Formation and properties of the new Al8V10W16O85 and Fe8?xAlxV10W16O85 phases with the M–Nb2O5 structure

A new, previously unknown phase Al₈V₁₀W₁₆O₈₅ has been obtained from reaction taking place in the solid state. It forms continuous solid solution with Fe₈V₁₀W₁₆O₈₅ of the Fe_8−x Al _x V₁₀W₁₆O₈₅ general formula. All these phases are isostructural with M–Nb₂O₅ and (W_0.35V_0.65)₂O₅ and belong to a block structure phases with ReO₃ type blocks of 4 × 4×∞ dimensions. Al₈V₁₀W₁₆O₈₅ is tetragonal and has the lattice constants a = b = 1.9487(1) nm and c = 0.36706(4) nm. It melts incongruently at 1,183 K depositing Al₂(WO₄)₃ and WO₃. The increase of the Al³⁺ ions content in the crystal lattice of Fe₈V₁₀W₁₆O₈₅ causes the melting point increasing, and decreasing of a = b unit cell parameters with c being almost constant. IR spectra of Al₈V₁₀W₁₆O₈₅ and Fe_8−x Al _x V₁₀W₁₆O₈₅ phases have been recorded.     

Ionic diffusion mastering using crystal-chemistry parameters: τ-Cu1/2Ag1/2V2O5 structure determination and comparison with refined δ-AgxV2O5 and ε-CuxV2O5 ones

τ-Ag_1/2Cu_1/2V₂O₅ compound crystallises in the monoclinic system space group C2/m with cell parameters a=11.757(4) Å, b=3.6942(5) Å, c=9.463(2) Å, and β=114.62(2)°. The structure is build up with V₄O₁₀ D4 double layer. The silver and copper ions are located in two different oxygenated tunnels. Examination of electronic density maps shows that while the silver ions are located in defined crystallographic sites, the copper ones are fully delocalised over the whole tunnel. Comparison with δ-Ag_xV₂O₅ and ε-Cu_xV₂O₅ refined structure allows to define crystal chemistry parameters governing the ionic delocalisation and give clues to predict from structural consideration the expected electrical behaviour with the aim to make possible a structural design to enhance guest species reactivity.     

Copper-catalyzed synthesis of aryl and alkyl trifluoromethyl sulfides using CF3SiMe3 and Na2S2O3 as –SCF3 source

A universal and efficient Cu(I)-catalyzed synthesis of aryl and alkyl trifluoromethyl sulfides has been developed. In this catalytic system, S-aryl or S-alkyl sulfothioate (I or II) proved to be the key intermediate. Substrates bearing groups of I, Br, Cl, OTs, and OMs on the aryl carbon and no matter electron-withdrawing and electron-donating substitutions on the aromatic ring could afford good to excellent yields.     

Hypervalence and the delocalizing versus localizing propensities of H 3– , Li 3– , CH 5– and SiH 5–

Lithium and silicon have the capability to form hypervalent structures, such as Li₃^– and SiH₅^–, which is contrasted by the absence of this capability in hydrogen and carbon, as exemplified by H₃^– and CH₅^– which, although isoelectronic to the former two species, have a distortive, bond-localizing propensity. This well-known fact is nicely confirmed in our DFT study at BP86/TZ2P. We furthermore show that the hypervalence of Li and Si neither originates from the availability of low-energy 2p and 3d AOs, respectively, nor from differences in the bonding pattern of the valence molecular orbitals; there is, in all cases, a 3-center-4-electron bond in the axial X–A–X unit. Instead, we find that the discriminating factor is the smaller effective size of C compared to the larger Si atom, and the resulting lack of space around the former. Interestingly, a similar steric mechanism is responsible for the difference in bonding capabilities between H and the effectively larger Li atom. This is so, despite the fact that the substituents in the corresponding symmetric and linear dicoordinate H₃^– and Li₃^– are on opposite sides of the central atom. Electronic supplementary material  The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Preparation and Double-Helix Icosahedra Structure of δ-Co2Zn15

The first known example of a regular face-sharing icosahedra helix is presented in the novel crystal structure of δ-Co₂Zn₁₅, solved and refined from single-crystal X-ray and neutron powder diffraction data. The compound δ-Co₂Zn₁₅ is also the first example of an intermetallic compound crystallizing in the acentric hexagonal space group P6₂. The parameters from the single crystal refinement are a=11.292(2) Å, c=7.750(1) Å, Z=4, and R_w=0.025.     

