Chiral Benzamidinate Ligands in Rare‐Earth‐Metal Coordination Chemistry

The treatment of the recently reported potassium salt (S)‐N,N′‐bis‐(1‐phenylethyl)benzamidinate ((S)‐KPEBA) and its racemic isomer (rac‐KPEBA) with anhydrous lanthanide trichlorides (Ln=Sm, Er, Yb, Lu) afforded mostly chiral complexes. The tris(amidinate) complex [{(S)‐PEBA}₃Sm], bis(amidinate) complexes [{Ln(PEBA)₂(μ‐Cl)}₂] (Ln=Sm, Er, Yb, Lu), and mono(amidinate) compounds [Ln(PEBA)(Cl)₂(thf)_n] (Ln=Sm, Yb, Lu) were isolated and structurally characterized. As a result of steric effects, the homoleptic 3:1 complexes of the smaller lanthanide atoms Yb and Lu were not accessible. Furthermore, chiral bis(amidinate)–amido complexes [{(S)‐PEBA}₂Ln{N(SiMe₃)₂}] (Ln=Y, Lu) were synthesized by an amine‐elimination reaction and salt metathesis. All of these chiral bis‐ and tris(amidinate) complexes had additional axial chirality and they all crystallized as diastereomerically pure compounds. By using rac‐PEBA as a ligand, an achiral meso arrangement of the ligands was observed. The catalytic activities and enantioselectivities of [{(S)‐PEBA}₂Ln{N(SiMe₃)₂}] (Ln=Y, Lu) were investigated in hydroamination/cyclization reactions. A clear dependence of the rate of reaction and enantioselectivity on the ionic radius was observed, which showed higher reaction rates but poorer enantioselectivities for the yttrium compound.     

Enhancing the Value of Free Metals in the Synthesis of Lanthanoid Formamidinates: Is a Co‐oxidant Needed?

Treatment of N,N′‐bis(aryl)formamidines (ArFormH), N,N′‐bis(2,6‐difluorophenyl)formamidine (DFFormH) or N,N′‐bis(2,6‐diisopropylphenyl)formamidine (DippFormH), with europium metal in CH₃CN is an efficient synthesis of the divalent complexes: [{Eu(DFForm)₂(CH₃CN)₂}₂] ( Eu1 ) or [Eu(DippForm)₂(CH₃CN)₄] ( Eu2 ). The synthetic method was extended to ytterbium, but the metal required activation by addition of Hg⁰. With DFFormH in CH₃CN, [{Yb(DFForm)₂(CH₃CN)}₂] ( Yb1 ) was obtained in good yield, and [Yb(DFForm)₂(thf)₃] ( Yb3 ) was obtained from a synthesis in CH₃CN/THF. Thus, this synthetic method completely circumvents the use of either salt metathesis, or redox transmetallation/protolysis (RTP) protocols to prepare divalent rare‐earth formamidinates. Heating Yb1 in PhMe/C₆D₆ resulted in decomposition to trivalent products, including one from a CH₃CN activation process. For a synthetic comparison, divalent ytterbium DFForm and DippForm complexes were synthesised by RTP reactions between Yb⁰, Hg(R)₂ (R=Ph, C₆F₅), and ArFormH in THF, leading to the isolation of either [Yb(DFForm)₂(thf)₃] ( Yb3 ), or the first five coordinate rare‐earth formamidinate complex [Yb(DippForm)₂(thf)] ( Yb4 b ), and, from adjustment of the stoichiometry, trivalent [Yb(DFForm)₃(thf)] ( Yb6 ). Oxidation of Yb3 with benzophenone (bp), or halogenating agents (TiCl₄(thf)₂, Ph₃CCl, C₂Cl₆) gave [Yb(DFForm)₃(bp)] or [Yb(DFForm)₂Cl(thf)₂], respectively. Furthermore, the structural chemistry of divalent ArForm complexes has been substantially broadened. Not only have the highest and lowest coordination numbers for divalent rare‐earth ArForm complexes been achieved in Eu2 and Yb4 b , respectively, but also dimeric Eu1 and Yb1 have highly unusual ArForm bridging coordination modes, either perpendicular μ‐1κ(N:N′):2κ(N:N′) in Eu1 , or the twisted μ‐1κ(N:N′):2κ(N′:F′) DFForm coordination in Yb1 , both unprecedented in divalent rare‐earth ArForm chemistry and in the wider divalent rare‐earth amidinate field.     

