Site‐Selective Ligand Exchange on a Heteroleptic TiIV Complex Towards Stepwise Multicomponent Self‐Assembly

A series of heteroleptic [Ti 1 ₂X]^? complexes have been selectively constructed from a mixture of Ti^IV ions, a pyridyl catechol ligand (H₂ 1 ; H₂ 1 =4‐(3‐pyridyl)catechol), and various bidentate ligands (HX) in the presence of a weak base, in addition to a previously reported [Ti 1 ₂(acac)]^? (acac=acetylacetonate) complex. Comparative studies of these Ti^IV complexes revealed that [Ti 1 ₂(trop)]^? (trop=tropolonate) is much more stable than the [Ti 1 ₂(acac)]^? complex, which allows the replacement of acac with trop on the [Ti 1 ₂(acac)]^? complex. This Ti^IV‐centered site‐selective ligand exchange reaction also takes place on a heteronuclear Pd^II? Ti^IV ring complex with the preservation of the Pd^II‐centered coordination structures. Intra‐ and intermolecular linking between two Ti^IV centers with a flexible or a rigid bis‐tropolone bridging ligand provided a tetranuclear and an octanuclear Pd^II? Ti^IV complex, respectively. These higher‐order structures could be efficiently constructed only through a stepwise synthetic route.     

Zur Elektronenstruktur metallorganischer Komplexe der f‐Elemente. 60 [1] Strukturelle,einkristalloptische und magnetooptische Untersuchungen von Trialkylphosphat‐Addukten des Grundkörpers Tris(cyclopentadienyl)lanthanid(III) (Ln = La,Pr) sowie Ergebnisse vergleichender optischer Studien an [Pr(Ind)3(OP(OEt)3)] (Ind = Indenyl)

Electronic Structures of Organometallic Complexes of f Elements. 60 [1] Structural, Single Crystal Optical and Magnetooptical Investigations on Trialkylphosphate Adducts of the Tris(cyclopentadienyl)lanthanide(III) (Ln = La, Pr) Moiety as well as Results of Comparing Optical Studies of [Pr(Ind)₃(OP(OEt)₃)] (Ind = indenyl) [Ln(Cp)₃(OP(OR)₃)] (Cp = η⁵‐cyclopentadienyl; Ln = La, R = Et ( 1 ); Ln = Pr, R = Me ( 2 ); Ln = Pr, R = Et ( 3 )) and [Pr(Ind)₃(OP(OEt)₃)] ( 4 ) have been synthesized and spectroscopically as well as partly structurally (only compounds 1 and 2 ) characterized. On the basis of variable temperature measurements of α absorption spectra of an oriented single crystal, the magnetic circular dichroism spectra of dissolved, and the luminescence spectra of powdered material, a nearly complete crystal field (CF) splitting pattern could be derived for 3 , and simulated by fitting the free parameters of a phenomenological Hamiltonian. The parameters used in the fit allowed the calculation of the global CF strength experienced by the Pr³⁺ central ion, the estimation of the nephelauxetic and relativistic nephelauxetic parameters, as well as the setup of experimentally based non‐relativistic and relativistic molecular orbital schemes in the f range. The optical spectra of compound 4 suggest that two different species exist at low temperatures, thus preventing a successful CF analysis.     

Synthesis of Rhenabenzenes from the Reactions of Rhenacyclobutadienes with Ethoxyethyne

Treatment of Na[Re(CO)₅] with RC?CCO₂Et (R=phenyl, naphthalen‐1‐yl, phenanthren‐9‐yl and pyren‐1‐yl) followed by reaction with acetyl chloride and ethanol afforded the rhenacyclobutadienes Re{‐C(R)?C(CO₂Et)C(OEt)?}(CO)₄. Reactions of these rhenacyclobutadienes with HC?COEt produced rhenabenzenes Re{‐C(R)?C(CO₂Et)C(OEt)?CHC(OEt)?}(CO)₄. Except for R=Ph, new rhenacyclobutadienes with pendant alkenyl substituents Re{‐C(R)?C(C(OEt)?CH(CO₂Et))C(OEt)?}(CO)₄ were also isolated from these reactions. The NMR spectroscopic and X‐ray structural data, as well as the aromatic stabilization energy (ASE) values suggest that the rhenabenzenes are aromatic, with extensive delocalized π character.     

