Homo‐ and Heterovalent Polynuclear Cerium and Cerium/Manganese Aggregates

Reactions of Ce^III(NO₃)₃?6 H₂O or (NH₄)₂[Ce^IV(NO₃)₆] with Mn‐containing starting materials result in seven novel polynuclear Ce or Ce/Mn complexes with pivalato (^tBuCO ) and, in most cases, auxiliary N,O‐ or N,O,O‐donor ligands. With nuclearities ranging from 6–14, the compounds present aesthetically pleasing structures. Complexes [Ce^IV₆(μ₃‐O)₄(μ₃‐OH)₄(μ‐O₂C^tBu)₁₂] ( 1 ), [Ce^IV₆Mn^III₄(μ₄‐O)₄(μ₃‐O)₄(O₂C^tBu)₁₂(ea)₄(OAc)₄]?4 H₂O?4 MeCN (ea^?=2‐aminoethanolato; 2 ), [Ce^IV₆Mn^III₈(μ₄‐O)₄(μ₃‐O)₈(pye)₄(O₂C^tBu)₁₈]₂[Ce^IV₆(μ₃‐O)₄(μ₃‐OH)₄(O₂C^tBu)₁₀(NO₃)₄] [Ce^III(NO₃)₅(H₂O)]?21 MeCN (pye^?=pyridine‐2‐ethanolato; 3 ), and [Ce^IV₆Ce^III₂Mn^III₂(μ₄‐O)₄(μ₃‐O)₄(^tbdea)₂(O₂C^tBu)₁₂(NO₃)₂(OAc)₂]?4 CH₂Cl₂ (^tbdea^2?=2,2′‐(tert‐butylimino]bis[ethanolato]; 4 ) all contain structures based on an octahedral {Ce^IV₆(μ₃‐O)₈} core, in which many of the O‐atoms are either protonated to give (μ₃‐OH)^? hydroxo ligands or coordinate to further metal centers (Mn^III or Ce^III) to give interstitial (μ₄‐O)^2? oxo bridges. The decanuclear complex [Ce^IV₈Ce^IIIMn^III(μ₄‐O)₃(μ₃‐O)₃(μ₃‐OH)₂(μ‐OH)(bdea)₄(O₂C^tBu)_9.5(NO₃)_3.5(OAc)₂]?1.5 MeCN (bdea^2?=2,2′‐(butylimino]bis[ethanolato]; 5 ) contains a rather compact Ce^IV₇ core with the Ce^III and Mn^III centers well‐separated from each other on the periphery. The aggregate in [Ce^IV₄Mn^IV₂(μ₃‐O)₄(bdea)₂(O₂C^tBu)₁₀(NO₃)₂]?4 MeCN ( 6 ) is based on a quasi‐planar {Mn^IV₂Ce^IV₄(μ₃‐O)₄} core made up of four edge‐sharing {Mn^IVCe^IV₂(μ₃‐O)} or {Ce^IV₃(μ₃‐O)} triangles. The structure of [Ce^IV₃Mn^IV₄Mn^III(μ₄‐O)₂(μ₃‐O)₇(O₂C^tBu)₁₂(NO₃)(furan)]?6 H₂O ( 7 ?6 H₂O) can be considered as {Mn^IV₂Ce^IV₂O₄} and distorted {Mn^IV₂Mn^IIICe^IVO₄} cubane units linked through a central (μ₄‐O) bridge. The Ce₆Mn₈ equals the highest nuclearity yet reported for a heterometallic Ce/Mn aggregate. In contrast to most of the previously reported heterometallic Ce/Mn systems, which contain only Ce^IV and either Mn^IV or Mn^III, some of the aggregates presented here show mixed valency, either Mn^IV/Mn^III (see 7 ) or Ce^IV/Ce^III (see 4 and 5 ). Interestingly, some of the compounds, including the heterovalent Ce^IV/Ce^III 4 , could be obtained from either Ce^III(NO₃)₃?6 H₂O or (NH₄)₂[Ce^IV(NO₃)₆] as starting material.     