Atomic Layer Deposition of the Metal Pyrites FeS2, CoS2, and NiS2

Atomic layer deposition (ALD) of the pyrite‐type metal disulfides FeS₂, CoS₂, and NiS₂ is reported for the first time. The deposition processes use iron, cobalt, and nickel amidinate compounds as the corresponding metal precursors and the H₂S plasma as the sulfur source. All the processes are demonstrated to follow ideal self‐limiting ALD growth behavior to produce fairly pure, smooth, well‐crystallized, stoichiometric pyrite FeS₂, CoS₂, and NiS₂ films. By these processes, the FeS₂, CoS₂, and NiS₂ films can also be uniformly and conformally deposited into deep narrow trenches with aspect ratios as high as 10:1, which thereby highlights the broad and promising applicability of these ALD processes for conformal film coatings on complex high‐aspect‐ratio 3D architectures in general.     

Lanthanide(II) Complexes Supported by N,O‐Donor Tripodal Ligands: Synthesis,Structure, and Ligand‐Dependent Redox Behavior

The preparation and characterization of a series of complexes of the Yb and Eu cations in the oxidation state II and III with the tetradentate N,O‐donor tripodal ligands (tris(2‐pyridylmethyl)amine (TPA), BPA^? (HBPA=bis(2‐pyridylmethyl)(2‐hydroxybenzyl)amine), BPPA^? (HBPPA=bis(2‐pyridylmethyl)(3.5‐di‐tert‐butyl‐2‐hydroxybenzyl)amine), and MPA^2? (H₂MPA=(2‐pyridylmethyl)bis(3.5‐di‐tert‐butyl‐2‐hydroxybenzyl)amine) is reported. The X‐ray crystal structures of the heteroleptic Ln²⁺ complexes [Ln(TPA)I₂] (Ln=Eu, Yb) and [Yb(BPA)I(CH₃CN)]₂, of the Ln²⁺ homoleptic [Ln(TPA)₂]I₂ (Ln=Sm, Eu, Yb) and [Eu(BPA)₂] complexes, and of the Ln³⁺ [Eu(BPPA)₂]OTf and [Yb(MPA)₂K(dme)₂] (dme=dimethoxyethane) complexes have been determined. Cyclic voltammetry studies carried out on the bis‐ligand complexes of Eu³⁺ and Yb³⁺ show that the metal center reduction occurs at significantly lower potentials for the BPA^? ligand as compared with the TPA ligand. This suggests that the more electron‐rich character of the BPA^? ligand results in a higher reducing character of the lanthanide complexes of BPA^? compared with those of TPA. The important differences in the stability and reactivity of the investigated complexes are probably due to the observed difference in redox potential. Preliminary reactivity studies show that whereas the bis‐TPA complexes of Eu²⁺ and Yb²⁺ do not show any reactivity with heteroallenes, the [Eu(BPA)₂] complex reduces CS₂ to afford the first example of a lanthanide trithiocarbonate complex.     