Oxygenation of simple zinc alkyls: surprising dependence of product distributions on the alkyl substituents and the presence of water

Oxygenation reactions of dialkylzinc solutions have been investigated. Me2Zn reacts with oxygen in the absence of water to give the bis(heterocubane) [(MeZn)6Zn(OMe)8], whereas Et2Zn and iPr2Zn afford the mono(heterocubanes) [(RZn)4(OR)4]. In the presence of small amounts of water (added during or after the oxygenation) the product types are reversed for Me2Zn and Et2Zn giving [(MeZn)4(OMe)4] and [(EtZn)6Zn(OEt)8], while being retained for iPr2Zn (giving [(iPrZn)4(OiPr)4]). Full characterization of all products by NMR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, and elemental analyses is provided, and crystal structures of [(EtZn)6Zn(OEt)8] and [(iPrZn)4(OiPr)4] are reported. A rationalization of the different reactivities is attempted on the basis of DFT-calculated energies of some key reactants.     

Synthesis and Characterization of Di‐ and Tricarbonylhydridomanganese(I) Complexes

Hydrido complexes [MnH(CO)₃L^1–3] [L¹ = 1,2‐bis‐(diphenylphosphanoxy)‐ethane ( 1 ); L² = 1,2‐bis‐(diisopropylphosphanoxy)ethane ( 2 ); L³ = 1,3‐bis‐(diphenylphosphanoxy)‐propane ( 3 )] were prepared by treating [MnH(CO)₅] with the appropriate bidentate ligand by heating to reflux. Photoirradiation of a toluene solution of complexes 1 and 2 in the presence of PPh_n(OR)_3–n (n = 0, 1; R = Me, Et) leads to the replacement of a CO ligand by the corresponding monodentate phosphite or phosphonite ligand to give new hydrido compounds of formula [MnH(CO)₂(L^1–2)(L)] [L = P(OMe)₃ ( 1a – 2a ); P(OEt)₃ ( 1b – 2b ); PPh(OMe)₂ ( 1c – 2c ); PPh(OEt)₂ ( 1d – 2d )]. All complexes were characterized by IR, ¹H, ¹³C and ³¹P NMR spectroscopy. In case of compounds 2 and 3 , suitable crystals for X‐ray diffraction studies were isolated.     

Coordination of mono- and diamines to titanium and zirconium alkoxides

The structural chemistry of crystalline adducts M₂(OR)₈(amine)₂ (M = Ti: OR = OⁱPr, amine = NH₂CH₂Ph, NH₂Bu; M = Ti: OR = OEt, amine = piperidine; M = Zr: OR = OⁱPr, amine = NH₂CH₂Ph, NH₂C₆H₁₁) is discussed. The adducts were obtained by reaction of Ti(OEt)₄ or M(OⁱPr)₄ with primary or secondary amines. The monoamine adducts are centrosymmetric dimers in which the amines are coordinated axially to the M₂μ-OR)₂ ring and hydrogen-bonded to neighboring alkoxo ligands. The adducts are sufficiently stable if the hydrogen bond is strong. ¹⁵N NMR studies revealed that the amines are also coordinated in solution. Coordination polymers were obtained when diamines with two terminal NH₂ groups are reacted with Ti(OⁱPr)₄. The general structure is the same as that of Ti₂(OⁱPr)₈(RNH₂)₂. However, the diamines bridge the Ti₂(OⁱPr)₈ units. When Zr(OⁱPr)₄ was reacted with NH₂CH₂CH₂NHMe, the adduct Zr₂(OⁱPr)₈[NH₂CH₂CH₂NHMe]₂ was obtained where only the NH₂ group is coordinated.     