Reduction of a Cerium(III) Siloxide Complex To Afford a Quadruple‐Decker Arene‐Bridged Cerium(II) Sandwich

Organometallic multi‐decker sandwich complexes containing f‐elements remain rare, despite their attractive magnetic and electronic properties. The reduction of the Ce^III siloxide complex, [KCeL₄] ( 1 ; L=OSi(OtBu)₃), with excess potassium in a THF/toluene mixture afforded a quadruple‐decker arene‐bridged complex, [K(2.2.2‐crypt)]₂[{(KL₃Ce)(μ‐η⁶:η⁶‐C₇H₈)}₂Ce] ( 3 ). The structure of 3 features a [Ce(C₇H₈)₂] sandwich capped by [KL₃Ce] moieties with a linear arrangement of the Ce ions. Structural parameters, UV/Vis/NIR data, and DFT studies indicate the presence of Ce^II ions involved in δ bonding between the Ce cations and toluene dianions. Complex 3 is a rare lanthanide multi‐decker complex and the first containing non‐classical divalent lanthanide ions. Moreover, oxidation of 1 by AgOTf (OTf=O₃SCF₃) yielded the Ce^IV complex, [CeL₄] ( 2 ), showing that siloxide ligands can stabilize Ce in three oxidation states.     

Cerium–quinone redox couples put under scrutiny

Homoleptic cerous complexes Ce[N(SiMe₃)₂]₃, [Ce{OSi(OtBu)₃}₃]₂ and [Ce{OSiⁱPr₃}₃]₂ were employed as thermally robust, weakly nucleophilic precursors to assess their reactivity towards 1,4-quinones in non-aqueous solution. The strongly oxidizing quinones 2,3-dichloro-5,6-dicyano-1,4-benzoquinone (DDQ) or tetrachloro-1,4-benzoquinone (Cl₄BQ) readily form hydroquinolato-bridged ceric complexes of the composition [(Ce^IVL₃)₂(μ₂-O₂C₆R₄)]. Less oxidising quinones like 2,5-di-tert-butyl-1,4-benzoquinone (tBu₂BQ) tend to engage in redox equilibria with the ceric hydroquinolato-bridged form being stable only in the solid state. Even less oxidising quinones such as tetramethyl-1,4-benzoquinone (Me₄BQ) afford cerous semiquinolates of the type [(Ce^IIIL₂(thf)₂)(μ₂-O₂C₆Me₄)]₂. All complexes were characterised by X-ray diffraction, ¹H, ¹³C{¹H} and ²⁹Si NMR spectroscopy, DRIFT spectroscopy, UV-Vis spectroscopy and CV measurements. The species putatively formed during the electrochemical reduction of [Ce^IV{N(SiMe₃)₂}₃]₂(μ₂-O₂C₆H₄) could be mimicked by chemical reduction with Co^IICp₂ yielding [(Ce^III{N(SiMe₃)₂}₃)₂(μ₂-O₂C₆H₄)][Co^IIICp₂]₂.

Para-quinones reveal distinct reactivity towards homoleptic cerous silylamide and siloxide complexes depending on both their oxidizing power and the supporting ligand L.     

Two Novel 1-D Organic–Inorganic Composite Phosphotungstates Constructed from [Ln(α-PW11O39)2]11− Units and [Cu(en)2]2+ Bridges (Ln = CeIII/ErIII)

