Synthesis and Structures of Yb4Rh7Ge6 and Yb4Ir7Ge6

Larger single crystals of Yb₄Rh₇Ge₆ and Yb₄Ir₇Ge₆ were prepared from arc‐melted precursor alloys Rh₇Ge₆ and Ir₇Ge₆ and elemental ytterbium via the Bridgman method using tungsten crucibles. Yb₄Rh₇Ge₆ and Yb₄Ir₇Ge₆ were investigated by X‐ray diffraction on powders and single crystals. Both germanides crystallize with the cubic U₄Re₇Si₆ type structure, space group Im3m. Structure refinement from X‐ray single crystal diffractometer data yielded a = 825.3(1) pm, wR2 = 0.0292, 106 F² values, 10 variable parameters for Yb₄Rh₇Ge₆ and a = 826.6(2) pm, wR2 = 0.0486, 150 F² values, 10 variable parameters for Yb₄Ir₇Ge₆. The structures contain two crystallographically independent transition metal (T) atoms with octahedral (T1) and tetrahedral (T2) germanium coordination. The octahedra and tetrahedra are condensed via common corners and edges forming complex three‐dimensional T₇Ge₆] networks in which the trivalent ytterbium atoms fill voids of coordination number 14.