Sol–Gel Approach to Sr<Subscript>2</Subscript>CeO<Subscript>4</Subscript> Phosphor from Single Alkoxide Precursors

Syntheses and characterizations of sol–gel precursors of Sr₂CeO₄ were carried out. Each molecular precursor, [Sr₂Ce(OCH₂CH₂OCH₃)₈] (1), [Sr₂Ce(OⁱPr)₈] (2) and [Sr₂Ce₂(OⁱPr)₁₂(ⁱPrOH)₄] (3) was prepared from mixtures of Sr complexes and cerium(IV) alkoxides. The molecular structure of 3 showed that [CeO₆] octahedra are connected with distorted [SrO₆] octahedra by sharing edges with oxo bridges. X-ray powder diffraction patterns and spectrofluorometry were used to determine the evolution of structure from the precursor molecules to the luminescent oxides. The luminescent strontium cerium oxides were derived at relatively mild reaction conditions (700 °C for 1 h), and complete conversion was observed at 1000 °C for 1 h from these precursors. Comparing the spectra of the oxides derived from 2 and 3, the emission intensity of the oxide derived from 2 is much stronger.     

Syntheses,structures and catalytic activities of low-coordinated rare-earth metal complexes containing 2,2′-pyridylpyrrolides

Reactions of the ligand precursors 2-(2′-pyridyl)-3,5-Me₂-pyrrole ( L ¹ H) and 2-(2-pyridyl)-3,4,5-Me₃-pyrrole ( L ² H) with [(Me₃Si)₂N]₃RE(μ-Cl)Li(THF)₃ in toluene afforded a series of low-coordinated rare-earth metal bis-amido complexes L ¹ RE[N(SiMe₃)₂]₂ [RE = Y ( 1a ), Dy ( 1b ), Er ( 1c ), Yb ( 1d )] and L ² RE[N(SiMe₃)₂]₂ [RE = Y ( 2a ), Dy ( 2b ), Er ( 2c ), Yb ( 2d )]. With the ionic radius of rare-earth metal increasing, the reaction of L ¹ H and [(Me₃Si)₂N]₃RE(μ-Cl)Li(THF)₃ gave dinuclear complexes ( L ¹ )₂RE(μ-Cl)(μ-η⁵:η¹:η¹- L ¹ )RE( L ¹ )[N(SiMe₃)₂]₂ [RE = Sm ( 1e ), Pr ( 1f )]; however, the reaction of L ² H and [(Me₃Si)₂N]₃Sm(μ-Cl)Li(THF)₃ afforded ( L ² )₂Sm[N(SiMe₃)₂]₂ ( 2e ). Results indicated that the ionic radius of rare-earth metal and subtle change in the ligands have substantial effects on the structure and bonding mode of complexes. The complexes showed a high catalytic activity for the ring-opening reaction of cyclohexene oxide with amines to afford various β-aminoalcohols under mild solvent-free conditions.     

Molecular Precursors for the Phase‐Change Material Germanium‐Antimony‐Telluride,Ge2Sb2Te5 (GST)

This review provides an overview of the precursor chemistry that has been developed around the phase‐change material germanium‐antimony‐telluride, Ge₂Sb₂Te₅ (GST). Thin films of GST can be deposited by employing either chemical vapor deposition (CVD) or atomic layer deposition (ALD) techniques. In both cases, the success of the layer deposition crucially depends on the proper choice of suitable molecular precursors. Previously reported processes mainly relied on simple alkoxides, alkyls, amides and halides of germanium, antimony, and tellurium. More sophisticated precursor design provided a number of promising new aziridinides and guanidinates.     

Synthesis and Structural Characterization of Alkali Metal Guanidinates

Reactions of 1,3-diisopropylcarbodiimide with alkali metal amides, MN（SiMe3）2 （M=Li or Na） in hexane or THF produced the alkali metal guanidinates { （i-PrN）2C [N（SiMe3）2]Li }2 （1） and { （i-PrN）2C[N（SiMe3）2]Na（THF） } 2 （2） in nearly quantitative yields. Both complexes 1 and 2 were well characterized by elemental analysis, IR spectra, ^1H and ^13C NMR spectra, and X-ray diffraction. It was found that the guanidinates adopt different coordination modes in these complexes.     