Structure and physical properties of the new telluride BaAg2Te2 and its quaternary variants BaCuδAg2-δTe2

The new materials BaCu_δAg_2-δTe₂ (0?δ?2) were prepared from the elements at 800 °C in evacuated silica tubes. BaAg₂Te₂ crystallizes in the α-BaCu₂S₂ type, space group Pnma, with lattice parameters a=10.8897(3) Å, b=4.6084(1) Å, c=11.8134(3) Å (Z=4). The structure consists of a three-dimensional network of vertex- and edge-condensed AgTe₄ tetrahedra, which includes the Ba²⁺ cations in linear channels running along the short b-axis. Half of the Ag atoms participate in an Ag atom zigzag chain extended parallel to the channels. BaAg₂Te₂ is a p-type semiconductor with large Seebeck coefficient. Within the series BaCu_δAg_2−δTe₂, the electrical conductivity increases and the Seebeck coefficient decreases strongly with increasing Cu content.     

Neutron powder diffraction and difference maximum entropy method analysis of protium- and deuterium-dissolved BaSn0.5In0.5O2.75+α

We propose a new method, a difference maximum entropy method (MEM) analysis of the neutron diffraction data, for revealing the detailed structure around hydrogen atoms in proton-conducting oxides. This MEM analysis uses the differences between the structure factors of protium- and deuterium-dissolved crystals. Simulations demonstrate that it not only provides the distribution of hydrogen atoms alone, but also improves the spatial resolution of MEM mapping around hydrogen atoms. Applied to actual diffraction data of protium- and deuterium-dissolved BaSn_0.5In_0.5O_2.75+α at 9 K, difference MEM analysis reveals that O-D bonds mostly tilt towards the second nearest oxygen atoms, and that the distributions of deuterium and oxygen atoms are probably insignificant in interstitial regions.     

Synthesis and crystal structures of [UO2(C6H4NO2)2(C6H5NO2)] and [UO2SO4(C6H5NO2)(H2O)] · H2O

The complexes [UO₂(C₆H₄NO₂)₂(C₆H₅NO₂) (I) and [UO₂SO₄(C₆H₅NO₂)(H₂O)] · H₂O (II) were synthesized and studied by X-ray diffraction analysis. Crystals I are monoclinic: a = 7.0081(3), b = 14.9624(7), c = 9.1837(5) ?, β = 96.594(2)°, Z = 2, space group P2₁/m. Crystals II are triclinic: a = 6.8097(6), b = 9.3837(8), c = 10.4556(10) ?, α = 85.279(3), β = 75.434(3), γ = 69.180(3)°, Z = 2, space group . The main structural unit of crystal I is a mononuclear fragment, which belongs to the crystal chemical group AB ₂ ⁰¹ M¹ (A = UO ₂ ²⁺ , B⁰¹ are ions of pyridine-2-carboxylic (picolinic) acid, M¹ are molecules of picolinic acid) of the uranyl complexes. The main structural unit of crystal II is a chain, which belongs to the crystal chemical group AT³M ₂ ¹ (where T³-SO ₄ ²⁻ , M¹ are water and picolinic acid molecules) of the uranyl complexes. Picolinic acid in complexes I, II was found to have a zwitterion structure. Original Russian Text ? E.V. Grechishnikova, E.V. Peresypkina, A.V. Virovets, Yu.N. Mikhailov, L.B. Serezhkina, 2007, published in Koordinatsionnaya Khimiya, 2007, Vol. 33, No. 6, pp. 468–475.     

High-pressure synthesis, crystal structures, and characterization of CdVO3−δ and solid solutions CdVO3-NaVO3

CdVO_3−δ and solid solutions of Cd_1−xNa_xVO₃ with the GdFeO₃-type perovskite structure were prepared using a high-pressure (6 GPa) and high-temperature technique. No significant oxygen and cation deficiency was found in CdVO₃. Cd_1−xNa_xVO₃ are formed in the compositional range of 0?x?0.2. CdVO₃ and Cd_1−xNa_xVO₃ demonstrate metallic conductivity and Pauli paramagnetism between 2 and 300 K. A large electronic contribution to the specific heat (γ=13.4 and ) for CdVO₃ and Cd_0.8Na_0.2VO₃, respectively) was observed at low temperatures due to the strongly correlated electrons. Crystal structures of CdVO₃ and Cd_0.8Na_0.2VO₃ were refined by X-ray powder diffraction: space group Pnma; Z=4; , , and for CdVO₃ and , , and for Cd_0.8Na_0.2VO₃.     