Synthetic studies and structural aspects of novel metallacyclic compoundsof titanium(IV) incorporating nitrogen,oxygen and sulphur: 1. Reactions of cis-dialkoxy-bis(acetylacetonato)titanium(IV) with alkoxyalkanols and the crystal structure of a new modification: di-μ-oxo-bis[diacetylacetonatotitanium(IV)]

Reactions of cis-dialkoxy-bis(acetylacetonato)titanium(IV), [(acac)₂Ti(OR)₂] (R = Et, Pr ⁱ ) with alkoxyalkanols (ROCH₂CH₂OH) (R = Me, Et, n-Bu) in 1:1 and 1:2 molar ratios in refluxing benzene under anhydrous conditions yield [(acac)₂Ti(OR)_2–n (OCH₂CH₂OR) _n ] (n = 1 or 2) complexes, which were purified by distillation under reduced pressure. On the basis of i.r. and n.m.r. (¹H- and ¹³C-) spectral studies, a cis-octahedral environment around Ti^IV is proposed. On keeping the distilled dark brown-red viscous liquid [(acac)₂Ti(OEt)(OCH₂CH₂OBu)] for 2 weeks, orange yellow crystals of [(acac)₂TiO]₂ were obtained. A single crystal X-ray diffraction study suggests the product is a new modification of [(acac)₂TiO]₂.     

Gallium alkoxides: Synthesis and properties

Compounds Ga(OR)₃ (R = Me, Et, Prⁱ, Buⁿ, C₂H₄OMe) were synthesized by exchange reactions between gallium chloride and alkali metal alkoxides, the reetherefication of Ga(OPrⁱ)₃ and Ga(OC₂H₄OMe)₃ by other ROH (R = Me, Et), and anodic dissolution of metallic gallium in the presence of a electroconductive additive (LiCl, Bu₄NBr). When solid GaCl₃ is introduced into an alcoholic solution of NaOEt, stable soluble gallium oxoalkoxyhalides are formed. The same reaction with a GaCl₃ solution in toluene or electrochemical synthesis produces nonvolatile Ga(OEt)₃ samples, which have the polymer zigzag configuration [Ga(OR)_4/2(OR)]_∞. Mass spectrometry shows that only Ga(OPrⁱ)₃ and freshly prepared X-ray amorphous Ga(OEt)₃ samples (produced by reetherefication) are transferred to the gas phase. The spectra of the latter contain ions generated by penta-and hexanuclear oxoalkoxide molecules, along with fragments of orthospecies [Ga(OEt)₃]_2?4. IR spectra are described for all compounds synthesized.     

Reactions of Titanium Alkoxides with N-Methylaminoalcohols

N-methylaminoalkoxides of titanium of the type Ti(OR)_4?n(O · CHR′ · CH₂ · NR″R?)_n where R = Et and Pr¹; n = 1–4; and R′ = R″ = H, R? = Me; R′ = H, R″ = R? = Me; R′ = R″ = R? = Me, synthesized by the reactions of titanium alkoxides with aminoalcohols, show interesting variations in their properties like physical state, volatility and molecular complexity. I.r. and p.m.r. spectra of these derivatives have been recorded. A few interchange reactions with methanol and tert-butanol have also been carried out. These aminoalkoxides get cleaved with acetyl chloride and undergo insertion reactions with phenylisocyanate, thus providing the first examples of insertion reactions in such derivatives.     

Direct Observation of the Binding Mode of the Phosphonate Anchor to Nanosized Polyoxotitanate Clusters

The structures of three newly synthesized phosphonate‐substituted polyoxotitanates are reported. The Ti/O core of [Ti₄O(OEt)₁₂(PhenylPO₃)] ( 1 ) is the building block for two larger phosphonate‐substituted nanoclusters, [Ti₂₅O₂₆(OEt)₃₆(PhenylPO₃)₆] ( 2 ) and [Ti₂₆O₂₆(OEt)₃₉(PhenylPO₃)₆]Br ( 3 ). All compounds exhibit a not previously recognized triply bridging binding mode of the phosphonate anchor with short connecting Ti? O bonds, the average of which is 2.010(7) Å. Comparison with previously reported work suggests that the binding mode of the phosphonate anchor is strongly dependent on the structure of the underlying substrate.     

On the interaction of tetraethoxosilane with metal alkoxides: Sol-gel synthesis of alkaline-earth metal silicates

Physicochemical analyses (solubility method, conductometry, and IR spectroscopy) revealed no complex formation in M(OR)_n-Si(OR)₄-ROH systems (M = Na, Ba, Al; R = Et, Prⁱ), unlike in the systems containing alkoxides of two metals. IR and NMR spectroscopy showed that Si(OR)₄ became reactive only due to microhydrolysis, which is accompanied most likely by the formation of intermediates (asymmetric molecules [Si(OH)_n(OR)_{4 ? n} ]). The hydrolysis was studied for model systems M(OEt)₂ ? si(OEt)₄ (M = Ba, Ca), and conditions for the synthesis of silicates were optimized.     

