RbAuUSe3, CsAuUSe3, RbAuUTe3, and CsAuUTe3: Syntheses and structure; magnetic properties of RbAuUSe3

The compounds RbAuUSe₃, CsAuUSe₃, and RbAuUTe₃ were synthesized at 1073 K from the reactions of U, Au, Q, and A₂Q₃ (A=Rb or Cs; Q=Se or Te). The compound CsAuUTe₃ was synthesized at 1173 K from the reaction of U, Au, Te, and CsCl as a flux. These isostructural compounds crystallize in the KCuZrS₃ structure type in space group Cmcm of the orthorhombic system. The structure consists of layers that contain nearly regular UQ₆ octahedra and distorted AuQ₄ tetrahedra. The infinite layers are separated by bicapped trigonal prismatic A cations. The magnetic behavior of RbAuUSe₃ deviates significantly from Curie–Weiss behavior at low temperatures. For T>200 K, the values of the Curie constant C and the Weiss constant θ_p are 1.82(9) emu K mol⁻¹ and −3.5(2)×10² K, respectively. The effective magnetic moment μ_eff is 3.81(9) μ_B. Formal oxidation states of A/Au/U/Q may be assigned as +1/+1/+4/−2, respectively.