The New Homoleptic Tetracyanamidoaluminate LiBa2[Al(CN2)4]

The new tetracyanamidoaluminate LiBa₂[Al(CN₂)₄] was prepared by solid state metathesis reaction in a fused copper ampoule from a mixture of BaF₂, AlF₃, and Li₂(CN₂) at 550 °C. The crystal structure was solved and refined based on single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction data [P2₁2₁2₁, Z = 4, a = 6.843(1) Å, b = 11.828(2) Å, c = 11.857(2) Å]. The compound belongs to the known formula type LiM₂[Al(CN₂)₄] (M = Sr, Eu) containing the homoleptic [Al(CN₂)₄]^5– ion. However, LiBa₂[Al(CN₂)₄] forms a distinct crystal structure, containing a two‐dimensional [(NCN)_2/2Li(NCN)₂Al(NCN)_2/2] network with four‐coordinate Li⁺ and Al³⁺ ions. Two crystallographically independent Ba²⁺ ions are situated in eightfold environment of terminal nitrogen atoms of cyanamide ions.     

Elevated-temperature metathesis syntheses of structurally novel alkali-metal tetrakis(3,5-di-tert-butylpyrazolato)lanthanoidate(III) complexes: toluene-coordinated discrete bimetallic complexes and supramolecular chains

Sodium and potassium tetrakis(3,5-di-tert-butylpyrazolato)lanthanoidate(III) complexes [M[Ln(tBu(2)pz)(4)]] have been prepared by reaction of anhydrous lanthanoid trihalides with alkali metal 3,5-di-tert-butylpyrazolates at 200-300 degrees C, and a 1,2,4,5-tetramethylbenzene flux for M=K. On extraction with toluene (or occasionally directly from the reaction tube) the following complexes were isolated: [Na(PhMe)[Ln(tBu(2)pz)(4)]] (1 Ln; 1 Ln=1 Tb, 1 Ho, 1 Er, 1 Yb), [K(PhMe)[Ln(tBu(2)pz)(4)]].2 PhMe (2 Ln; 2 Ln=2 La, 2 Sm, 2 Tb, 2 Ho, 2 Yb, 2 Lu), [Na[Ln(tBu(2)pz)(4)]](n) (3 Ln; 3 Ln=3 La, 3 Tb, 3 Ho, 3 Er, 3 Yb), [K[Ln(tBu(2)pz)(4)]](n) (4 Ln; 4 Ln=4 La, 4 Nd, 4 Sm, 4 Tb, 4 Ho, 4 Er, 4 Yb, 4 Lu), with the last two classes generally being obtained by loss of toluene from 1 Ln or 2 Ln, and [Na(tBu(2)pzH)[Ln(tBu(2)pz)(4)]].PhMe (5 Ln; 5 Ln=5 Nd, 5 Er, 5 Yb). Extraction with 1,2-dimethoxyethane (DME) after isolation of 2 Ho yielded [K(dme)[Ho(tBu(2)pz)(4)]] (6 Ho). X-ray crystal structures of 1 Ln (=1 Tb, 1 Ho; P2(1)/c), 2 Ln (=2 La, 2 Sm, 2 Tb, 2 Yb, 2 Lu; Pnma), 3,4 Ln (=3 La, 3 Er, 4 Sm; P2(1)/m), and 5 Ln (=5 Nd, 5 Er, and 5 Yb; P1) show each group to be isomorphous regardless of the size of the Ln(3+) ion. All complexes contain eight-coordinate [Ln(eta(2)-tBu(2)pz)(4)] units. These are further linked to the alkali metal by bridging through two (1,2,5 Ln) or three (3,4 Ln) tBu(2)pz groups which show striking coordination versatility. Sodium is coordinated by an eta(4)-PhMe, a micro-eta(2):eta(2)-tBu(2)pz, and a micro-eta(4)(Na):eta(2)(Ln)-tBu(2)pz ligand in 1 Ln, and by one eta(1)-tBu(2)pzH and two micro-eta(3)(Na):eta(2)(Ln) ligands in 5 Ln. By contrast, potassium has one eta(6)-PhMe and two micro-eta(5)(K):eta(2)(Ln) ligands in 2 Ln. Classes 3,4 Ln form polymeric chains with the alkali metal bonded by two micro-eta(3)(NNC-M):eta(2)(Ln)-tBu(2)pz ligands within [MLn(tBu(2)pz)(4)] units which are joined together by eta(1)(C)-tBu(2)pz-Na, K linkages.     

