The relevancy of the [B2N4] substructure in the electronic structure of the metal-rich lanthanum nitridoborate La3(B2N4)

Lanthanoide nitridoborates of the general formula Ln₃(B₂N₄) with Ln=La, Ce, Pr, and Nd occur as black crystalline materials. Their structures contain oxalate-like [B₂N₄]⁸⁻ ions being stacked in an eclipsed formation along one crystallographic direction. Electronic structures were calculated for a molecular [B₂N₄]⁸⁻, for the [B₂N₄] partial structure, and for the complete La₃(B₂N₄) structure with the extended Hückel algorithm to analyze the bonding characteristics and to trace the necessity and properties of one surplus electron of (La³⁺)₃(B₂N₄⁸⁻)(e⁻). The HOMO of a [B₂N₄]⁸⁻ is B-B σ bonding, and the LUMO is B-B π bonding but B-N antibonding. The energy band of the solid state [B₂N₄] partial structure corresponding to the LUMO is broadened as a result of intermolecular B?B interactions between adjacent [B₂N₄] units along the stacking direction. Due to bonding interactions with La d orbitals, this band is significantly lowered in energy and occupied with one electron in the band structure of La₃(B₂N₄). This singly occupied band exhibits no band crossings but creates a semimetal-like band structure situation.     

Vibrational Spectra of the Cyclic SN-Compounds S4N4, S4N4H4 and S3N3Cl3

The IR and Raman spectra of solid and dissolved S₄N₄, S₄N₄H₄, S₄N₄D₄ and S₃N₃Cl₃ have been recorded and are assigned according to D_2d, C_4v and C_3v symmetry respectively. In the solid state, many forbidden bands and splittings of degenerate vibrations are observed because of the symmetry lowering in the crystals. Due to the different size and shape of the rings and to strong coupling of the normal modes there is no clear correlation between the SN ring stretching vibrations and the strength of the SN bonds, except for the one of the E modes. However, the stretching force constant show the trend expected from changes in interatomic distances.     

Syntheses, crystal structures and spectroscopic properties of Ag2Nb[P2S6][S2] and KAg2[PS4]

Ag₂Nb[P₂S₆][S₂] (1) was obtained from the direct solid state reaction of Ag, Nb, P₂S₅ and S at 500 °C. KAg₂[PS₄] (2) was prepared from the reaction of K₂S₃, Ag, Nd, P₂S₅ and extra S powder at 700 °C. Compound 1 crystallizes in the orthorhombic space group Pnma with a=12.2188(11), b=26.3725(16), c=6.7517(4) Å, V=2175.7(3) Å³, Z=8. Compound 2 crystallizes in the non-centrosymmetric tetragonal space group with lattice parameters a=6.6471(7), c=8.1693(11) Å, V=360.95(7) Å³, Z=2. The structure of Ag₂Nb[P₂S₆][S₂] (1) consists of [Nb₂S₁₂], [P₂S₆] and new found puckered [Ag₂S₄] chains which are along [001] direction. The Nb atoms are located at the center of distorted bicapped trigonal prisms. Two prisms share square face of two [S₂²⁻] to form one [Nb₂S₁₂] unit, in which Nb-Nb bond is formed. The [Nb₂S₁₂] units share all S²⁻ corners with ethane-like [P₂S₆] units to form 14-membered rings. The novel puckered [Ag₂S₄] chains are composed of distorted [AgS₄] tetrahedra and [AgS₃] triangles that share corners with each other. These chains are connected with [P₂S₆] units and [Nb₂S₁₂] units to form three-dimensional frame work. The structural skeleton of 2 is built up from [AgS₄] and [PS₄] tetrahedra linked by corner-sharing. The three-dimensional anionic framework contains orthogonal, intersecting tunnels directed along [100] and [010]. This compound possesses a compressed chalcopyrite-like structure. The structure is compressed along [001] and results from eight coordination sphere for K⁺. Both compounds are characterized with UV/vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy and compound 1 with IR and Raman spectra.     

Solvothermal synthesis and characterisation of new one-dimensional indium and gallium sulphides: [C10N4H26]0.5[InS2] and [C10N4H26]0.5[GaS2]

Two new main group metal sulphides, [C₁₀N₄H₂₆]_0.5[InS₂] (1) and [C₁₀N₄H₂₆]_0.5[GaS₂] (2) have been prepared solvothermally in the presence of 1,4-bis(3-aminopropyl)piperazine and their crystal structures determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Both compounds are isostructural and crystallise in the monoclinic space group P2₁/n (Z=4), with a=6.5628(5), b=11.2008(9), c=12.6611(9) Å and β=94.410(4)° (wR=0.035) for compound (1) and a=6.1094(5), b=11.2469(9), c=12.7064(10) Å and β=94.313(4)° (wR=0.021) for compound (2). The structure of [C₁₀N₄H₂₆]_0.5[MS₂] (M=In,Ga) consists of one-dimensional [MS₂]⁻ chains which run parallel to the crystallographic a axis and are separated by diprotonated amine molecules. These materials represent the first example of solvothermally prepared one-dimensional gallium and indium sulphides.     