Insertion Reactions of Carbon Disulfide into Mg‐C and Mg‐N Bonds: Syntheses and Structural Determinations of Mg(S2CY)2(THF)n(Y=NEt2, NiPr2, iPr,Ph) and BrMg(S2CZ)(THF)3(Z=Ph,iPr)

The insertion reaction of CS₂ with Mg(NR₂)₂ (R= Et, ⁱPr), MgR′₂ (R′= Et, Ph) and R″MgBr (R″= ⁱPr, Ph) respectively lead solid products, Mg(S₂CNR₂)₂(THF)_n ( 1 : R= Et, n=2; 2 : R= ⁱPr, n=1), Mg(S₂C′R)₂(THF)₂ ( 3 : ′R= Et, 4 : ′R= Ph), BrMg(S₂C″R) (THF)₃ ( 5 : ″R= ⁱPr, 6 : ″R= Ph) in which the inserted carbon disulfides act as terminal chelating ligands. These compounds were characterized with ¹H, ¹³C NMR, IR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, elemental analyses, and X‐ray crystallography.     

Stabilisation of [Fe2(CO)9] and [Ru2(CO)9] bu substitution with bridging diphosphorus ligands

Reaction of [Fe₂(CO)₉] with a half molar amount of R₂PYPR₂ (Y = CH₂, R = Ph, Me, OMe or OPrⁱ; Y = N(Et), R = OPh, OMe or OCH₂; Y = N(Me), R = OPrⁱ or OEt) leads to the ready formation of a product which on irradiation with ultraviolet light rapidly decarbonylates to the heptacarbonyl derivative [Fe₂(μ-CO)(CO)₆{μ-R₂PYPR₂}]. Treatment of the latter with a slight excess of the appropriate ligand results, under photochemical conditions, in the formation of the dinuclear pentacarbonyl complex [Fe₂(μ-CO)(C))₄{μ-R₂PYPR₂}₂] but under thermal conditions in the formation of the mononuclear species [Fe(CO)₃{R₂PYPR₂}]. Reaction of [Ru₃(CO)₁₂] with an equimolar amount of (RO)₂PN(R′)P(OR)₂ (R′ = Me, R = Prⁱ or Et; R′ = Et, R = Ph or Me) under either thermal or photochemical conditions produces [Ru₃(CO)₁₀{μ-(RO)₂PN(OR)₂}] which reacts further with excess (RO)₂PN(R′)P(OR)₂ on irradiation with ultraviolet light to afford the dinuclear compound [Ru₂(μ-CO)(CO₄{μ-(RO)₂PN(R′)P(OR)₂}₂]. The molecular structure of [Ru₂(μ-CO)(CO)₄{μ-(MeO)₂PN(Et)P(OMe)₂}₂], which has been determined by X-ray crystallography, is described.     

Phosphido‐diphosphine pincer group 3 complexes as efficient initiators for lactide polymerization

New Group 3 metal complexes of the type [LM(CH₂SiMe₃)₂(THF)_n] supported by tridentate phosphido‐diphosphine ligands [(o‐C₆H₄PR₂) ₂ PH; L1‐H : R = iPr; L2‐H : R = Ph] have been synthesized by reaction of L1‐H and L2‐H with [M(CH₂SiMe₃)₃(THF)₂)] (M = Y and Sc). All the new complexes [(o‐C₆H₄PR₂) ₂ PM(CH₂SiMe₃)₂(THF)_n] [M = Y, R = iPr (1), R = Ph (2); M = Sc, R = iPr (3), R = Ph (4)] were studied as initiators for the ring opening polymerization of lactide. The yttrium complexes ( 1 and 2 ) exhibited high activity and good polymerization control, shown by the linear fits in the plot of number‐averaged molecular weight (M_n) versus the percentage conversion and versus the monomer/initiator ratio and by the low polydispersity index values. Interestingly, very good molar‐mass control was observed even when L ‐Lactide was polymerized in the absence of solvent at 130 °C. A good molar‐mass control but lower activities were observed in the polymerization reaction of lactide promoted by the analogous scandium complexes 3 and 4 . © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 48: 1374–1382, 2010     