Abstract  Two novel organic–inorganic composite phosphotungstates, [H₉{Ce(α-PW₁₁O₃₉)₂}Cu(en)₂] · 6H₂O (1) and H₇[Cu(en)₂{Er(α-PW₁₁O₃₉)₂}Cu(en)₂] · 12H₂O (2) (en = ethylenediamine) have been synthesized by the hydrothermal reaction of the trivacant Keggin polyoxoanion [α-A-PW₉O₃₄]⁹⁻ with Ce^III or Er^III ions in the presence of Cu²⁺ ions and en, and structurally characterized by IR spectra, elemental analysis and thermogravimetric analysis. X-ray crystallographic analyses indicate that they are all built by sandwich-type [Ln(α-PW₁₁O₃₉)₂]¹¹⁻ (Ln = Ce^III, Er^III) polyoxoanions and [Cu(en)₂]²⁺ cations generating infinite one-dimensional arrangements. To our knowledge, this 1-D chain structures constituted by mono-Ln sandwiched POM units and transition-metal complex cations are very rare. Graphical Abstract  Two novel organic–inorganic composite phosphotungstates, [H₉{Ce(α-PW₁₁O₃₉)₂}Cu(en)₂] · 6H₂O (1) and H₇[Cu(en)₂{Er(α-PW₁₁O₃₉)₂}Cu(en)₂] · 12H₂O (2) (en = ethylenediamine) have been synthesized by the hydrothermal reaction of the trivacant Keggin polyoxoanion [α-A-PW₉O₃₄]⁹⁻ with Ce^III or Er^III ions in the presence of Cu²⁺ ions and en, and structurally characterized by IR spectra, elemental analysis and thermogravimetric analysis. X-ray crystallographic analyses indicate that they are all built by sandwich-type [Ln(α-PW₁₁O₃₉)₂]¹¹⁻ (Ln = Ce^III, Er^III) polyoxoanions and [Cu(en)₂]²⁺ cations generating infinite one-dimensional arrangements. To our knowledge, this 1-D chain structures constituted by mono-Ln sandwiched POM units and transition-metal complex cations are very rare.      

Mixed-ligand complexes of osmium(III/IV)8-quinolinolates with one ketoximate ligand

Summary A group of mixed-tris chelates of type [OsAQ₂] [A = isonitrosoacetophenonate (A¹) and isonitroso-propiophenonate (A²); Q = deprotonated 8-quinolinol (Q¹) and 2-methyl-8-quinolinol (Q²)] have been prepared by two distinct synthetic approaches. [OsAQ₂]⁺, obtained by Ce^IV oxidation of [OsAQ₂], can be regenerated by hydrazine hydrate reduction of the former. The complexes, characterized by physico-chemical, magnetic and spectroscopic methods, exhibit several spin-allowed and spin-forbidden charge transfer transitions in their electronic spectra. In MeCN solution the OsN₃O₃ unit displays a nearly-reversible Os^IV-Os^III change and an Os^III-Os^II couple in the ca. -1.0– + 0.3V range versus s.c.e. The stability of the metal oxidation levels is discussed in terms of the chemical and electrochemical results.     

Synthesis,Structure, and Reactivity of a Tetranuclear Cerium(IV) Oxo Cluster Supported by the Kläui Tripodal Ligand [Co(η5‐C5H5){P(O)(OEt)2}3]−

A tetranuclear Ce^IV oxo cluster compound containing the Kläui tripodal ligand [Co(η⁵‐C₅H₅){P(O)(OEt)₂}₃]^? (L_OEt^?) has been synthesized and its reactions with H₂O₂, CO₂, NO, and Brønsted acids have been studied. The treatment of [Ce(L_OEt)(NO₃)₃] with Et₄NOH in acetonitrile afforded the tetranuclear Ce^IV oxo cluster [Ce₄(L_OEt)₄O₇H₂] ( 1 ) containing an adamantane‐like {Ce₄(μ₂‐O)₆} core with a μ₄‐oxo ligand at the center. The reaction of 1 with H₂O₂ resulted in the formation of the peroxo cluster [Ce₄(L_OEt)₄(μ₄‐O)(μ₂‐O₂)₄(μ₂‐OH)₂] ( 2 ). The treatment of 1 with CO₂ and NO led to isolation of [Ce(L_OEt)₂(CO₃)] and [Ce(L_OEt)(NO₃)₃], respectively. The protonation of 1 with HCl, ROH (R=2,4,6‐trichlorophenyl), and Ph₃SiOH yielded [Ce(L_OEt)Cl₃] ( 3 ), [Ce(L_OEt)(OR)₃] ( 4 ), and [Ce(L_OEt)(OSiPh₃)₃] ( 5 ), respectively. The chloride ligands in 3 are labile and can be abstracted by silver(I) salts. The treatment of 3 with AgOTs (OTs^?=tosylate) and Ag₂O afforded [Ce(L_OEt)(OTs)₃] ( 6 ) and 1 , respectively. The electrochemistry of the Ce‐L_OEt complexes has been studied by using cyclic voltammetry. The crystal structures of complexes 1 – 5 have been determined.     

