The crystal structure of Mg51Zn20

The crystal structure of Mg₅₁Zn₂₀, a phase designated conventionally as “Mg₇Zn₃,” has been determined by the single-crystal X-ray diffraction method. It was solved by the examination of a Patterson synthesis, and refined by the ordinary Fourier and least-squares method; the R value obtained was 4.8% for 1167 observed reflections. The crystal is orthorhombic, space group Immm, with a = 14.083(3), b = 14.486(3), c = 14.025(3) Å, and Z = 2. There are 18 independent atomic sites, Zn1Zn6, Mg1Mg10, A, and B, and the last two sites are statistically occupied by Zn and Mg atoms with the occupancies; 0.46(2)Zn7 + 0.52(2)Mg11 and 0.24(2)Zn8 + 0.74(2)Mg12, for A and B, respectively. The structure of the crystal is described as an arrangement of icosahedral coordination polyhedra, to which all the atomic sites but Zn3 site belong. In this arrangement the Zn atoms other than the Zn3 and Zn8(B) center the icosahedral coordination polyhedra with coordination number 12. The Zn3, Zn8 atoms, and all the Mg atoms except Mg11(A) are located at the centers of various coordination polyhedra with the coordination numbers from 11 to 15. The distances between neighboring atoms are 2.71–3.07, 2.82–3.65, and 2.60–3.20 Å for ZnZn, MgMg, and ZnMg, respectively.     

The triple pyrophosphate Cs3CaFe(P2O7)2

The complex phosphate tricaesium calcium iron bis(diphosphate), Cs₃CaFe(P₂O₇)₂, has been prepared by the flux method. Isolated [FeO₅] and [CaO₆] polyhedra are linked by two types of P₂O₇ groups into a three‐dimensional framework. The latter is penetrated by hexagonal channels along the a axis where three Cs atoms are located. Calculations of caesium Voronoi–Dirichlet polyhedra give coordination schemes for the three Cs atoms as [8 + 3], [9 + 1] and [9 + 4]. The structure includes features of both two‐ and three‐dimensional frameworks of caesium double pyrophosphates.     

Grown from lithium flux,the ErCo5Si3.17 silicide is a combination of disordered derivatives of the UCo5Si3 and Yb6Co30P19 structure types

A ternary hexaerbium triacontacobalt enneakaidecasilicide, ErCo₅Si_3.17, crystallizes as a combination of disordered variants of the hexagonal UCo₅Si₃ (P6₃/m) and Yb₆Co₃₀P₁₉ (P) structure types and is closely related to the Sc₆Co₃₀Si₁₉ and Ce₆Rh₃₀Si₁₉ types. The Er, Co and three of the Si atoms occupy sites of m.. symmetry and a fourth Si atom occupies a site of .. symmetry. The environment of the Er atom is a 21‐vertex pseudo‐Frank–Kasper polyhedron. Trigonal prismatic coordination is observed for the Si atoms. The Co atoms are enclosed in heavily deformed cuboctahedra and 11‐vertex polyhedra. Crystallochemistry analysis and the data from electronic structure calculations (TB–LMTO–ASA) suggest that the Er atoms form positively charged cations which compensate the negative charge of the [Co₁₂Si₉]^m− polyanions.     

Crystal and electronic structures of La2LiGe6−x (x = 0.21) and La2LiGe4Si2

The synthesis and characterization of a new ternary dilanthanum lithium hexagermanide, La₂LiGe_6−x (x = 0.21), belonging to the Pr₂LiGe₆ structure type, and a quaternary dilanthanum lithium tetragermanium disilicide, La₂LiGe₄Si₂, which crystallizes as an ordered variant of this type, are reported. In both structures, Li is on a site of mmm symmetry. All other atoms are on sites of m2m symmetry. These structures are new representatives of a homologous linear structure series based on structural fragments of the AlB₂, CaF₂ and ZrSi₂ structure types. The observed 17‐vertex polyhedra are typical for La atoms and the environment of the Li atom is cubic. Two Ge atoms are enclosed in a tetragonal prism with one added atom (nine‐vertex polyhedron). The trigonal prismatic coordination is typical for Ge or Si atoms. The metallic nature of the bonding is indicated by the interatomic distances and electronic structure calculations.     