Further Examples of the P‐O‐P Connection in Borophosphates: Synthesis and Characterization of Li2Cs2B2P4O15, LiK2BP2O8, and Li3M2BP4O14 (M=K,Rb)

A new series of anhydrous mixed alkali‐metal borophosphates—Li₂Cs₂B₂P₄O₁₅ ( 1 ), LiK₂BP₂O₈ ( 2 ), Li₃K₂BP₄O₁₄ ( 3 ), and Li₃Rb₂BP₄O₁₄ ( 4 )—have been successfully synthesized by using the conventional solid‐state reaction method. Compound 1 contains a novel fundamental building unit (FBU), [B₄P₈O₃₀], with B/P=1:2. Compound 2 contains an FBU of [B₂P₄O₁₆] with B/P=1:2. Compounds 3 and 4 are isotypic, and they have a [B(P₂O₇)₂] unit as their FBU. In all four compounds, their FBUs are connected through corner sharing to generate layered anionic partial structures, and then further linked with metallic polyhedra to form three‐dimensional (3D) frameworks. Most interestingly, three of the four compounds contain direct P‐O‐P connections in their structures, which is extremely rare among borophosphates. Thermal analyses, IR spectroscopy, and UV/Vis/near‐IR diffuse reflectance spectroscopy have also been performed on the four title compounds.     

Salts of HCN‐Cyanide Aggregates: [CN(HCN)2]− and [CN(HCN)3]−

Although pure hydrogen cyanide can spontaneously polymerize or even explode, when initiated by small amounts of bases (e.g. CN^?), the reaction of liquid HCN with [WCC]CN (WCC=weakly coordinating cation=Ph₄P, Ph₃PNPPh₃=PNP) was investigated. Depending on the cation, it was possible to extract salts containing the formal dihydrogen tricyanide [CN(HCN)₂]^? and trihydrogen tetracyanide ions [CN(HCN)₃]^? from liquid HCN when a fast crystallization was carried out at low temperatures. X‐ray structure elucidation revealed hydrogen‐bridged linear [CN(HCN)₂]^? and Y‐shaped [CN(HCN)₃]^? molecular ions in the crystal. Both anions can be considered members of highly labile cyanide‐HCN solvates of the type [CN(HCN)_n]^? (n=1, 2, 3 …) as well as formal polypseudohalide ions.     

Tetracyanometallates with Complex Dien Cations: [Ni(dien)2][Ni(CN)4]·2H2O and [Ni(dien)2][Pd(CN)4]

The crystal structures of two square tetracyanocomplexes were determined. [Ni(dien)₂][Ni(CN)₄]·2H₂O (NDNCH) and [Ni‐(dien)₂][Pd(CN)₄] (NDPC) (dien = diethylene triamine) exhibit ionic structures consisting of mer‐[Ni(dien)₂]²⁺ cations and [Ni(CN)₄]^2‐ or [Pd(CN)₄]^2‐ anions, respectively. Moreover, the structure of NDNCH is completed by two water molecules of crystallisation. In both compounds hydrogen bonds contribute to the stabilisation of the structure. NDNCH dehydrates on air quickly yielding anhydrous [Ni(dien)₂][Ni(CN)₄] (NDNC). Its thermal decomposition proceeds in a complicated process followed by aerial oxidation of metallic nickel to NiO.     

Homothiacalix[4]arenes: synthetic exploration and solid-state structures

Homothiacalix[n]arenes have been largely underexposed compared with related (homo)heteracalixarenes, although their inherent structural features are particularly attractive for supramolecular host-guest chemistry. In this contribution, the synthetic macrocyclization protocols that afford homothiacalix[n]arenes have been reinvestigated and optimized, providing straightforward access to the parent homothiacalix[4]arene skeleton. Moreover, inner-rim (bis and tetrakis) ester functionalization and dimethylenethia bridge oxidation were successfully performed as well. Solution-phase (variable-temperature) NMR spectroscopy studies and solid-state X-ray structures provided complementary information on the conformational features of the novel macrocycles.     

The Binary Group 4 Azides [PPh4]2[Zr(N3)6] and [PPh4]2[Hf(N3)6]

The binary zirconium and hafnium polyazides [PPh₄]₂[M(N₃)₆] (M=Zr, Hf) were obtained in near quantitative yields from the corresponding metal fluorides MF₄ by fluoride–azide exchange reactions with Me₃SiN₃ in the presence of two equivalents of [PPh₄][N₃]. The novel polyazido compounds were characterized by their vibrational spectra and their X‐ray crystal structures. Both anion structures provide experimental evidence for near‐linear M‐N‐N coordination of metal azides. The species [M(N₃)₄], [M(N₃)₅]^? and [M(N₃)₆]^2? (M=Ti, Zr, Hf) were studied by quantum chemical calculations at the electronic structure density functional theory and MP2 levels.     

Zn[BPO4(OH)2]: a zinc borophosphate with the rare moganite-type topology

A novel zinc borophosphate Zn[BPO(4)(OH)(2)] with moganite-type topology (a rare polymorph of silica) has been prepared from a mixture of ZnO, B(2)O(3), and P(2)O(5) by hydrothermal treatment at 443 K. The crystal structure was determined from single-crystal X-ray data (orthorhombic, Pbcn (no. 60), a=915.07(3), b=897.22(3), c=1059.19(3) pm, V=869.62(5)x10(6) pm(3), Z=8, R1=0.028, wR2=0.075). The crystal structure comprises unbranched vierer-single borophosphate chains running along [010] and interconnected via ZnO(2)(OH)(2)-tetrahedra by sharing common vertices. The resulting topology of the three-dimensional tetrahedral framework structure is described by the Schl?fli symbol (4(2).6(2).8(2))(4.6(4).8)(2). Although showing Zn in a tetrahedral coordination, the title compound does not belong to the group of zincoborophosphates but is a special case of a borophosphate containing vierer single rings of tetrahedra with the sequence Zn-B-Zn-P.     

