Synthesis, structure and properties of Li2Rh3B2

Li₂Rh₃B₂ has been synthesized at 1000 °C from a stoichiometric mix of rhodium and boron and an excess of lithium. Li₂Rh₃B₂ crystallizes in the orthorhombic space group Pbam (no. 55, Z=2) with room temperature lattice constants a=5.7712(1) Å, b=9.4377(2) Å, c=2.8301(1) Å and cell volume 154.149(6) Å³. The structure was solved from single crystal X-ray diffraction yielding the final R indices (all data) R1=2.8% and wR2=4.7%. The structure is a distortion of the CeCo₃B₂ structure type, containing a network of Rh₆B trigonal prisms and short Li-Li contacts of 2.28(2) Å. Li₂Rh₃B₂ is a diamagnetic metal with a room temperature resistivity of 19 μΩ cm, as determined by magnetic susceptibility and single crystal transport measurements. The measured diamagnetism and electronic structure calculations show that Li₂Rh₃B₂ contains rhodium in a d¹⁰ configuration.     

The crystal structure of Sc2Ru5B4

The crystal structure of Sc₂Ru₅B₄ has been determined by single-crystal X-ray analysis. Sc₂Ru₅B₄ crystallizes in the primitive monoclinic space group $\text{P2}\text{m}$ with a = 9.983(6), b = 8.486(4), c = 3.0001(3)Å, γ = 90.01(7)°, Z = 2. Deviations from the orthorhombic space group Pbam-D⁹_2h are small but significant. Intensity measurements were obtained from a four-circle diffractometer. The structure was solved by Patterson methods and refined by full matrix least-squares calculation. $\text{R =}\text{∑|ΔF|}\text{∑|F}{}_0\text{|}\text{= 0.036}$ for an asymmetric set of 863 independent reflections (|F₀|>2σ(F₀)). The crystal structure is characterized by two different types of boron atoms: (a) isolated borons B(1) and B(3) in distorted trigonal Ru-prisms with tetrakaidekahedral metal coordination: 6Ru + 3Sc, and (b) boron atoms B(2) and B(4) with a pronounced tendency to form boron pairs (B(2)-B(2) = 1.86 Å, B(4)-B(4) = 1.89 Å); the metal coordination of these boron atoms is 6Ru + 2Sc. Sc atoms have a coordination number of 17 consisting of 10Ru + 2Sc + 5B. The crystal structure of Sc₂Ru₅B₄ is a pentagon layer structure (Ru, B atoms) with a 4.3.4.3²-secondary layer of Sc atoms. The structure is furthermore related to the structure types of Ti₃Co₅B₂ and CeCo₃B₂. From powder photographs Sc₂Os₅B₄ is isotypic. No superconductivity was observed for Sc₂(Ru, Os)₅B₄ down to 1.5 K.     

Structural and electronic effects involving pyridine rings in 4-methylpyridine Cu4OX6L4 complexes. II. Correlations based on molecular structure of the Cu4OCl6(4-Mepy)4 complex

Correlations involving bond lengths and bond angles in the molecular structure of the Cu₄OCl₆(4-Mepy)₄ complex (4-Mepy = 4-methylpyridine) with four symmetrically independent molecules present in the unit cell showed that the donor-acceptor behavior involving the π-back donation into the pyridine rings of the 4-Mepy ligands is most effectively stimulated by a suitable orientation of the pyridine rings in the trigonal bipyramidal geometry. The pyridine ring planes are almost in parallel orientation with one of the three Cu-Cl bonds. The bond lengths of these Cu-Cl bonds are in a significant linear correlation with the Cu-N bond lengths and the bonds lengths of the pyridine rings. The pyridine rings orientation is affected by distortion of the trigonal bipyramidal geometry to tetragonal pyramidal coordination, by out-of plane pyridine rings deviation and in-plane pyridine rings tilting, by puckering of the pyridine rings and by the effects of the methyl groups. The pyridine rings in at least seven of the sixteen trigonal bipyramidal coordinations exhibit an orientation supporting the π-back bonding between the Cu(II) atoms and the pyridine rings.     

