Sr4PbPt4O11, the first platinum oxide containing Pt2 ions

We report the synthesis and crystal structure of the new compound Sr₄PbPt₄O₁₁, containing platinum in highly unusual square pyramidal coordination. The crystals were obtained in molten lead oxide. The structure was solved by X-ray single crystal diffraction techniques on a twinned sample, the final R factors are R=0.0260 and wR=0.0262. The symmetry is triclinic, space group P1¯, with , , , α=90.421(3)°, β=89.773(8)°, γ=90.140(9)° and Z=2. The structure is built from dumbell-shaped Pt₂O₉ entities formed by a dinuclear metal-metal bonded Pt₂⁶⁺ ion with asymmetric environments of the two Pt atoms, classical PtO₄ square plane and unusual PtO₅ square pyramid. Successive Pt₂O₉ entities deduced from 90° rotations are connected through the oxygens of the PtO₄ basal squares to form Pt₄O₁₀⁸⁻]_∞ columns further connected through Pb²⁺ and Sr²⁺ ions. Raman spectroscopy confirmed the peculiar platinum coordination environment.