Phosphonium salts [Ph3AlkP] 2+ [Hg2I6]2? and [Ph3AlkP] 2+ [Hg4I10]2?: Synthesis and structure

Mercury complexes [Ph₃AlkP]₂⁺[Hg₂I₆]²⁻ and [Ph₃AlkP]₂⁺[Hg₄I₁₀]²⁻ (R = Me, Et, Pr, iso-Pr, Bu, iso-Bu) are synthesized by the reactions of triphenylalkylphosphonium Ph₃AlkPI with mercury iodide in acetone with the mole ratio 1: 1 and 1: 2, respectively. According to X-ray diffraction data, the phosphorus atom in the cations of the [Ph₃(iso-Pr)P]₂⁺[Hg₂I₆]²⁻, [Ph₃BuP]₂⁺[Hg₂I₆]²⁻, and [Ph₃(iso-Pr)P]₂⁺[Hg₄I₁₀]²⁻ complexes has a distorted tetrahedral coordination. The CPC bond angles and P-C bond lengths vary within 107.3(4)°-112.0(4)° and 1.774(8)-1.827(7) ?. In the [Hg₂I₆]²⁻ centrosymmetric binuclear anions, the mercury atoms of tetrahedral coordination lie in two near-perpendicular Hg₂I₆planes. Hg₄I₄ eight-membered cycles of the [Hg₄I₁₀]²⁻ tetranuclear anion are joined into polymeric chains through Hg … I coordination bonds (3.334, 3.681 &OA) due to which Hg atoms have a trigonal bipyramidal coordination. Original Russian Text ? V.V. Sharutin, V.S. Senchurin, N.N. Klepikov, O.K. Sharutina, 2009, published in Zhurnal Neorganicheskoi Khimii, 2009, Vol. 54, No. 2, pp. 267–273.     

Stability and oxygen-storage characteristics of Al-substituted YBaCo4O7+δ

A series of Al-substituted YBa(Co_1−xAl_x)₄O_7+δ samples was synthesized and characterized with respect to the capability to store large amounts of oxygen at low temperatures (at 200-400 °C) and the phase decomposition upon heating under oxidizing conditions at higher temperatures (above 550 °C). It was revealed that increasing the Al-substitution level up to x≈0.10 boosts up the phase-decomposition temperature from ∼550 to ∼700 °C, while the unique oxygen absorption/desorption characteristics remain nearly the same as those of the pristine YBaCo₄O_7+δ phase. The maximum amount of excess oxygen absorbed by the Al-substituted YBa(Co_1−xAl_x)₄O_7+δ samples was determined to be as large as δ≈1.45 for x=0.10 (in 100 atm O₂ at 320 °C). Isothermal annealing experiments carried out for the same x=0.10 phase at 300 °C revealed that it could be reversibly charged and discharged with 1.2 oxygen atoms per formula unit by switching the gas flow from N₂ to O₂ and vice versa.     

Synthesis and structure of cobalt complexes [Me3EtN] 2+ [CoI4]2? and [Me3BuN] 2+ [CoI4]2?

Complexes [Me₃EtN]₂⁺[CoI₄]²⁻ (I) and [Me₃EtN]₂⁺[CoI₄]²⁻ (II) were synthesized by reacting trimethylalkylammonium iodide with cobalt(II) iodide in acetone. According to X-ray diffraction data, complexes I and II consist of tetrahedral tetraalkylammonium cations (for I, N-C is 1.481(5)–1.590(8) CNC is 107.3(3)°–111.6(3)°; for II, N-C is 1.485(8)–1.506(10) ? and CNC is 106.9(7)°–111.7(5)°) and [CoI₄]²⁻ anions (for I, Co-I is 2.5951(5)–2.6127(5) ? and ICoI is 104.67(2)°–113.23(2)°; for II, Co-I is 2.5914(8)–2.5943(9) ? and ICoI is 107.05(2)°–114.42(5)°).     

Acyclic and cyclic forms of the radicals HO4? CH3O4? and C2H5O4·: ab initio quantum chemical calculations

Acyclic and cyclic structures and total energies of radicals HO₄⋅ CH₃O₄⋅ and C₂H₅O₄· were calculated by ab initio quantum chemical methods. Depending on the computational method and basis sets used, the cyclic conformer of the HO₄· radical is 4.8 to 7.3 kJ mol^-1 more stable than the acyclic one. For the first two representatives of the homologous series of alkyl tetraoxyl radicals, CH₃O₄· and C₂H₅O₄, MP2/6-311++G** calculations predict insignificant energy differences (1.2 kJ mol^-1) between six-membered cyclic and acyclic conformers. Apparently, these radicals can exist in both forms.     