Novel Tin Structure Motives in Superconducting BaSn5 – The Role of Lone Pairs in Intermetallic Compounds [1]

BaSn₅ is the tin richest phase in the system Ba/Sn and is obtained by stoichiometric combination of the elements. The compound peritecticly decomposes under formation of BaSn₃ and a Sn–Ba melt at 430 °C. The structure shows a novel structure motive in tin chemistry. Tin atoms are arranged in graphite‐like layers (honeycombs). Two such layers form hexagonal prisms which are centered by Sn. Consequently the central tin atom has the unusual coordination number 12. The two‐dimensional tin slabs which consist of two 3⁶ and one 6³ nets of Sn atoms are separated by 6³ nets of Ba atoms with Ba above the center of each tin hexagon. The structure of BaSn₅ can be rationalized as a variante of AlB₂ and thus also of the superconducting MgB₂. Temperature dependent magnetic susceptibility measurements show that BaSn₅ is superconducting with T_c = 4.4 K. Reinvestigation of the magnetism of the Ba richer phase BaSn₃ reveals for this compound a T_c of 2.4 K. LMTO band structure and density of states calculations verify the metallic behavior of BaSn₅. The van Hove scenario of high‐temperature cuprate superconductors is discussed for this ‘classical' intermetallic superconductor. An analysis of the electronic structure with the help of fat‐band projections and the electron localization function (ELF) shows that the van Hove singularity in the DOS originates from non‐bonding (lone) electron pairs in the intermetallic phase BaSn₅. The role of lone pairs in intermetallic phases is discussed with respect to superconducting properties.     

“114”‐Type Nitrides LnAl(Si4−xAlx)N7Oδ with Unusual [AlN6] Octahedral Coordination

Aluminum–nitrogen six‐fold octahedral coordination, [AlN₆], is unusual and has only been seen in the high‐pressure rocksalt‐type aluminum nitride or some complex compounds. Herein we report novel nitrides LnAl(Si_4−x Al_x)N₇O_δ (Ln=La, Sm), the first inorganic compounds with [AlN₆] coordination prepared via non‐high‐pressure synthesis. Structure refinements of neutron powder diffraction and single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction data show that these compounds crystallize in the hexagonal Swedenborgite structure type with P 6₃mc symmetry where Ln and Al atoms locate in anticuboctahedral and octahedral interstitials, respectively, between the triangular and Kagomé layers of [SiN₄] tetrahedra. Solid‐state NMR data of high‐purity La‐114 powders confirm the unusual [AlN₆] coordination. These compounds are the first examples of the “33‐114” sub‐type in the “114” family. The additional site for over‐stoichiometric oxygen in the structure of 114‐type compounds was also identified.     

Li8Cu12+xAl6−x (x = 1.16): a new structure type related to Laves phases

The new ternary lithium copper aluminide Li₈Cu_12+xAl_6−x (x = 1.16) crystallizes in the P6₃/mmc space group with six independent atom positions of site symmetries m. (Al/Cu mixture), m2 (Li atoms), 3m. (Al/Cu mixture and Li atoms) and .m. (Cu atoms). The compound is a derivative of the K₇Cs₆ binary structure type and is related to the binary MgZn₂ Laves phase and the LiCuAl₂, MgCu_1.07Al_0.93 and Mg(Cu_1−xAl_x)₂ (x = 0.465) ternary Laves phases. The coordination polyhedra of the atoms in this structure are icosahedra (Cu atoms), slightly distorted icosahedra and bicapped hexagonal antiprisms (Al/Cu statistical mixture), and Frank–Kasper and distorted Frank–Kasper polyhedra (Li atoms). All interatomic distances indicate metallic type bonding.     

LiBC3: a new borocarbide based on graphene and heterographene networks

Li–B–C alloys have attracted much interest because of their potential use in lithium‐ion batteries and superconducting materials. The formation of the new compound LiBC₃ [lithium boron tricarbide; own structure type, space group P m 2, a = 2.5408 (3) Å and c = 7.5989 (9) Å] has been revealed and belongs to the graphite‐like structure family. The crystal structure of LiBC₃ presents hexagonal graphene carbon networks, lithium layers and heterographene B/C networks, alternating sequentially along the c axis. According to electronic structure calculations using the tight‐binding linear muffin‐tin orbital‐atomic spheres approximations (TB–LMTO–ASA) method, strong covalent B—C and C—C interactions are established. The coordination polyhedra for the B and C atoms are trigonal prisms and for the Li atoms are hexagonal prisms.     