Mechanistic study of iodide catalysed oxidation of l-glutamic acid by cerium(IV) in aqueous sulphuric acid medium

A minute quantity (10⁻⁶ mol dm⁻³) of iodide catalysed oxidation of l-glutamic acid by Ce^IV has been studied in H₂SO₄ and SO ₄ ²⁻ media. The reaction was first order each in [Ce^IV] and [I⁻]. The order with respect to [l-glutamic acid] was less than unity (0.71). Increase in [H₂SO₄] decreased the reaction rate. The added HSO ₄ ⁻ and SO ₄ ²⁻ decreased the rate of reaction. The added product, succinic acid, had no effect on the reaction rate, whereas added Ce^III retarded the reaction. The ionic strength and dielectric constant did not have any significant effect on the rate of reaction. The active species of oxidant was Ce(SO₄)₂. A suitable mechanism was proposed. The activation parameters were determined with respect to the slow step of the mechanism. The thermodynamic quantities were also determined and discussed.     

Effective and Reversible Carbon Dioxide Insertion into Cerium Pyrazolates

The homoleptic pyrazolate complexes [Ce^III₄(Me₂pz)₁₂] and [Ce^IV(Me₂pz)₄]₂ quantitatively insert CO₂ to give [Ce^III₄(Me₂pz?CO₂)₁₂] and [Ce^IV(Me₂pz?CO₂)₄], respectively (Me₂pz=3,5‐dimethylpyrazolato). This process is reversible for both complexes, as observed by in situ IR and NMR spectroscopy in solution and by TGA in the solid state. By adjusting the molar ratio, one molecule of CO₂ per [Ce^IV(Me₂pz)₄] complex could be inserted to give trimetallic [Ce₃(Me₂pz)₉(Me₂pz?CO₂)₃(thf)]. Both the cerous and ceric insertion products catalyze the formation of cyclic carbonates from epoxides and CO₂ under mild conditions. In the absence of epoxide, the ceric catalyst is prone to reduction by the co‐catalyst tetra‐n‐butylammonium bromide (TBAB).     

Drei Wege zur Oxydation von [Ta6Cl12]2+ ([Ta6Br12]2+ und [Nb6Cl12]2+)

Three Oxidation Paths of [Ta₆Cl₁₂]²⁺ ([Ta₆Br₁₂]²⁺ and [Nb₆Cl₁₂]²⁺) [Ta₆Cl₁₂]²⁺ is oxidized autocatalytically to [Ta₆Cl₁₂]⁴⁺ by HNO₃. The titration of [Ta₆Cl₁₂]²⁺ with KBrO₃ (in HBr-containing solutions) or with Ce⁴⁺ or K₂Cr₂O₇ (in HNO₃-containing solutions) leads to a clear [Ta₆Cl₁₂]³⁺ step. The further titration leads beside [Ta₆Cl₁₂]⁴⁺ to the formation of Ta₂O₅(· xH₂O). [Ta₆Cl₁₂]²⁺ behaves with KBrO₃(+ HBr) equally, but the formation of [Ta₂O₅](· xH₂O) is only small. [Nb₆Cl₁₂]²⁺ (22°C) titrated with Ce(ClO₄)₄ in 2n HClO₄ gives the first potential step nearby exact ([Nb₆Cl₁₂]³⁺) and at a very slow titration in a second step a precipitation of Nb₂O₅(· xH₂O) occurs, which adsorbed Ce⁴⁺ additionally. At ?15°C with Ce(ClO₄)₄ the first potential step was exactly at [Nb₆Cl₁₂]^2+→3+, while the second step needs a distinct additional consumption of titer. (Formation of [Nb₆Cl₁₂]⁴⁺ and beside it [Nb₂O₅](· xH₂O)). From the titration curves and sections of its normal progress in all cases we get the normal potentials 2+/3+ and 3+/4+ with an accuracy of ± 0.01 volt. In alkaline solution the complexes are oxidized with air-oxygen to [M₆X₁₂](OH)₆^2?, while the Br-containing complexes suffer hydrolysis afterwards.     