Synthesis and structure of gold and copper complexes: [Ph3PhCH2P]+[AuCl4]?, [NH(C2H4OH)3]+[AuCl4]? · H2O, and [Ph3EtP] 2+ [Cu2Cl6]2?

Triphenylbenzylphosphonium tetrachloroaurate (I) and triethanolammonium tetrachloroaurate hydrate (II) were prepared by reacting tetrachloroauric acid in acetone with triphenylbenzylphosphonium and triethanolammonium, respectively. Triphenylethylphosphonium hexachlorodicuprate (III) was synthesized from triphenylethylphosphonium chloride and copper chloride in acetone. The crystal structures of complexes I to III were determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The phosphorus atoms in complex I have a nearly undistorted tetrahedral coordination (CPC, 108.3°–110.6°; P-C, 1.788–1.793 ?). The coordination of nitrogen atoms in the cations of complex II is a distorted tetrahedron (CNC, 111.7°–112.4°). The square coordination of aurum in I and II is only slightly distorted: the ClAuCl angles are 89.6°–90.3° (I) and 89.5°–90.6° (II) and the Au-Cl distances are 2.256–2.278 ? I) and 2.280–2.285 ? (II). The phosphorus atoms in complex III are tetracoordinated (CPC, 106.34°–111.73°; P-C, 1.790–1.795 ?). The copper atoms in III have a distorted tetrahedral coordination (ClCuCl, 98.48°–144.85°; Cu-Cl, 2.1999–2.3263 ?). The central fragment Cu₂Cl₂ in the anion of complex III is bent relative to the Cu₂ axis (the chlorine atom deviates from the Cu₂Cl plane by 0.27 ?).     

Mixed conductivity, oxygen permeability and redox behavior of K2NiF4-type La2Ni0.9Fe0.1O4+δ

The total conductivity and Seebeck coefficient of La₂Ni_0.9Fe_0.1O_4+δ with K₂NiF₄-type structure, studied in the oxygen partial pressure range from 10⁻⁵ to 0.5 atm at 973-1223 K, were analyzed in combination with the steady-state oxygen permeability, oxygen non-stoichiometry and Mössbauer spectroscopy data in order to examine the electronic and ionic transport mechanisms. Doping of La₂NiO_4+δ with iron was found to promote hole localization on nickel cations due to the formation of stable Fe³⁺ states, although the electrical properties dominated by p-type electronic conduction under oxidizing conditions exhibit trends typical for both itinerant and localized behavior of the electronic sublattice. The segregation of metallic Ni on reduction, which occurs at oxygen chemical potentials close to the low-p(O₂) stability boundary of undoped lanthanum nickelate, is responsible for the high catalytic activity towards partial oxidation of methane by the lattice oxygen of La₂Ni_0.9Fe_0.1O_4+δ as revealed by thermogravimetry and temperature-programmed reduction in dry CH₄-He flow at 573-1173 K. A model for the oxygen permeation fluxes through dense La₂Ni_0.9Fe_0.1O_4+δ ceramics, limited by both bulk ionic conduction and surface exchange kinetics, was proposed and validated.     

Solvothermal indium fluoride chemistry: Syntheses and crystal structures of K5In3F14, β-(NH4)3InF6 and [NH4]3[C6H21N4]2[In4F21]

The solvothermal syntheses and crystal structures of three indium fluorides are presented. K₅In₃F₁₄ (1) and β-(NH₄)₃InF₆ (2) are variants on known inorganic structure types chiolite and cryolite, respectively, with the latter exhibiting a complex and apparently novel structural distortion. [NH₄]₃[C₆H₂₁N₄]₂[In₄F₂₁] (3) represents a new hybrid composition displaying a unique trimeric metal fluoride building unit.     