[Bis(tetrahydrofuran–O)–bis(1,3–dialkyl–2–diphenylphosphanyl–1,3–diazaallyl)calcium] – Synthesis and Crystal Structures of Calcium Bis[phospha(III)guanidinates] and Investigations of Catalytic Activity

The reaction of [(thf)₄Ca(PPh₂)₂] ( 1 ) with diisopropyl– and dicyclohexylcarbodiimides yields the phospha(III)guanidinates [(thf)₂Ca{RNC(PPh₂)NR}₂] with R = isopropyl ( 2 ) and cyclohexyl ( 3 ). The metathesis reaction of K{RNC(PPh₂)NR} with anhydrous CaI₂ also allows the synthesis of these phospha(III)guanidinate complexes 2 and 3 . For 2 a cis arrangement is observed whereas 3 crystallizes as trans isomer. The phospha(III)guanidinates act as bidentate chelate bases with an average Ca–N distance of 242.5 pm. The C–P bond length between the PPh₂ fragment and the 1,3–diazaallyl unit is with values above 190 pm very large. The complexes 2 and 3 show a moderate catalytic activity in hydrophosphanylation reactions of dialkylcarbodiimides with diphenylphosphane.     

Synthesis of Calcium(II) Amidinate Precursors for Atomic Layer Deposition through a Redox Reaction between Calcium and Amidines

We have prepared two new Ca^II amidinates, which comprise a new class of ALD precursors. The syntheses proceed by a direct reaction between Ca metal and the amidine ligands in the presence of ammonia. Bis(N,N′‐diisopropylformamidinato)calcium(II) ( 1 ) and bis(N,N′‐diisopropylacetamidinato)calcium(II) ( 2 ) adopt dimeric structures in solution and in the solid state. X‐ray crystallography revealed asymmetry in one of the bridging ligands to afford the structure [(η²‐L)Ca(μ‐η²:η²‐L)(μ‐η²:η¹‐L)Ca(η²‐L)]. These amidinate complexes showed unprecedentedly high volatility as compared to the widely employed and commercially available Ca^II precursor, [Ca₃(tmhd)₆]. In CaS ALD with 1 and H₂S, the ALD window was approximately two times wider and lower in temperature by about 150 °C than previously reported with [Ca₃(tmhd)₆] and H₂S. Complexes 1 and 2 , with their excellent volatility and thermal stability (up to at least 350 °C), are the first homoleptic Ca^II amidinates suitable for use as ALD precursors.     

Synthesis and Structure of the First Lanthanide Complex with the Bridging,Antiaromatic 2,2′-Bipyridine Dianion: [{Yb(μ2-N2C10H8)(thf)2}3]

The two-electron reduction of 2,2′-bipyridine with naphthaleneytterbium resulted in the formation of the ytterbium complex [{Yb(μ₂-bipy)(thf)₂}₃] (see picture) in which antiaromatic 2,2′-bipyridine dianions bridge the ytterbium atoms in a novel μ₂-η²:η⁴ fashion.     

Reactivity of ytterbium in liquid ammonia

A solution of metallic ytterbium in liquid ammonia reacts readily with various carbonyl complexes of metals to form the corresponding lanthanide carbonylmetallates. The reaction of an excess of Yb in liquid NH₃ with [CpFe(CO)₂]₂ gave (THF)₄Yb[Fe(CO)₂Cp]₂ in 42% yield. It was suggested that the resulting complex contains two equivalent Yb−Fe bonds. Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 10, pp. 1883–1885, October, 1997.     