Einkristalle des Cer(III)‐Borosilicats Ce3[BSiO6][SiO4]

Single Crystals of the Cerium(III) Borosilicate Ce₃[BSiO₆][SiO₄] Colorless, lath‐shaped single crystals of Ce₃[BSiO₆]‐ [SiO₄] (orthorhombic, Pbca; a = 990.07(6), b = 720.36(4), c = 2329.2(2) pm, Z = 8) were obtained in attempts to synthesize fluoride borates with trivalent cerium in evacuated silica tubes by reaction of educt mixtures of elemental cerium, cerium dioxide, cerium trifluoride, and boron sesquioxide (Ce, CeO₂, CeF₃, B₂O₃; molar ratio 3 : 1 : 3 : 3) in fluxing CsCl (700 °C, 7 d) with the glass wall. The crystal structure contains eight‐ (Ce1) and ninefold coordinated Ce³⁺ cations (Ce2 and Ce3) surrounded by oxygen atoms. Charge balance is achieved by both discrete borosilicate ([BSiO₆]^5– ≡ [O₂BOSiO₃]^5–) and ortho‐silicate anions ([SiO₄]^4–). The former consists of a [BO₃] triangle linked to a [SiO₄] tetrahedron by a single vertex. The anions form layers in [001] direction alternatingly built up from [BSiO₆]^5– and [SiO₄]^4– groups while Ce³⁺ cations are located in between.     

Alloying a single and a double perovskite: a Cu+/2+ mixed-valence layered halide perovskite with strong optical absorption

Introducing heterovalent cations at the octahedral sites of halide perovskites can substantially change their optoelectronic properties. Yet, in most cases, only small amounts of such metals can be incorporated as impurities into the three-dimensional lattice. Here, we exploit the greater structural flexibility of the two-dimensional (2D) perovskite framework to place three distinct stoichiometric cations in the octahedral sites. The new layered perovskites A^I₄[Cu^II(Cu^IIn^III)_0.5Cl₈] (1, A = organic cation) may be derived from a Cu^I–In^III double perovskite by replacing half of the octahedral metal sites with Cu²⁺. Electron paramagnetic resonance and X-ray absorption spectroscopy confirm the presence of Cu²⁺ in 1. Crystallographic studies demonstrate that 1 represents an averaging of the Cu^I–In^III double perovskite and Cu^II single perovskite structures. However, whereas the highly insulating Cu^I–In^III and Cu^II perovskites are colorless and yellow, respectively, 1 is black, with substantially higher electronic conductivity than that of either endmember. We trace these emergent properties in 1 to intervalence charge transfer between the mixed-valence Cu centers. We further propose a tiling model to describe how the Cu⁺, Cu²⁺, and In³⁺ coordination spheres can pack most favorably into a 2D perovskite lattice, which explains the unusual 1 : 2 : 1 ratio of these cations found in 1. Magnetic susceptibility data of 1 further corroborate this packing model. The emergence of enhanced visible light absorption and electronic conductivity in 1 demonstrates the importance of devising strategies for increasing the compositional complexity of halide perovskites.

A novel 2D halide perovskite with stoichiometric quantities of Cu⁺, Cu²⁺, and In³⁺ in the inorganic slabs shows emergent properties not seen in Cu^II or Cu^I–In^III perovskites, including enhanced visible-light absorption and electronic conductivity.     