Magnetocaloric effect in the ternary DyCo3B2 compound

A large magnetocaloric (MCE) effect has been observed for the ternary compound DyCo₃B₂. This material shows the magnetic ordering below T_C = 22 K for H = 0 T. MCE has been determined based on the isothermal magnetization curves measurements and the isomagnetic heat capacity dependence on temperature. The maximum magnetic entropy change −ΔS_M = 17.5 J kg⁻¹K⁻¹ and the adiabatic temperature change ΔT_ad = 14 K have been observed in the neighborhood of the magnetic phase transition at the magnetic field change of 9 T. The analysis of the magnetic contribution to the specific heat indicates on the important role of the crystal electric field and the anisotropy for the properties of the DyCo₃B₂ compound.     

Pr8Cl7B7: preparation, structure, bonding, properties

Pr₈Cl₇B₇ is prepared from stoichiometric mixtures of PrCl₃3, Pr and B at 1220 K in closed Ta capsules. Pr₈Cl₇B₇ forms golden coloured needles sensitive to moist air. It crystallizes in the space group P1 with a = 773.1(2) pm, b = 903.0(2) pm, c = 1419.4(3) pm, a = 81.55(3)°, β = 82.18(3)°, and γ = 64.76(3)°. In the crystal structure Pr₆ trigonal prisms are condensed to double chains which run parallel [100]. Some of the prisms and rectangular prism faces are centered by boron atoms which leads to B₃, B₆, B₈ rings, and B₂ dumbbells condensed into ribbons. These Pr₈B₇ strands are surrounded and held together by the Cl atoms. Pr₈Cl₇B₇ is a metallic conductor and shows Curie Weiss behavior with μ_eff = 3.48 μ_B. According to extended Hückel calculations, the distribution of valence electrons is best described by a formulation Pr₈¹⁸⁺Cl₇⁷⁻B₇¹¹⁻. Bonding within the boron ribbons is thus nearly optimal, while the average 4f² 5d^3/4 configuration of Pr accounts for both the observed magnetic moment and metallic conductivity.     

Crystal Structure of SrAl2B2O7 and Eu Luminescence

The crystal structure of strontium dialuminodiborate SrAl₂B₂O₇ has been established by single-crystal X-ray diffraction methods. The compound crystallizes in the trigonal system (space group R c, Z=6) with cell parameters a=4.893(1) Å and c=47.78(1) Å. Aluminium and boron atoms are, respectively, in tetrahedral and triangular oxygen coordination. The assembly of Al₂O₇ units and BO₃ triangles forms double layers between which Sr²⁺ ions are located. The Eu²⁺-doped crystalline powder exhibits a luminescence band with maximum at 415 nm. Luminescence characteristics are compared to those of other strontium borates.     

Synthesis, crystal structure and characterization of iron pyroborate (Fe2B2O5) single crystals

Single crystals of iron(II) pyroborate, Fe₂B₂O₅, were prepared at 1000–1050 °C under an argon atmosphere. The crystals were transparent, yellowish in color and needle-like or columnar. The crystal structure of Fe₂B₂O₅ was analyzed by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Refined triclinic unit cell parameters were a=3.2388(2), b=6.1684(5), c=9.3866(8) Å, α=104.613(3)°, β=90.799(2)° and γ=91.731(2)°. The final reliability factors of refinement were R1=0.020 and wR2=0.059 [I > 2σ(I)]. Transmittance over 50% in the visible light region from 500 to 750 nm was observed for a single crystal of Fe₂B₂O₅ with a thickness of about 0.3 mm. The light absorption edge estimated from a diffuse reflectance spectrum was at around 350 nm (3.6 eV). Magnetic susceptibility was measured for single crystals at 4–300 K. Fe₂B₂O₅ showed antiferromagnetic behavior below the Néel temperature, T_N≈70 K, and the Weiss temperature was T_W=36 K. The effective magnetic moment of Fe was 5.3μ_B.     