Easily available niobium(V) mixed chloro‐alkoxide complexes as catalytic precursors for ethylene polymerization

The dinuclear [NbCl_n(OR)_(5‐n)]₂ (n = 4, R = Et, 1 ; n = 4, R = CH₂Ph, 2 ; n = 3, R = Et, 3 ; n = 2, R = Et, 4 ; n = 2, R = , 5 ), and [Nb(OEt)₅]₂, 6 , and the mononuclear niobium compounds NbCl₄[κ²? OCH₂CH(R′)OR] (R = Me, R′ = H, 7 ; R = Et, R′ = H, 8 ; R = CH₂Cl, R′ = H, 9 ; R = CH₂CH₂OMe, R′ = H, 10 ; R = R′ = Me, 11 ), NbBr₄[κ²? OCH₂CH₂OMe], 12 , and NbCl₃(κ²? OCH₂CH₂OMe)(κ¹? OCH₂CH₂OMe), 13 , were tested in ethylene polymerization. Optimized reaction conditions included the use of D‐MAO as co‐catalyst and chlorobenzene as solvent at 50 °C. Complex 7 , whose X‐Ray structure is described here for the first time, exhibited the highest activity ever reported for a niobium catalyst in alkene polymerization [151 kg_polymer × mol_Nb^?1 × h^?1 × bar^?1]. Compounds 1 , 3‐5 , 8 , 13 showed activities similar to that of 7 . Linear polyethylenes (characterized by FT‐IR, NMR, GPC, and DSC analyses) with a broad polydispersivity were obtained. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2011     

Synthesis and Characterizations of Ti(O‐i‐Pr)Cl3(THF)(PhCOR) (R = H,Me, Ph) and Ti(O‐i‐Pr)Cl3(PhCOR)2 (R = Me,Ph). The Molecular Structure of Ti(O‐i‐Pr)Cl3(PhCOPh)2

A series of titanium(IV) complexes Ti(O‐i‐Pr)Cl₃(THF)(PhCOR) (R = H ( 1 ), CH₃ ( 2 ), or Ph ( 3 )) is prepared quantitatively from reactions of [Ti(O‐i‐Pr)Cl₂(THF)(μ‐Cl)]₂ with 2 molar equiv. PhCOR. Treatment of Ti(O‐i‐Pr)Cl₃ with 2 molar equiv. of PhCOR affords the disubstituted complexes Ti(O‐i‐Pr)Cl₃(PhCOR)₂ (R = CH₃ ( 4 ) or Ph ( 5 )). The ¹³C NMR study of these complexes shows that the relative bonding abilities are in the order of PhCOCH₃ > PhCHO > PhCOPh. The molecular structure of 5 reveals that one of the benzophenone ligands is trans to the strongest 2‐propoxide ligand with a long Ti‐O(carbonyl) distance of 2.193(5) Å which is much longer than the other Ti‐O(carbonyl) distance of 2.097(4) Å by ?0.1 Å. All ligands cis to the alkoxide ligand are bending away from the alkoxide ligand with the RO‐Ti‐L angles ranging from 93.6(2) to 99.0(2)°.     

Triphenylantimony(V) o‐amidophenolates with unsymmetrical N‐aryl group for a reversible dioxygen binding

New triphenylantimony(V) o‐amidophenolates (AP‐Me,Et)SbPh₃ (1) and (AP‐Me,iPr)SbPh₃ (2) with unsymmetrically substituted N‐aryl groups and (AP‐Et,Et)SbPh₃ (3) with symmetrical N‐aryl group {AP‐R¹,R² is 4,6‐di‐tert‐butyl‐N‐[2‐alkyl(R¹),6‐alkyl(R²)‐phenyl]‐o‐amidophenolate dianion} were synthesized and characterized in detail. Complexes were examined for dioxygen activity. The unsymmetrical complexes 1 and 2 were found to form different geometrical isomers (A and B) of spiroendoperoxides [L‐R¹,R²(O₂)]SbPh₃ (4 and 5, respectively) with different dispositions of peroxide group and N‐aryl fragment (methyl and peroxide group are on the same side of the molecule in the less shielded isomer A, and on different sides in the more hindered isomer B). The isomer A prevails over isomer B, reflecting the possibility of steric control on the dioxygen‐binding reaction. Complex 3, where R¹ = R² = Et, formed the isomers 6A and 6B as 50:50. The ratio 4A:4B was 60:40 (for methyl‐ethyl containing complex 4) and it increased up to 80:20 for methyl‐isopropyl‐containing 5. The molecular structure of isomers 4A and 4B was confirmed by X‐ray analysis. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The First Metal‐Carbon Bond β‐Isomer Paddlewheel Pd24+ Compounds