Disordered La3Cu4.88Se7

The crystal structure of copper(I) lanthanum selenide, La₃Cu_4.88Se₇, obtained from the La₂Se₃–Cu₂Se quasi‐binary system, has been investigated using X‐ray single‐crystal diffraction. The positions of the La and Se atoms are ordered and lie on mirror planes, whereas all positions for the Cu atoms are partially occupied. The crystal is built from edge‐sharing [LaSe₆] and [LaSe₇] polyhedra. The five positions for the Cu atoms determine an ionic diffusion pathway in the structure.     

La2Pb(SiS4)2

Crystals of La₂Pb(SiS₄)₂, dilanthanum(III) lead(II) bis[tetrasulfidosilicate(IV)], were obtained from the La–Pb–Si–S system and structurally characterized using X‐ray single‐crystal diffraction. The La and Pb atoms are coordinated in bicapped trigonal prisms of S atoms, with the Si atoms in tetrahedra. An occupational disorder of the La and Pb centres was refined for one position in the structure. The bicapped trigonal prisms and tetrahedra share edges. A gap located 2.629 (1) Å from the sulfide anions was found around the coordination polyhedra, which makes La₂Pb(SiS₄)₂ a prospective material in crystal engineering. The Si and one S atom lie on a threefold axis.     

Structures of nonlinear hexagonal boratotungstates Ln3BWO9 (Ln = La, Pr, Nd, Sm, Gd, Tb, Dy)

Polycrystalline boratotungstates of composition Ln₃BWO₉ (Ln = Pr, Nd, Sm, Gd, Tb, Dy) are prepared by solid-phase synthesis and structurally studied. The structures are refined using the Rietveld method for hexagonal space group P6₃ (Z = 2). The boratotungstate structures are frameworks. The rare-earth cations in the structure are coordinated by an array of nine oxygen atoms (three oxygen atoms from borato groups BO₃ and six from WO₆ polyhedra). The nature of the optical nonlinearity in the hexagonal boratotungstates Ln₃BWO₉ is a direct consequence of the acentricity of both the tungstate and the rare-earth polyhedra in the structure. Dimorphism is discovered in polycrystalline La₃BWO₉.     

MgNB9, a new magnesium nitridoboride

The structure of a new magnesium nitridoboride, MgNB₉, has been refined from single‐crystal X‐ray data. The Mg and N atoms lie on sites with crystallographic 3m symmetry. The structure consists of two layers alternating along the c axis. The NB₆ layer, with B₁₂ icosahedra, has the C₂B₁₃ structure type. Within this layer, boron icosahedra are bonded to N atoms, each coordinating to three boron polyhedra. Another MgB₃ layer, with B₆ octahedra, does not belong to any known structure type. The boron icosahedra and octahedra are connected to each other, thus forming a three‐dimensional boron framework.     

A polynuclear coordination glutarate of lanthanum(III) with an uncommon cage feature

The title compound, tri­aqua­tris­(glutarato)­dilanthanum(III) dihydrate, {[La₂(C₅H₆O₄)₃(H₂O)₃]·2H₂O}_n, is the first re­ported glutarate coordination polymer of lanthanum(III) without a protonated ligand. The noteworthy features in the structure are, firstly, the unusual binuclear lanthanum cage formed by three bridging bonds through O atoms involved in different coordination modes and, secondly, the very rare `malonate' mode exhibited by a di­carboxyl­ate ligand with an alkyl chain of five C atoms. To our knowledge, this η⁷ chelation for the glutarate ligand has not been reported and was thought to be forbidden for steric reasons. The gauche–gauche conformation of the corresponding ligand favours cage formation, but trans geometries created along the ligating O atoms prevent cluster packing. The two independent La atoms are nine‐ and tenfold coordinated, leading to distorted one‐face‐sharing LaO₇(H₂O)₂ and LaO₉(H₂O) polyhedra, respectively. In the three‐dimensional framework, these asymmetric subunits are linked in a zigzag manner via one‐edge‐sharing LaO₉(H₂O) polyhedra and are connected by the carbon backbone chains of the ligands. The structure is very compact and, unlike many other reported di­carboxyl­ate lanthanides, connectivity between the two metal atoms and the three ligands yields a crystal packing with cavities accommodating two guest water mol­ecules but without an open framework.     