Synthesis, Structure, and Superconductivity in Be1.09B3

The compound Be_1.09B₃ was prepared by arc-melting of the elemental constituents. The structure of single crystals taken from the arc-melted boule was determined from single-crystal X-ray data (T=120 K) and is hexagonal, having space group P6/mmm, and lattice parameters a=9.7738(7) Å and c=9.5467(6) Å, R=0.047. The structure consists of a hexagonal array of boronicosahedra, nonicosahedral B₁₂ cages, and B₁₈ cages. Stacked hexagonal layers of boron atoms, hexagons formed by B and Be, and equilateral triangles of boron atoms disordered by a 60° rotation exist along a 6-fold axis down the [001] direction. A superconducting transition at 0.72 K is clearly indicated by resistivity measurements.     

Structural studies in the BaO-B2O3-TiO2 system by XAS and B-NMR

The structure of barium-titanium-metaborate xBaO-xB₂O₃-yTiO₂ (y=0%, 4%, 8%, 16% and x=50-y/2) amorphous and crystallized powders, obtained using a polymeric precursor method, was investigated by Ti and B K-edge X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) and ¹¹B-NMR high-resolution techniques. XANES study of amorphous samples shows that Ti⁴⁺ ions exist as ^[4]Ti species associated to ^[6]Ti and ^[5]Ti species in a practically equivalent amount. After crystallization, titanium environment is predominately composed by ^[6]Ti species. According to XANES results obtained at the B K-edge, the fraction of boron in tetrahedral sites (^[4]B) reduces as the amount of TiO₂ is increased from x=0% to 4%, with a consequent increase of boron in trigonal sites (^[3]B). By a combination of ¹¹B-NMR spin-echo and triple quantum magic angle spinning (3Q-MAS) techniques, the detailed borate speciation was determined as consisting in ^[4]B and two kind of trigonal sites, ^[3]B_A and ^[3]B_B, corresponding, respectively, to borates sharing three and two O atoms with other boron units. NMR results reveal not only the reduction in boron coordination also seen by XANES but also the simultaneous reduction in the condensation degree of trigonal units, when the Ti content is increased in the glass. In crystallized samples, β-BaB₂O₄ and BaTi(BO₃)₂ phases were identified and quantified by ¹¹B-NMR.     

Synthesis and molecular structure of [Au3Ru4(μ3-H)(CO)12(PPh3)3]

The title compound can be prepared in good yield by heating either [Ru₄(μ-H)₄(CO)₁₂] or [Au₂Ru₄(μ₃-H)₂(CO)₁₂(PPh₃)₂] with [AuMe(PPh₃)] in toluene. The related compound [Au₃Ru₄(μ₃-H)(μ-dppm)(CO)₁₂(PPh₃)] has also been prepared. Both trigoldtetraruthenium clusters undergo dynamic behaviour in solution, involving intramolecular rearrangement of the metal core, as revealed by variable temperature NMR studies. The crystal structure of [Au₃Ru₄(μ₃-H)(CO)₁₂(PPh₃)₃] has been established by an X-ray diffraction study. The metal atom core comprises a trigonal bipyramidal AuRu₄ unit with two AuRu₂ faces capped by gold atoms.     

La3Ru8B6 and Y3Os8B6, new members of a homologous series R(A)nM3n−1B2n

Two new compounds, La₃Ru₈B₆ and Y₃Os₈B₆, were synthesized by arc melting the elements. Their structural characterization was carried out at room temperature on as-cast samples by using X-ray diffractometry. According to X-ray single-crystal diffraction results these borides crystallize in Fmmm space group (no. 69), Z=4, a=5.5607(1) Å, b=9.8035(3) Å, c=17.5524(4) Å, ρ=8.956 Mg/m³, μ=25.23 mm⁻¹ for La₃Ru₈B₆ and a=5.4792(2) Å, b=9.5139(4) Å, c=17.6972(8) Å, ρ=13.343 Mg/m³, μ=128.23 mm⁻¹ for Y₃Os₈B₆. The crystal structure of La₃Ru₈B₆ was confirmed from Rietveld refinement of X-ray powder diffraction data. Both La₃Ru₈B₆ and Y₃Os₈B₆ compounds are isotypic with the Ca₃Rh₈B₆ compound and their structures are built up from CeCo₃B₂-type and CeAl₂Ga₂-type structural fragments taken in ratio 2:1. They are the members of structural series R(A)_nM_3n−1B_2n with n=3 (R is the rare earth metal, A the alkaline earth metal, and M the transition metal). Structural and atomic parameters were also obtained for La_0.94Ru₃B₂ compound from Rietveld refinement (CeCo₃B₂-type structure, P6/mmm space group (no. 191), a=5.5835(9) Å, c=3.0278(6) Å).     