The crystal structures of Hf3±δNb4±δAs3 and Hf7.2Nb3.8As4: Members of a homologous series combining W-type, Mg-type and AlB2-type building blocks

Two new partially ordered compounds were synthesized in the system Hf-Nb-As by arc melting and subsequent annealing at 1400 °C and they were structurally characterized by means of single crystal X-ray diffraction. The compound Hf_3±δNb_4±δAs₃ is isostructural to Zr₃Pd₄P₃ and Hf₃Pd₄P₃ (Space group: Pnma, Pearson symbol oP40) and shows a considerable homogeneity range between the limiting compositions Hf_2.4Nb_4.6As₃ and Hf_4.1Nb_2.9As₃. Mixed occupation of Hf and Nb were found at all seven independent metal sites, with varying Hf/Nb ratios, so the compound is stabilized by differential fractional site occupation (DFSO). The compound Hf_7.2Nb_3.8As₄ is isostructural with Zr_6.45Nb_4.55P₄ (Immm, oI30) and was found to be metastable at the temperature of annealing (1400 °C). Similar to the type structure, Hf_7.2Nb_3.8As₄ is stabilized by (DFSO). Structural relations of the two compounds with Hf_1.5+δNb_1.5−δAs (Pnma, oP16) are discussed. All three compounds belong to a homologous series M_k+2l+mX_2m combining W-type, Mg-type and AlB₂-type building blocks.     

Synthesis and crystal structure of [Mo3S4(Dppen)3Cl3]PF6 · 1.5CH2Cl2 and [W3S4(Dppe)3Br3]2ZnBr4 · 5.5CH3CN

New cluster complexes [Mo₃S₄(Dppen)₃Cl₃]PF₆ · 1.5CH₂Cl₂ (Dppen = cis-Ph₂PCH=CHPPh₂) (I) and [W₃S₄(Dppe)₃Br₃]₂(ZnBr₄)₂ · 5.5CH₃CN (Dppe = Ph₂PCH₂CH₂PPh₂) (II) were synthesized. Their molecular and crystal structures were determined by X-ray diffraction. Diphoshine ligands in the complexes I and II are coordinated in the bidentate mode, providing an arrangement of three chelate rings, giving rise to chirality.     

Phase relations and structural properties of the ternary narrow gap semiconductors Zn5Sb4In2−δ (δ=0.15) and Zn9Sb6In2

A systematic study of the Zn-rich corner of the ternary system Zn-Sb-In revealed the presence of two ternary compounds: stable Zn₅Sb₄In_2−δ (δ=0.15) and metastable Zn₉Sb₆In₂ with closely related crystal structures. Their common motif is a tetragonal basic structure of 3²434 nets formed by the Sb atoms. The nets are stacked in antiposition to yield layers of square antiprisms sharing edges plus intervening tetracapped tetrahedra (tetreadersterns). The majority of Zn atoms occupy peripheral tetrahedra of such tetraedersterns, which produces frameworks with a composition “ZnSb”. These frameworks represent orthorhombic superstructures: (2×1×1) for Zn₅Sb₄In_2−δ (Z=4) and (2×3×1) for Zn₉Sb₆In₂ (Z=8) with respect to the tetragonal arrangement of Sb atoms. The In and remaining Zn atoms are distributed in the channels formed by the square antiprisms. Phase relations in the Zn-Sb-In system are complex. Crystals of metastable Zn₉Sb₆In₂ are regularly intergrown with various amounts of Zn₅Sb₄In_2−δ. Additionally, a monoclinic variant to orthorhombic Zn₉Sb₆In₂ could be identified. Zn₉Sb₆In₂ decomposes exothermically into a mixture of Zn₅Sb₄In_2−δ, Zn₄Sb₃ and elemental Zn at around 480 K. Both Zn₅Sb₄In_2−δ and Zn₉Sb₆In₂ are poor metals with resistivity values that are characteristic of heavily doped or degenerate semiconductors (0.2−3 m Ω cm at room temperature).     

Structural investigation of La9.33Si6O26- and La9AESi6O26+δ-doped apatites-type lanthanum silicate (AE=Ba, Sr and Ca) by neutron powder diffraction

Crystalline structures of La_9.33Si₆O₂₆ and La₉AESi₆O_26+δ (AE=Ba, Sr and Ca) doped apatites-type lanthanum silicates were investigated by X-ray and neutron powder diffraction at room temperature. The results obtained after different models testing show that the apatite structure is best described using the P6₃ space group. The loss of the mirror symmetry perpendicular to the ionic conduction channel direction results from heterogeneous La³⁺/AE²⁺ distribution of the sites so-called “4f”. The Rietveld refinements do not show splitting of the conduction oxygen site but rather a very large spread of the nuclear density associated to this site. This effect is more pronounced for the La₉AESi₆O_26+δ-doped compounds. Large anisotropic thermal displacement parameters are also observed for the oxygens associated to the isolated [SiO₄], suggesting a rotation of this tetrahedron around the Si site. Lastly, vacancies were also systematically observed in the lanthanum nine-coordinated sites.