Expanded Prussian Blue Analogue Based on Octahedral {Nb6} Clusters and {K2} Dimers as Nodes

Abstract  The preparation, structures, and characterization of two new compounds containing octahedral niobium cyanochloride clusters as building units and (Et₄N)⁺ as cation are reported. The reaction between Nb₆Cl₁₄ · 8H₂O, KCN and (Et₄N)Cl led to the formation of (Et₄N)₄[Nb₆Cl₁₂(CN)₆] · 2.67H₂O (1) which crystallizes in triclinic P-1 space group (No. 2) with a = 12.552(2), b = 12.818(2), c = 12.919(2) ?, α = 105.157(3)°, β = 104.188(3)°, γ = 117.390(2)°, V = 1611.7(5) ?³ and Z = 1. 1 has a 2D hydrogen-bonded layer structure based on [Nb₆Cl₁₂(CN)₆]⁴⁻ units connected through hydrogen bonding between cyanide ligands and solvent water molecules. In the presence of large excess of K⁺ ions, similar reaction leads to formation of K₂(Et₄N)₂[Nb₆Cl₁₂(CN)₆] (2) which crystallizes in the tetragonal I4/m space group (No. 87) with a = b = 10.9597(3), c = 19.178(1) ?, V = 2303.6(2) ?³ and Z = 2. Its 3D structure is based on [Nb₆Cl₁₂]²⁺ and [K₂]²⁺ nodes bridged by cyanide ligands to form an expanded Prussian blue type framework with (Et₄N)⁺ acting as charge compensating ions. Index Abstract  An expanded Prussian blue type 3D framework based on hexanuclear {Nb₆} and dinuclear {K₂} units which are bridged by cyanide linker was synthesized and characterized. Electronic supplementary material  The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.