Synthesis and structure of BIS(Trifluoromethyl)BIS(Tri-methylsilyl)Amino dichloroarsorane, (CF3)2AsCl2N(SiMe3)2

The synthesis of (CF₃)₂AsCl₂N(SiMe₃)₂ is reported. This compound has been characterized on the basis of an X-ray analysis. It has a trigonal bipyramidal geometry with axial chlorine atoms. Variable temperature ¹H- and ¹⁹F-NMR data show no observable changes. In comparison to pentacoordinated phosphorus compounds the tendency to form tetracoordinated derivatives is strongly diminished in the case of arsenic compounds.     

Synthesis and study of (CN3H6)2[(UO2)2(C2O4)(SeO3)2] by IR spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction

Single crystals of (CN₃H₆)₂[(UO₂)₂(C₂O₄)(SeO₃)₂] were synthesized and studied by IR spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction. The compound crystallizes in the triclinic system with the unit cell parameters a = 7.1169(12) ?, b = 7.4874(10) ?, c = 8.9748(14) ?, α = 88.243(6)°, β = 74.546(6)°, γ = 81.445(6)°, space group P[`1]P\bar 1, Z = 1, R = 0.0304. The main structural units of the crystals are layers of the [(UO₂)₂(C₂O₄)(SeO₃)₂]²⁻ composition; the layers belong to the crystal chemical group A ₂ K ⁰² T ₂³ (A = UO₂²⁺ K ⁰² = C₂O₄²⁻, T ³ = SeO₃^–) of uranyl complexes. Uranium-containing complex groups are linked by electrostatic interactions and a network of hydrogen bonds with CN₃H₆⁺ guanidinium ions to form a three-dimensional framework.     

Na6B13O22.5, a new noncentrosymmetric sodium borate

Na₆B₁₃O_22.5 (B/Na=2.17) single crystals were obtained by heating, melting and appropriately cooling borax, Na₂[B₄O₅(OH)₄]·8H₂O. Its formula has been determined by the resolution of the structure from single-crystal X-ray diffraction data. The compound crystallizes in the noncentrosymmetric orthorhombic Iba2 space group, with the following unit cell parameters: a=33.359(11) Å, b=9.554(3) Å, c=10.644(4) Å; V=3392.4(19) Å³; Z=8. The crystal structure was solved from 3226 reflections until R₁=0.0385. It exhibits a three-dimensional framework built up from BO₃ triangles (Δ) and BO₄ tetrahedra (T). Two kinds of borate groups can be considered forming two different double B₃O₃ rings: two B₄O₉ (linkage by two boron atoms) and one B₅O₁₁ (linkage by one boron atom); the shorthand notation of the new fundamental building block (FBB) existing in this compound is: 13: ∞³ [(5: 3Δ+2T)+2(4: 2Δ+2T)]. The discovery of this new borate questions the real number of Na₂B₄O₇ varieties. The existence of Na₆B₁₃O_22.5 (B/Na=2.17) and of another recently discovered borate, Na₃B₇O₁₂ (B/Na=2.33; FBB 7: ∞³ [(3: 2Δ+T)+(3: Δ+2T)+(1: Δ)], with a composition close to the long-known borate α-Na₂B₄O₇ (B/Na=2; FBB 8: ∞³ [(5: 3Δ+2T)+(3: 2Δ+T)], may explain the very complex equilibria reported in the Na₂O-B₂O₃ phase diagram, especially in this range of composition.     

Reactions of closo-1,5-C2B3H5 with Cl2 and with BMe3

Reaction of closo-1,5-C₂B₃H₅ with Cl₂ under reduced temperatures in an inert solvent gives 2-Cl-1,5-C₂B₃H₄. Using a hot/cold reactor a mixture of BMe₃ and 1,5-C₂B₃H₅ is converted to a combination of B-mono-, di-, and tri-methyl derivatives of this smallest closo carborane. In addition, B-mono-, di-, tri-, and tetramethyl derivatives of 2,2$\text{-}\text{?}$C₂B₃H₄C₂B₃H₄, as well as the parent dimer, are produced.     