Local environments and dynamics of hydrogen atoms in protonated forms of ion-exchangeable layered perovskites estimated by solid-state H NMR

The local environments and dynamics of hydrogen atoms in five samples of protonated forms of ion-exchangeable layered perovskites, Dion-Jacobson-type H[LaNb₂O₇] and H[LaTa₂O₇], Ruddlesden-Popper-type H₂[SrTa₂O₇] and H₂[La₂Ti₃O₁₀], and H_1.8[(Sr_0.8Bi_0.2)Ta₂O₇] derived from an Aurivillius phase, Bi₂Sr₂Ta₂O₉, have been investigated by solid-state ¹H nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR). Solid-state ¹H NMR with a magic-angle spinning technique conducted at room temperature reveals that the mean electron densities around the ¹H nuclei in these protonated forms are relatively low, and that they decrease in the following order: H_1.8[(Sr_0.8Bi_0.2)Ta₂O₇]>H[LaNb₂O₇]>H₂[SrTa₂O₇]>H[LaTa₂O₇]>H₂[La₂Ti₃O₁₀]. The temperature-dependent solid-state ¹H broad-line NMR spectra measured at 140-400 K reveal a decrease in the signal width for all of these five samples upon heating due to motional narrowing. The NMR spectra of H[LaNb₂O₇] and H[LaTa₂O₇] are different from the other three protonated forms due to the weaker dipole-dipole interactions at low temperatures and lower mobility of the hydrogen atoms at high temperatures.     

Chemie der Seltenerdmetalle, 22. Mitt.*

Zusammenfassung Auf Grund der Löslichkeit des Ce(III)-Malonats in Perchlorsäurelösungen wurden die Dissoziationsgleichgewichte der gebildeten Komplexionen, d. h., von [CeMal ₂]^– und [CeMal]⁺ untersucht. Gleichzeitig wurden auch die Löslichkeitsprodukte des Ce(III)-Malonats, u. zw.: [Ce³⁺]² [Mal ^2–]^3**, [CeMal ⁺]² [Mal ^2–] und [CeMal ⁺] [CeMal _2–] bestimmt.

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Chemistry of the rare earth metals, XXII: Dissociation equilibria of Ce(III)-malonate in weakly acidic solution

The solubility of cerous malonate in perchloric acid solutions was investigated. The dissociation equilibria of the complex ions formed, i.e. [CeMal ₂]^– and [CeMal]⁺ were studied and the solubility products of the cerous malonates, i.e. [Ce³⁺]² [Mal ^2–]³, [CeMal ⁺]² [Mal ^2–] and [CeMal ⁺] [CeMal _2–] determined.

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21. Mitt.:R. Pastorek, Gleichgewichtskonstanten der Komplex-partikeln im sauren Bereich des SystemsLn ³⁺–H₄ Tart–KOH, Acta Univ. Palack., im Druck.     

Kinetics of reactions of N1-phenylbiguanidine with CeIV and [MnO4]− in aqueous sulphuric acid media

Summary In the title reaction each mole of N¹-phenylbiguanidine, R–HNC(=X)NHC(=NH)NH₂ (R=Ph, X=NH), consumes 4 moles of Ce^IV and produces guanylurea (R=H, X=O), 1,4-benzoquinone and ammonia. On the other hand, the reaction of N¹-phenylbiguanidine (pbg) with [MnO₄]^– proceeds with variable stoicheiometry which depends on reaction conditions. In the case of [MnO₄]^– no benzoquinone is detected among the reaction products; instead, carbon dioxide, guanylurea, and ammonia were identified. Pbg itself in acid solution slowly hydrolyses to aniline which rapidly reacts with Ce^IV and [MnO₄]^–. The kinetics for the reactions of pbg with the oxidants is consistent with the rate law –d[oxidant]/dt=k[pbg].The k values and the corresponding activation enthalpies and entropies for the reaction of bpg with Ce^IV, [MnO₄]^–, and Cr^VI lie within a narrow range. These results are interpreted in terms of rate-determining hydrolysis of pbg in all the three cases.     