[P3N3F5NS(O)Cl] and [{P4N4F6(NS(Cl)N)}2], the first chloro imino- and chloro bis(imino) sulfinates

In CH₃CN solution at −30 °C, [TAS]⁺[P₃N₃F₅NS(O)F]⁻ (2) is formed from TASF and P₃N₃F₅NSO, the compound readily decomposes to give P₃N₃F₆ and [TAS]⁺[NSO]⁻. [TAS]⁺[P₃N₃F₅NS(O)Cl]⁻ (3) and [TAS⁺]₂ [{P₄N₄F₆(NS(Cl)N)}₂]²⁻ (5) were prepared from TASCl and P₃N₃F₅NSO and 1,5-P₄N₄F₆(NSO)₂, respectively, and characterised by X-ray crystallography.     

The new silver(I)thioantimonate(III) [C4N2H14][Ag3Sb3S7] and a new structural variant of the silver(I)thioantimonate(III) [C2N2H9]2[Ag5Sb3S8] both synthesized under solvothermal conditions

The novel silver(I)thioantimonates(III) [C₄N₂H₁₄][Ag₃Sb₃S₇] (I) (C₄N₂H₁₂=1,4-diaminobutane) and [C₂N₂H₉]₂[Ag₅Sb₃S₈] (II) (C₂N₂H₈=ethylenediamine) were synthesized under solvothermal conditions using AgNO₃, Sb, S and the amines as structure directing molecules. Both compounds crystallize as orange needles with lattice parameters a=6.669(1) Å, b=30.440(3) Å, c=9.154(1) Å for I (space group Pnma), and a=6.2712(4) Å, b=15.901(1) Å, c=23.012(2) Å, β=95.37(1)° for II (space group P2₁/n). In both compounds the primary building units are trigonal SbS₃ pyramids, AgS₃ triangles and AgS₄ tetrahedra. In I the layered [Ag₃Sb₃S₇]²⁻ anion is constructed by two different chains. An [Sb₂S₄] chain running along [100] is formed by vertex sharing of SbS₃ pyramids. The second chain contains a Ag₃SbS₅ group composed of the AgS₄ tetrahedron, two AgS₃ units and one SbS₃ pyramid. The Ag₃SbS₅ units are joined via S atoms to form the second chain which is also directed along [100]. The layered anion is then obtained by condensation of the two individual chains. The organic structure director is sandwiched by the inorganic layers and the shortest inter-layer distance is about 6.4 Å. In II the primary building units are linked into different six-membered rings which form a honeycomb-like layer. Two such layers are connected via Ag-S bonds of the AgS₄ tetrahedra giving the final undulated double layer anion. The structure directing ethylenediamine cations are located in pairs between the layers and a sandwich-like arrangement of alternating anionic layers and organic cations is observed. The inter-layer separation is about 5.4 Å. Both compounds decompose in a more or less complex manner when heated in an argon atmosphere. The optical band gaps of about 1.9 eV for the two compounds proof the semiconducting behavior. For II the conductivity was measured with impedance spectroscopy and amounts to σ_295K=7.6×10⁻⁷ Ω⁻¹ cm⁻¹. At 80 °C the conductivity is significantly larger by one order of magnitude.     

Syntheses, crystal structures and spectroscopic properties of KEu[AsS4], K3Dy[AsS4]2 and Rb4Nd0.67[AsS4]2