Action of Alkaline Earth Metals on Lanthanum Triiodide: Unusually Short La‐La Distances in SrLaI4 and BaLaI4

Black single crystals with metallic lustre of SrLaI₄ and BaLaI₄ were obtained by reduction of lanthanum triiodide, LaI₃, with strontium and barium, respectively, in sealed tantalum containers at 800 °C or above. The crystal structure was determined from X‐ray diffraction intensities; SrLaI₄ and BaLaI₄ are isotypic and crystallize with the monoclinic crystal system (space group I2/a, Z = 4, for SrLaI₄: a = 742.3(1), b = 1485.2(3), c = 862.3(1) pm, β = 101.07(2)°). The lanthanum atoms are in an eightfold square antiprismatic coordination with La‐I distances of 329—339 pm in SrLaI₄. The [LaI₈] polyhedra are connected via common faces to chains according to [LaI_8/2] running along [100]. This obviously makes exceptionally short La‐La distances of 371 pm possible.     

Zn‐rich Zincides of the Ternary System Ca–Mg–Zn: Synthesis,Crystal structure,Chemical Bonding

In the course of a study on the role of magnesium in polar zincides of the heavier alkaline‐earth elements, three intermetallic phases of the ternary system Ca–Mg–Zn were synthesized from melts of the elements and their structures were determined by means of single‐crystal X‐ray data. Starting from the binary zincide CaZn₁₁, the phase width of the BaCd₁₁‐type structure reaches up to the fully ordered stoichiometric compound CaMgZn₁₀ [tI48, space group I4₁/amd, a = 1082.66(6), c = 688.95(5) pm, Z = 4, R₁ = 0.0239]. The new compound CaMgZn₅ (oP28, space group Pnma, a = 867.48(3), b = 530.37(5), c = 1104.45(9) pm, Z = 4, R₁ = 0.0385) crystallizes in the CeCu₆‐type structure, exhibits no Mg/Zn phase width and has no binary border equivalent in the system Ca–Mg–Zn. Similar to the situation in CaMgZn₁₀, one M position of the aristotype has a slightly larger coordination sphere (CN = 14) and is accordingly occupied by the larger Mg atoms. The third phase, Ca_2+xMg_6–x–yZn_15+y (hP92, space group P6₃/mmc, a = 1476.00(5), c = 881.01(4) pm, Z = 4, R₁ = 0.0399 for Ca_2.67Mg_5.18Zn_15.15) forms the hexagonal Sm₃Mg₁₃Zn₃₀‐type structure also known as μ‐MgZnRE or S phase. A small phase width (x = 0–0.67; y = 0–0.58) is due to the slightly variable Ca or Zn content of the two Mg positions. The structure is described as an intergrowth of the hexagonal MgZn₂ Laves phase and the CaZn₂ structure (KHg₂‐type). All compounds exhibit strong Zn–Zn and polar Mg–Zn covalent bonds, which are visible in the calculated electron density maps. Their structures are thus herein described using the full space tilings of [Zn₄] and [MgZn₃] tetrahedra, which are fused to polyanions consisting of tetrahedra stars, icosahedra segments etc. and the large (CN = 18–22) Ca cation coordination polyhedra. Pseudo bandgaps apparent in the tDOS are compatible with the narrow v.e./M ranges observed for other isotypic members of the three structure types.     

