Seltenerdhalogenide Ln4X5Z. Teil 1: C und/oder C2 in Ln4X5Z

Rare Earth Halides Ln₄X₅Z. Part 1: C and/or C₂ in Ln₄X₅Z The compounds Ln₄X₅C_n (Ln = La, Ce, Pr; X = Br, I and 1.0 < n < 2.0) are prepared by the reaction of LnX₃, Ln metal and graphite in sealed Ta‐ampoules at temperatures 850 °C < T < 1050 °C. They crystallize in the monoclinic space group C2/m. La₄I₅C_1.5: a = 19.849(4) Å, b = 4.1410(8) Å, c = 8.956(2) Å, β = 103.86(3)°, La₄I₅C_2.0: a = 19.907(4) Å, b = 4.1482(8) Å, c = 8.963(2) Å, β = 104.36(3)°, Ce₄Br₅C_1.0: a = 18.306(5) Å, b = 3.9735(6) Å, c = 8.378(2) Å, β=104.91(2)°, Ce₄Br₅C_1.5: a = 18.996(2) Å, b = 3.9310(3) Å, c = 8.282(7) Å, β = 106.74(1)°, Pr₄Br₅C_1.3: a = 18.467(2) Å, b = 3.911(1) Å, c = 8.258(7) Å, β = 105.25(1)° and Pr₄Br₅C_1.5: a = 19.044(2) Å, b = 3.9368(1) Å, c = 8.254(7) Å, β = 106.48(1)°. In the crystal structure the lanthanide metals are connected to Ln₆‐octahedra centered by carbon atoms or C₂‐groups. The Ln₆‐octahedra are condensed via opposite edges to chains and surrounded by X atoms which interconnect the chains. A part n of isolated C‐atoms is substituted by 1‐n C₂‐groups. The C‐C distances range between 1.26 and 1.40Å. In the ionic formulation (Ln³⁺)₄(X^?)₅(C^4?)_n(C₂^m?)_1?n·e^? with 0 < n < 1 and m = 2, 4, 6 (C₂^2?, C₂^4? C₂^6?), there are 1 < e^? < 5 electrons centered in metal‐metal bonds.