Three rare earth compounds, KEu[AsS₄] (1), K₃Dy[AsS₄]₂ (2), and Rb₄Nd_0.67[AsS₄]₂ (3) have been synthesized employing the molten flux method. The reactions of A₂S₃ (A = K, Rb), Ln (Ln = Eu, Dy, Nd), As₂S₃, S were accomplished at 600 °C for 96 h in evacuated fused silica ampoules. Crystal data for these compounds are: 1, monoclinic, space group P2₁/m (no. 11), a = 6.7276(7) Å, b = 6.7190(5) Å, c = 8.6947(9) Å, β = 107.287(12)°, Z = 2; 2, monoclinic, space group C2/c (no. 15), a = 10.3381(7) Å, b = 18.7439(12) Å, c = 8.8185(6) Å, β = 117.060(7)°, Z = 4; 3, orthorhombic, space group Ibam (no. 72), a = 18.7333(15) Å, b = 9.1461(5) Å, c = 10.2060(6) Å, Z = 4. 1 is a two-dimensional structure with ²_∞[Eu(AsS₄)]⁻ layers separated by potassium cations. Within each layer, distorted bicapped trigonal [EuS₈] prisms are linked through distorted [AsS₄]³⁻ tetrahedra. Each Eu²⁺ cation is coordinated by two [AsS₄]³⁻ units by edge-sharing and bonded to further two [AsS₄]³⁻ units by corner-sharing. Compound 2 contains a one-dimensional structure with ¹_∞[Dy(AsS₄)₂]³⁻ chains separated by potassium cations. Within each chain, distorted bicapped trigonal prisms of [DyS₈] are linked by slightly distorted [AsS₄]³⁻ tetrahedra. Each Dy³⁺ ion is surrounded by four [AsS₄]³⁻ moieties in an edge-sharing fashion. For compound 3 also a one-dimensional structure with ¹_∞[Nd₀.₆₇(AsS₄)₂]⁴⁻ chains is observed. But the Nd position is only partially occupied and overall every third Nd atom is missing along the chain. This cuts the infinite chains into short dimers containing two bridging [As₄]³⁻ units and four terminal [AsS₄]³⁻ groups. 1 is characterized with UV/vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, IR, and Raman spectra.     

[R-C7H16N2][V2Te2O10] and [S-C7H16N2][V2Te2O10]; new polar templated vanadium tellurite enantiomers

New polar vanadium tellurite enantiomers have been synthesized under mild hydrothermal conditions through the use of sodium metavanadate, sodium tellurite and enantiomerically pure sources of either R-3-aminioquinuclidine or S-3-aminioquinuclidine. [R-C₇H₁₆N₂][V₂Te₂O₁₀] and [S-C₇H₁₆N₂][V₂Te₂O₁₀] contain [V₂Te₂O₁₀]_n²ⁿ⁻ layers constructed from [(VO₂)₂O(TeO₄)₂] monomers. Steric effects associated with the hydrogen-bonding network between the [V₂Te₂O₁₀]_n²ⁿ⁻ layers and [C₇H₁₆N₂]²⁺ result in polar structures and crystallization in the space group P2₁ (no. 4). Electron localization functions were calculated to visualize the tellurite stereoactive lone pairs. Both iterative and non-iterative Hirshfeld techniques were evaluated as means to determine atomic partial charges, with iterative Hirshfeld charges more accurately representing charge distributions in the reported enantiomers. These charges were used to calculate both component and net dipole moments. [R-C₇H₁₆N₂][V₂Te₂O₁₀] and [S-C₇H₁₆N₂][V₂Te₂O₁₀] exhibit dipole moments of 17.37 and 16.62D, respectively. [R-C₇H₁₆N₂][V₂Te₂O₁₀] and [S-C₇H₁₆N₂][V₂Te₂O₁₀] both display type 1 phase-matching capabilities and exhibit second harmonic generation activities of ∼50×α-SiO₂.     

A mass spectrometric study of the thermal pyrolysis of S4N4

Mass spectrometric techniques have been used to identify the pyrolysis products of S₄N₄ vapors passed over quartz wool at 80 to 400°C. S₄N₄ decomposes to form S₄N₂, S₃N₃, S₂N₂, and SN at temperatures of less than 250°C.     

Oxygen/nitrogen ordering in lanthanum new phase (La3Si8N11O4)

High-resolution ¹⁷O NMR spectra have been collected for crystalline samples of lanthanum new phase, La₃Si₈N₁₁O₄. In conjunction with previously published ²⁹Si and ¹⁵N spectra obtained for this phase, and in the light of the high-quality crystal structure data reported recently, a more detailed interpretation of the NMR spectra is presented than was possible in previous studies. The non-bridging oxygens in the structure are responsible for the single sharp peak seen in the ¹⁷O spectrum at 188 ppm; the remaining oxygens, occupying bridging sites shared with nitrogen, show up only weakly on the ¹⁷O spectrum as a broad diffuse band centered around zero ppm. The peak at −57.3 ppm on the ²⁹Si spectrum is believed to correspond to an overlap of [SiN₄] and [SiON₃] environments, with the −68.2 ppm peak corresponding to an [SiO₂N₂] environment.