Tm2.22Co6Sn20 and TmLi2Co6Sn20 stannides as disordered derivatives of the Cr23C6 structure type

A new ternary dithulium hexacobalt icosastannide, Tm_2.22Co₆Sn₂₀, and a new quaternary thulium dilithium hexacobalt icosastannide, TmLi₂Co₆Sn₂₀, crystallize as disordered variants of the binary cubic Cr₂₃C₆ structure type (cF116). 48 Sn atoms occupy sites of m.m2 symmetry, 32 Sn atoms sites of .3m symmetry, 24 Co atoms sites of 4m.m symmetry, eight Li (or Tm in the case of the ternary phase) atoms sites of symmetry and four Tm atoms sites of symmetry. The environment of one Tm atom is an 18‐vertex polyhedron and that of the second Tm (or Li) atom is a 16‐vertex polyhedron. Tetragonal antiprismatic coordination is observed for the Co atoms. Two Sn atoms are enclosed in a heavily deformed bicapped hexagonal prism and a monocapped hexagonal prism, respectively, and the environment of the third Sn atom is a 12‐vertex polyhedron. The electronic structures of both title compounds were calculated using the tight‐binding linear muffin‐tin orbital method in the atomic spheres approximation (TB–LMTO–ASA). Metallic bonding is dominant in these compounds, but the presence of Sn—Sn covalent dumbbells is also observed.     

Cerous sodium nitrate monohydrate,Na2Ce(NO3)5·H2O

The title compound, disodium cerium pentanitrate monohydrate, was synthesized from a nitric acid solution of Ce(NO₃)₃·6H₂O and NaNO₃, and its structure has been determined from single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction data. The structure is built from isolated chains of irregular icosahedral [Ce(NO₃)₆]^3? anions. Na atoms and water mol­ecules are located between the chains. The Na coordination polyhedra, in the form of a square antiprism or a monocapped square antiprism, share common vertices and contribute to the formation of a three‐dimensional network. Ten nitrate groups act as bridging ligands.     

Lanthanide Nitrido Borates with Six-Membered B3N6 Rings: Ln3B3N6

Metal compounds with heteroatomic ring systems of main group elements are a domain of coordination chemistry. However, lanthanide nitrido borates Ln₃B₃N₆ (Ln=La or Ce; see structure) are synthesized by the reaction of hexagonal boron nitride with LnN. The compounds contain the six-membered B₃N₆ ring, which can be seen as a fragment from one layer of the hexagonal BN structure.     

Di­bromo­tetra‐μ3‐methoxo‐di‐μ2‐methoxo‐hexakis­(tetra­hydro­furan‐d8)­tetramagnesium

The crystal structure of the title compound, [Mg₄Br₂(CH₃O)₆(C₄D₈O)₆], consists of discrete mol­ecules with imposed symmetry C_i. The tetranuclear compound exhibits two crystallographically independent Mg atoms having distorted octahedral and trigonal–bipyramidal ­coordination spheres. The Mg atoms are bridged by two μ₃‐OMe and four μ₂‐OMe ligands, and their coordination is completed by two terminal Br and six tetra­hydro­furan ligands.     

catena‐Poly­[[tetrakis(2‐allyl­tetrazole‐κN4)‐tetra‐μ‐chloro‐tricopper(II)]‐di‐μ‐chloro]

In the crystal structure of the title compound, [Cu₃Cl₆(C₄H₆N₄)₄]_n, there are three Cu atoms, six Cl atoms and four 2‐allyl­tetrazole ligands in the asymmetric unit. The polyhedron of one Cu atom adopts a flattened octahedral geometry, with two 2‐allyl­tetrazole ligands in the axial positions [Cu—N4 = 1.990 (2) and 1.991 (2) Å] and four Cl atoms in the equatorial positions [Cu—Cl = 2.4331 (9)–2.5426 (9) Å]. The polyhedra of the other two Cu atoms have a square‐pyramidal geometry, with three basal sites occupied by Cl atoms [Cu—Cl = 2.2487 (9)–2.3163 (8) and 2.2569 (9)–2.3034 (9) Å] and one basal site occupied by a 2‐allyl­tetrazole ligand [Cu—N4 = 2.028 (2) and 2.013 (2) Å]. A Cl atom lies in the apical position of either pyramid [Cu—Cl = 2.8360 (10) and 2.8046 (9) Å]. The possibility of including the tetrazole N3 atoms in the coordination sphere of the two Cu atoms is discussed. Neighbouring copper polyhedra share their edges with Cl atoms to form one‐dimensional polymeric chains running along the a axis.