The first metal‐carbon bond β‐form paddlewheel complexes containing a Pd₂⁴⁺ core, [Pd(η²‐dithio)]₂(μ‐dppa)( μ‐SCNMe₂) (dithio = S₂P(OEt)₂, 2 ; S₂COEt, 3 ; S₂CNC₄H₈, 4 ), were prepared by the reactions of the α‐form paddlewheel‐type Pd₂⁺⁴ dipalladium complex [Pd₂ (μ‐Hdppa)₂(μ‐SCNMe₂)₂][Cl]₂, 1 with various dithio‐ligands, [NH₄][S₂P(OEt)₂], [K][S₂COEt] and [NH₄][S₂CNC₄H₈], in methanol at ambient temperature (Hdppa = bis(diphenylphosphino)amine). Electronic spectra and two X‐ray structures of the Pd₂⁺⁴ species have been determined.     

Synthesis,characterization, volatilization,alcoholysis and hydrolytic studies of nonaalkoxodititanatocopper(II) complexes

Heterobimetallic alkoxides of Cu(II) of the types [Cu{η⁴-Ti₂(OEt)₉}Cl] (1) and [Cu{η³-Ti₂(OR)₉}₂] [R = Prⁱ (2), R = Et(3)] have been prepared for the first time by the reactions of CuCl₂ · xROH with KTi₂(OR)₉ in 1:1 and 1:2 molar ratios, respectively, in benzene medium. The chloro(nonaalkoxo dititanato)copper(II) complexes undergo chloride replacement reactions by a variety of monodentate alkoxo (⁻OPrⁱ, ⁻OEt) and chelating [Al(OPrⁱ) ₄ ⁻ , Al(OEt) ₄ ⁻ , Nb(OPrⁱ) ₆ ⁻ , Zr₂(OPrⁱ) ₉ ⁻ , Sn₂(OPrⁱ) ₉ ⁻ , and Sn₂(OEt) ₉ ⁻ ] ligands to form interesting hetero(bi-and tri-)metallic complexes. Alcoholysis (with methyl alcohol and tert-butyl alcohol) and hydrolytic [with Ba(OH)₂ · 8H₂O powder] reactions of a few typical compounds have also been investigated. All of these have been characterized by elemental analyses, molecular weight determinations, spectral (i.r. and visible) and magnetic studies. On attempted volatilization under reduced pressure these complexes liberated titanium alkoxides as a volatile component leaving nonvolatile residues.     

Reactions of Magnesium and Titanium Alkoxides. Preparation and Characterization of Alkoxy-Derived Magnesium Titanate Powders and Ceramics

The interaction between magnesium and titanium alkoxides is studied in order to chose the best precursors for synthesis of MgTiO₃. No reaction between magnesium and titanium methoxides and isopropoxides occurs. The solubility diagrams for Mg(OR)₂-Ti(OR)₄-ROH, R = Et,-Bu at 20°C are studied. Magnesium ethoxotitanates of variable composition Mg_nTi_4-n (OEt)_16-2n2nEtOH (n=2.0-0) which are structural analogs of Ti₄(OR)₁₆ (R = Me, Et) are isolated. This is a quite unusual example of statistical distribution of heteroatoms in molecular structures of metal alkoxides. Among the systems of metal alkoxides with simple aliphatic radicals only Mg(OBu)₂-Ti(OBu)₄-BuOH gives a convenient precursor for the synthesis of MgTiO₃. A simple scheme of preparation of magnesium titanate from the alkoxide solutions is suggested. The phase purity of MgTiO₃ is to a considerable extent dependent on the hydrolysis conditions. The alkoxy-derived magnesium titanate is obtained in the form of a uniform fine powder, it can be sintered into dense ceramics in the temperature range of 1140–1220°C which is 150–200°C lower in comparison with the conventional powders.