Interaction of Hydrogen with Ceria: Hydroxylation,Reduction, and Hydride Formation on the Surface and in the Bulk

The study reports the first attempt to address the interplay between surface and bulk in hydride formation in ceria (CeO₂) by combining experiment, using surface sensitive and bulk sensitive spectroscopic techniques on the two sample systems, i.e., CeO₂(111) thin films and CeO₂ powders, and theoretical calculations of CeO₂(111) surfaces with oxygen vacancies (O_v) at the surface and in the bulk. We show that, on a stoichiometric CeO₂(111) surface, H₂ dissociates and forms surface hydroxyls (OH). On the pre-reduced CeO_2−x samples, both films and powders, hydroxyls and hydrides (Ce−H) are formed on the surface as well as in the bulk, accompanied by the Ce³⁺ ↔ Ce⁴⁺ redox reaction. As the O_v concentration increases, hydroxyl is destabilized and hydride becomes more stable. Surface hydroxyl is more stable than bulk hydroxyl, whereas bulk hydride is more stable than surface hydride. The surface hydride formation is the kinetically favorable process at relatively low temperatures, and the resulting surface hydride may diffuse into the bulk region and be stabilized therein. At higher temperatures, surface hydroxyls can react to produce water and create additional oxygen vacancies, increasing its concentration, which controls the H₂/CeO₂ interaction. The results demonstrate a large diversity of reaction pathways, which have to be taken into account for better understanding of reactivity of ceria-based catalysts in a hydrogen-rich atmosphere.     

The Hydrogarnets Sr3[RE(OH)6]2 (RE = Sc,Y, Ho – Lu): Syntheses,Crystal Structures,and their Thermal Decomposition to Ternary Rare-Earth Metal Oxides

Seven rare-earth metal hydrogarnets Sr₃[RE(OH)₆]₂ (RE = Sc, Y, Ho-Lu) were synthesized at about 200 °C starting from the respective RE₂O₃ and Sr(NO₃)₂ in a KOH hydroflux with a water-to-base ratio of 1.6. All seven hydrogarnets crystallize in the acentric variant (space group I4 3d) of the cubic garnet structure. The crystal structures of the hydrogarnets Sr₃[RE(OH)₆]₂, the differences between both structural variants including a simple method to distinguish between them, and the crystal-chemical classification with respect to other known strontium hydrogarnets are discussed. The rare-earth hydrogarnets can be used as carbon-free precursors for magnetic oxides. Starting at about 300 °C, the hydrogarnets decompose in a two- or three-step dehydration to SrRE₂O₄ and SrO. The decomposition of Sr₃[Sc(OH)₆]₂ follows a different mechanism and was studied by in-situ temperature-dependent powder X-ray diffraction up to 1000 °C. The final decomposition products were SrO and an unknown strontium scandium oxide, with an X-ray pattern similar to BaSc₂O₄. Magnetic measurements of the erbium and ytterbium hydrogarnets revealed paramagnetic behavior down to 1.8 K.     

Gallium-containing sulfide binary and ternary materials by atomic layer deposition: precursor reactivities and growth fine chemistries

Gallium sulfide (Ga_xS) and copper gallium sulfide (Cu_xGa_yS_z) were synthetized by atomic layer deposition (ALD), using copper acetylacetonate Cu(acac)₂, hexakis(dimethylamino)digallium [Ga(NMe₂)₃]₂ and hydrogen sulfide (H₂S). Thanks to the compatibility of the Cu_xS and Ga_xS ALD windows, a supercycle strategy that combines single growth cycles of the two binary compounds was used to generate the ternary material. A wide range of compositions and properties can be obtained from Ga-rich to Cu-rich via copper gallium sulfide thin films. Structural, morphological, and optoelectronic characterizations were performed on all films. Surface and in-depth chemical compositions were determined by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy profiling, allowing a better understanding of the chemical reactions involved during the growth process. In the case of Ga_xS films, other Ga precursors have been tested. Our experimental observations, combined with reported ones and density functional theory calculation results have highlighted the specific reactivity of alkylamido precursor in ALD chemistry. Compositional studies revealed a significant O content which origin is discussed and represents an important challenge to address in ALD of sulfide materials in general.     