Single-crystal X-ray study of Ba2Cu2Te4O11Br2 and its incommensurately modulated superstructure companion

Compounds containing lone-pair elements such as Te(IV) are very interesting from the structural point of view, as the lone-pair nonbonding regions create low-dimensional geometrical arrangements. We have synthesized two new compounds with these features-Ba(2)Cu(2)Te(4)O(11)Br(2) (I) and Ba(2)Cu(2)Te(4)O(11-delta)(OH)(2delta)Br(2) (II, delta approximately equal to 0.57)-as members of the AE-M-Te-O-X (AE=alkaline-earth metal, M=transition metal, X=halide) family of compounds by solid-state reactions. Preliminary single-crystal X-ray analysis indicated that compound I crystallizes in the orthorhombic system, but attempts at refinement proved unsatisfactory. Closer inspection of the reciprocal lattice revealed systematic, non-crystallographic absences that indicate twinning. The structure is in fact triclinic, space group C_1 (equivalent to P_1), with unit cell parameters (at 120 K) of a=10.9027(9), b=15.0864(7), c=9.379(2) A, beta=106.8947 degrees . It is layered and built from [TeO(3)E] tetrahedra, [TeO(3+1)E] trigonal bipyramids (where E is the lone pair of Te(IV)), [CuO(4)] squares and irregular [BaO(10)Br] polyhedra. The crystal structure of II shows the same basic structure as I but contains additional oxygen, probably in the form of OH groups. The presence of satellites reveals that ordering on this O site creates an incommensurate modulation, primarily affecting Br and Te. The modulated structure of II was solved in the triclinic superspace group X$\bar 1$(alphabetagamma)0 with the vector q approximately equal to1/16 c*.     

Unprecedented association of [Mo6Br(i) 7Y(i)Br(a) 6]3- cluster units and [Mo(III)Br6]3- complexes: synthesis, crystal structures, and properties of the double salts Rb3[Mo6Br(i) 7Y(i)Br(a) 6](Rb3[MoBr6])3 (Y=Se, Te)

The double salts Rb(3)[Mo(6)Br(i) (7)Y(i)Br(a) (6)](Rb(3)[MoBr(6)])(3) (Y=Se, Te) result from the partial disproportionation of the Mo(6)Br(12) octahedral-cluster-based bromide, in the presence of corresponding chalcogenides and RbBr salt (crystal data: Rb(12)[MoBr(6)](3)[Mo(6)Br(i) (7)Te(i)Br(a) (6)] (1), Pm$\bar 3$m (No. 221), a=12.1558(2) A, Z=1, R(1)=0.028; wR(2)=0.050; Rb(12)[MoBr(6)](3)[Mo(6)Br(i) (7)Se(i)Br(a) (6)] (2), Pm$\bar 3$m, a=12.144(3) A, Z=1, R(1)=0.028; wR(2)=0.050). The structures of 1 and 2 are built up from [Mo(III)Br(6)](3-) complexes and [Mo(6)Br(i) (7)Y(i)Br(a) (6)](3-) cluster units characterised by a random distribution of seven bromine and one chalcogen ligands on all the eight inner positions that face cap the Mo(6) clusters. Such a distribution implies a static orientational disorder of the [Mo(6)Br(i) (7)Y(i)Br(a) (6)](3-) units around the origin of the unit cell. Close-packed anionic layers based on [Mo(III)Br(6)](3-) complexes and [Mo(6)Br(i) (7)Y(i)Br(a) (6)](3-) cluster units are stacked in the sequence ABC. This arrangement leads to very short Br(a)--Br(a) intercluster unit distances of 3.252 A, much lower than the sum of the van der Waals radii (3.70 A). The trivalent oxidation state of molybdenum in the Mo complexes and 24 valence electrons per Mo(6) cluster have been confirmed by magnetic susceptibility measurements. Salts 1 and 2 constitute the first examples of structurally characterised bromides containing discrete [Mo(III)Br(6)](3-) complexes obtained by means of solid-state synthesis.     

Supercubooctahedron (Cs6Cl)2Cs5[Ga15Ge9Se48] Exhibiting Both Cation and Anion Exchange

A novel type of supertetrahedral connectivity is exhibited by the 72‐atom discrete supercubooctahedron in (Cs₆Cl)₂Cs₅[Ga₁₅Ge₉Se₄₈] ( 1 ), which undergoes both cation and anion exchange, as revealed by unambiguous single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction data. Electronic‐structure studies helped to understand the Ge/Ga distribution.