Cerium(III) Complexes with Lacunary Polyoxotungstates. Synthesis and Structural Characterization of a Novel Heteropolyoxotungstate Based on α-[SbW9O33]9− Units

Several cerium(III) complexes with lacunary polyoxotungstates -B-XW₉O^9– ₃₃ (X=As^III, Sb^III) and W₅O^6– ₁₈, have been synthesized and characterized by single-crystal X-ray analysis, elemental analysis and IR spectroscopy. The X-ray analysis of Na₂₅[Ce(H₂O)₅As₄W₄₀O₁₄₀]63H₂O (1) reveals the framework of the well-known [As₄W₄₀O₁₄₀]^28– anion with a {Ce(H₂O)₅}³⁺ unit in the central site S1. The anion in (NH₄)₁₉[(SbW₉O₃₃)₄{WO₂(H₂O)}₂Ce₃(H₂O)₈(Sb₄O₄)]48H₂O (2) consists of a tetrahedral assembly of four -B-Sb^IIIW₉O^9– ₃₃ units connected by two additional six-coordinate tungsten atoms, three nine-coordinate monocapped square-antiprismatic cerium atoms and a Sb₄O₄ cluster. The Ce^III center in the [Ce(W₅O₁₈)₂]^9– anion in Na₉[Ce(W₅O₁₈)]NaCl30H₂O (3) displays the square-antiprismatic environment observed in all complexes of the type [Ln(W₅O₁₈)₂] ^n–.     

Synthetic routes to a family of Mn–Ce heterometallic clusters

Synthetic methods are described that have resulted in the preparation of several mixed-metal Mn–Ce clusters. The methods involve the reaction of Mn^II salts or preformed Mn clusters with Ce^IV reagents. The products may be divided into three general classes on the basis of the Mn and Ce oxidation states, Mn^IV–Ce^IV, Mn^III–Ce^IV, and Mn^III–Ce^III/IV. All Mn^IV–Ce^IV compounds were prepared by addition of Ce^IV to Mn^II salts, whereas all Mn^III–Ce^IV and Mn^III–Ce^III/IV clusters were prepared by addition of Ce^IV to Mn^III-containing clusters. All the mixed Mn–Ce clusters have aesthetically pleasing structures and some of them also have interesting magnetic properties.     

Crystal structures of lazulite-type oxidephosphates TiTi3O3(PO4)3 and M4Ti27O24(PO4)24 (M=Ti, Cr, Fe)

Single crystals of the oxidephosphates Ti^IIITi^IV₃O₃(PO₄)₃ (black), Cr^III₄Ti^IV₂₇O₂₄(PO₄)₂₄ (red-brown, transparent), and Fe^III₄Ti^IV₂₇O₂₄(PO₄)₂₄ (brown) with edge-lengths up to 0.3 mm were grown by chemical vapour transport. The crystal structures of these orthorhombic members (space group F2dd ) of the lazulite/lipscombite structure family were refined from single-crystal data [Ti^IIITi^IV₃O₃(PO₄)₃: Z=24, a=7.3261(9) Å, b=22.166(5) Å, c=39.239(8) Å, R₁=0.029, wR₂=0.084, 6055 independent reflections, 301 variables; Cr^III₄Ti^IV₂₇O₂₄(PO₄)₂₄: Z=1, a=7.419(3) Å, b=21.640(5) Å, c=13.057(4) Å, R₁=0.037, wR₂=0.097, 1524 independent reflections, 111 variables; Fe^III₄Ti^IV₂₇O₂₄(PO₄)₂₄: Z=1, a=7.4001(9) Å, b=21.7503(2) Å, c=12.775(3) Å, R₁=0.049, wR₂=0.140, 1240 independent reflections, 112 variables). For Ti^IIITi^IVO₃(PO₄)₃ a well-ordered structure built from dimers [Ti^III,IV₂O₉] and [Ti^IV,IV₂O₉] and phosphate tetrahedra is found. The metal sites in the crystal structures of Cr₄Ti₂₇O₂₄(PO₄)₂₄ and Fe₄Ti₂₇O₂₄(PO₄)₂₄, consisting of dimers [M^IIITi^IVO₉] and [Ti^IV,IV₂O₉], monomeric [Ti^IVO₆] octahedra, and phosphate tetrahedra, are heavily disordered. Site disorder, leading to partial occupancy of all octahedral voids of the parent lipscombite/lazulite structure, as well as splitting of the metal positions is observed. According to Guinier photographs Ti^III₄Ti^IV₂₇O₂₄(PO₄)₂₄ (a=7.418(2) Å, b=21.933(6) Å, c=12.948(7) Å) is isotypic to the oxidephosphates M^III₄Ti^IV₂₇O₂₄(PO₄)₂₄ (M^III: Cr, Fe). The UV/vis spectrum of Cr₄Ti₂₇O₂₄(PO₄)₂₄ reveals a rather small ligand-field splitting Δ_o=14,370 cm⁻¹ and a very low nephelauxetic ratio β=0.72 for the chromophores [Cr^IIIO₆] within the dimers [Cr^IIITi^IVO₉].     