配体氮上取代基对二齿双氨基脒钴(II)型ALD前驱体稳定性的影响

新型的二齿双氮基脒金属前驱体bis-amidinate在原子层气相沉积(ALD)中表现出了广阔的应用前景. 前驱体适用性取决于其是否具备适当的稳定性, 而bis-amidinate型前驱体的稳定性可由侧链取代基上β基团的迁移重排来表征. 利用密度泛函理论方法研究了配体氮原子上不同取代基对bis-amidinate型Co前驱体稳定性的影响. 结果表明, β-H的迁移较β-Me的迁移相对容易, 而β基团在不同取代基前驱体中的迁移能力次序为: 异丙基(β-H)＞2-丁基(β-H)＞叔丁基(β-CH₃)     

Synthesis,Structures and Reactivity of Lanthanoid(II) Formamidinates of Varying Steric Bulk

New reactive, divalent lanthanoid formamidinates [Yb(Form)₂(thf)₂] (Form=[RNCHNR]; R=o‐MeC₆H₄ (o‐TolForm; 1 ), 2,6‐Me₂C₆H₃ (XylForm; 2 ), 2,4,6‐Me₃C₆H₂ (MesForm; 3 ), 2,6‐Et₂C₆H₃ (EtForm; 4 ), o‐PhC₆H₄ (o‐PhPhForm; 5 ), 2,6‐iPr₂C₆H₃ (DippForm; 6 ), o‐HC₆F₄ (TFForm; 7 )) and [Eu(DippForm)₂(thf)₂] ( 8 ) have been prepared by redox transmetallation/protolysis reactions between an excess of a lanthanoid metal, Hg(C₆F₅)₂ and the corresponding formamidine (HForm). X‐ray crystal structures of 2 – 6 and 8 show them to be monomeric with six‐coordinate lanthanoid atoms, chelating N,N′‐Form ligands and cis‐thf donors. However, [Yb(TFForm)₂(thf)₂] ( 7 ) crystallizes from THF as [Yb(TFForm)₂(thf)₃] ( 7 a ), in which ytterbium is seven coordinate and the thf ligands are “pseudo‐meridional”. Representative complexes undergo C? X (X=F, Cl, Br) activation reactions with perfluorodecalin, hexachloroethane or 1,2‐dichloroethane, and 1‐bromo‐2,3,4,5‐tetrafluorobenzene, giving [Yb(EtForm)₂F]₂ ( 9) , [Yb(o‐PhPhForm)₂F]₂ ( 10) , [Yb(o‐PhPhForm)₂Cl(thf)₂] ( 11) , [Yb(DippForm)₂Cl(thf)] ( 12) and [Yb(DippForm)₂Br(thf)] ( 16) . X‐ray crystallography has shown 9 to be a six‐coordinate, fluoride‐bridged dimer, 12 and 16 to be six‐coordinate monomers with the halide and thf ligands cis to each other, and 11 to have a seven‐coordinate Yb atom with “pseudo‐meridional” unidentate ligands and thf donors cis to each other. The analogous terbium compound [Tb(DippForm)₂Cl(thf)₂] ( 13 ), prepared by metathesis, has a similar structure to 11 . C? Br activation also accompanies the redox transmetallation/protolysis reactions between La, Nd or Yb metals, Hg(2‐BrC₆F₄)₂, and HDippForm, yielding [Ln(DippForm)₂Br(thf)] complexes (Ln=La ( 14 ), Nd ( 15 ), Yb ( 16 )).     

