sb(9) compound is correspondingly diamagnetic and presumably a semiconductor.     

Design of sandwichlike complexes based on the planar tetracoordinate carbon unit CAl4(2-)

Ever being a large curiosity, a series of simple "planar tetracoordinate carbon (ptC)" molecules have been recently characterized by experiments. Incorporation of such exotic ptC units into the assembled molecular materials, which will bridge the isolated clusters in molecular beams and the potential solid materials, is very challenging. In this paper, we described the first attempt on how to assemble the fewest-number ptC unit CAl42- into molecular materials in sandwich forms on the basis of the density functional theory calculations on a series of model compounds [D(CAl4)M]q- as well as the saturated compounds [D(CAl4)Mn] ((D = CAl42-, Cp-(C5H5-); M = Li, Na, K, Be, Mg, Ca). For M = Li, Be, Mg, and Ca, the ptC unit CAl42- can only be assembled in our newly proposed "heterodecked sandwich" scheme (e.g., [Cp(CAl4)M]q- (M = Li, Na, K, q = 2; M = Be, Mg, Ca, q = 1)) so as to avoid cluster fusion. For M = Na and K, the ptC unit CAl42- can be assembled in both the traditional "homodecked sandwich" [(CAl4)2M]q- (M = Li, Na, K, q = 3; M = Be, Mg, Ca, q = 2) and the novel heterodecked sandwich schemes. Moreover, the counterions were found to have an important role in determining the type of the ground structures for the homodecked sandwich. Various assembled species in extended frameworks were designed. Notably, among all the designed sandwich species, the ptC unit CAl42- generally prefers to interact with the partner deck at the side (Al-Al bond) or corner (Al atom) site. This has not been reported in the sandwich complexes on the basis of the known decks such as Cp-, P5-, N42-, and Al42-, for which only the traditional face-face interaction type was considered. Our results for the first time showed that the ptC unit CAl42- can act as a new type of "superatom". The present results are expected to enrich the flat carbon chemistry, superatom chemistry, metallocenes, and combinational chemistry.