Graphene related magnetic materials: micromechanical exfoliation of 2D layered magnets based on bimetallic anilate complexes with inserted [FeIII(acac2-trien)]+ and [FeIII(sal2-trien)]+ molecules

The syntheses, structures and magnetic properties of the coordination compounds of formula [Fe^III(acac₂-trien)][Mn^IICr^III(Cl₂ An)₃]·(CH₃CN)₂ (1), [Fe^III(acac₂-trien)][Mn^IICr^III(Br₂An)₃]·(CH₃CN)₂ (2) and [Ga^III(acac₂-trien)][Mn^IICr^III(Br₂An)₃]·(CH₃CN)₂ (3) are reported. They exhibit a 2D anionic network formed by Mn(ii) and Cr(iii) ions linked through anilate ligands, while the [Fe^III(acac₂-trien)]⁺ or [Ga^III(acac₂-trien)]⁺ charge-compensating cations are placed inside the hexagonal channels of the 2D network, instead of being inserted in the interlamellar spacing. Thus, these crystals are formed by hybrid layers assembled through van der Waals interactions. The magnetic properties indicate that these compounds behave as magnets exhibiting a long-range ferrimagnetic ordering at ca. 11 K, while the inserted Fe(iii) cations remain in the high-spin state. As for graphene, these layered materials can be exfoliated in atomically-thin layers with heights down to 2 nm by using the well-known Scotch tape method. Hence, this micromechanical procedure provides a suitable way to isolate ultrathin layers of this kind of graphene related magnetic materials. Interestingly, this method can also be successfully used to exfoliate the 2D anilate-based compound [Fe^III(sal₂-trien)][Mn^IICr^III(Cl₂An)₃]·solv (4), which exhibits the typical alternated cation/anion layered structure. This result shows that the micromechanical exfoliation method, which has been extensively used for exfoliating van der Waals layered solids, can also be useful for exfoliating layered coordination compounds, even when they are formed by ionic components.     

Kinetics and mechanism of oxidation of tellurium(IV) by cobalt(III) in perchloric acid

Summary The kinetics of oxidation of Te^IV by Co^III have been studied in aqueous HClO₄. A mechanism presuming [Co(OH₂)₅(OH)]²⁺ to be the reactive species has been proposed, which leads to the rate-equation shown. Rate=–d[Co^III]/dt=2kKK _h ² [Co^III] _t ² [Te^IV]/[H⁺]² K_b is the hydrolysis constant of Co^III, K is the formation constant of the complex between Co^III and Te^IV and k is the rate of decomposition of that complex. E_a and S are 95.0±2.1 kJ mol^–1 and 28.3±7.1 JK^–1 mol^–1, respectively.     

Mechanistic Study of Oxidation of Palladium(II) by Cerium(IV) in Aqueous Acid

The kinetics of oxidation of Pd^II by Ce^IV have been studied spectrophotometrically in HClO₄ media at 40 °C. The reaction is first order each in [Ce^IV] and [Pd^II] at constant [H⁺]. Increasing [H⁺] accelerates the reaction rate with fractional order in [H⁺]. The initially added products, palladium(IV) and cerium(III) do not have any significant effect on the reaction rate. At constant acidity, increasing the added chloride concentration enhances the rate of reaction. H₃Ce(SO₄)₄⁻ and PdCl₄²⁻ are the active species of oxidant and reductant respectively. The possible mechanisms are proposed and the reaction constants involved have been determined.