New Homoleptic Rare‐Earth Metal Complexes Comprising the Unsymmetrically Substituted Amidinate Ligand [MeC(NEt)(NtBu)]–

New homoleptic complexes of selected rare‐earth elements containing the unsymmetrically substituted amidinate ligand [MeC(NEt)(NtBu)]^– [= (L)^–] were synthesized and fully characterized. Treatment of in situ‐prepared Li(L) ( 1 ) with anhydrous lanthanide(III) chlorides, LnCl₃ (Ln = Sc, La, Ce, Ho), afforded three different types of amidinate complexes depending on the ionic radius of the central metal atom. The large La³⁺ formed the octa‐coordinate DME solvate La(L)₃(DME) ( 2 ). Using Ce³⁺, the octa‐coordinate “ate” complex Li(THF)[Ce(L)₄] ( 3 ) was formed. Depending on the crystallization conditions, compound 3 could be crystallized in two modifications differing in the coordination environment around Li. In the case of the smaller Sc³⁺ and Ho³⁺ ions, six‐coordinate homoleptic Sc(L)₃ ( 4 ) and Ho(L)₃ ( 5 ) were isolated. The title compounds were fully characterized by spectroscopic and analytical methods as well as single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction. With Ln = La and Ce, several by‐products incorporating lithium, chlorine and/or oxygen were also isolated and structurally characterized.     

Syntheses and X‐Ray Structures of Zinc Amidinate Complexes

Reactions of ZnX₂ (X = Cl, Br) with equimolar amounts of Li[t‐BuC(NR)₂] (R = i‐Pr, Cy) yielded mono‐amidinate complexes [{t‐BuC(NR)₂}ZnX]₂ (X = Cl, R = i‐Pr 1 , Cy 2 ; X = Br, R = i‐Pr 3 , Cy 4 ), whereas reactions with two equivalents of Li‐amidinate resulted in the formation of the corresponding bis‐amidinate complexes [t‐BuC(NR)₂]₂Zn (R = i‐Pr 5 , Cy 6 ). 1 ‐ 6 were characterized by elemental analyses, IR, mass and multinuclear NMR spectroscopy (¹H, ¹³C), and single crystal X‐ray analysis ( 1 , 2 , 3 , 6 ). In addition, the single crystal X‐ray structure of [t‐BuC(NCy)₂]ZnBr·LiBr(OEt₂)₂ 7 , which was obtained as a byproduct in low yield from re‐crystallization experiments of 4 in Et₂O, is reported.     

Magnetic Investigations and 151Eu Mössbauer Spectroscopy of MYbSi4N7 with M = Sr,Ba, Eu

The isotypic nitridosilicates MYb[Si₄N₇] (M = Sr, Ba, Eu) were obtained by the reaction of the respective metals with Si(NH)₂ in a radiofrequency furnace below 1600 °C. On the basis of powder diffraction data of MYb[Si₄N₇] Rietveld refinements of the lattice constants were performed; these confirmed the previously published single‐crystal data. The compounds contain a condensed network of corner‐sharing [N(SiN₃)₄] units. The central nitrogen thus exhibits ammonium character. Magnetic susceptibility measurements of MYb[Si₄N₇] (M = Sr, Ba, Eu) show paramagnetic behavior with experimental magnetic moments of 3.03(2), (Sr), 2.73(2) (Ba), and 9.17(2) (Eu) μ_B per formula unit. In EuYbSi₄N₇ the europium and ytterbium atoms are in stable divalent and trivalent states, respectively. According to the non‐magnetic character of the alkaline earth cations, ytterbium has to be in an intermediate valence state Yb^III‐x in the strontium and barium compound. Consequently, either a partial exchange N^3—/O^2— resulting in compositions MYb^III‐x[Si₄N_7—xO_x] or an introduction of anion defects according to MYb^III‐x[Si₄N_7—x/3□_x/3] has to be assumed. The phase width 0 ≤ x ≤ 0.4 was estimated according to the magnetic measurements. ¹⁵¹Eu Mössbauer spectra of EuYb[Si₄N₇] at 78 K show a single signal at an isomer shift of δ = —12.83(3) mm s^—1 subject to quadrupole splitting of ΔE_Q = 5.7(8) mm s^—1, compatible with purely divalent europium.