Determination of heat capacities of PbCrO4(s), Pb2CrO5(s), and Pb5CrO8(s)

Abstract  

Heat capacities of PbCrO₄(s), Pb₂CrO₅(s), and Pb₅CrO₈(s) were measured by differential scanning calorimetry. The measured heat capacities as a function of temperature are expressed as C _p <PbCrO₄> J K⁻¹ mol⁻¹ = 150.37 + 27.74 × 10⁻³ T − 2.80 × 10⁶ T ⁻² (T = 300–750 K), C _p <Pb₂CrO₅> J K⁻¹ mol⁻¹ = 194.55 + 76.09 × 10⁻³ T − 4.64 × 10⁶ T ⁻² (T = 300–700 K), and C _p  <Pb₅CrO₈> J K⁻¹ mol⁻¹ = 323.35 + 184.80 × 10⁻³ T − 5.48 × 10⁶ T ⁻² (T = 300–600 K). From the measured heat capacity data, thermodynamic functions such as enthalpy increments, entropies, and Gibbs energy functions were derived.     

Metal distributions in Al∼1.1Be∼0.6B22 of α-AlB12 structure type

Distributions of metals in Al_～1.1Be_～0.6B₂₂ were investigated by X-ray diffraction using four different crystals. The boron frameworks of the crystals are almost the same as that in α-AlB₁₂. However, the metal distributions are considerably different from that in α-AlB₁₂; Al atoms occupy only Al(1, 2, 3) sites with a great increment in occupancy of Al(3), leaving the other two, Al(4, 5), almost empty; on the other hand, Be atoms partially occupy two to five sites that are vacant in the case of α-AlB₁₂. Significant differences in the Be distributions are also found among the four Al_～1.1Be_～0.6B₂₂ crystals. However, in every case, including α-AlB₁₂, the metallic valence electron numbers, allotted to the B₁₂ and B₂₀ units in proportion to the frequencies in the contacts of the units with the metals, are ～2 and ～5.5, respectively. It is inferred that the variations in the metal distributions, primarily caused by the difference in the atomic sizes of Al and Be, arise, so as to preserve a negative charge balance between B₁₂ and B₂₀; a ratio of about 1:3 should presumably be essential to the stabilization of α-AlB₁₂ structure type compounds.     

Etude comparative des composés TiX2 (X = S,Se, Te). Structures de TiTe2 et TiSeTe

The evolution of crystal-structure and chemical-bond characteristics is studied for the series of isotypical compounds TiX₂, with X = S, Se, Te. The structure determination of TiTe₂ and TiSeTe confirms the existence of an increasing trigonal C_3v distortion of metal sites when the chalcogen electronegativity decreases. The ESCA study shows that this distortion is associated with augmentation of the covalent or metallic character of the bonds. The structural and spectroscopic differences appearing from TiS₂ to TiSe₂ can be interpreted by an orbital delocalization in TiSe₂ and TiTe₂, which would explain the semimetallic behavior of these compounds.     

High-pressure preparation, crystal structure, and properties of the new rare-earth oxoborate β-Dy2B4O9

In this work we report about a new rare-earth oxoborate β-Dy₂B₄O₉ synthesized under high-pressure/high-temperature conditions from Dy₂O₃ and boron oxide B₂O₃ in a B₂O₃/Na₂O₂ flux with a walker-type multianvil apparatus at 8 GPa and 1000°C. Single crystal X-ray structure determination of β-Dy₂B₄O₉ revealed: , a=616.2(1) pm, b=642.8(1) pm, c=748.5(1) pm, α=102.54(1)°, β=97.08(1)°, γ=102.45(1)°, Z=2, R1=0.0151, wR₂=0.0475 (all data). The compound exhibits a new structure type which is built up from bands of linked BO₃- (Δ) and tetrahedral BO₄-groups (□). The Dy³⁺-cations are positioned in the voids between the bands. According to the conception of fundamental building blocks β-Dy₂B₄O₉ can be classified with the notation 2Δ6□:Δ3□=4□=3□Δ. Furthermore we report about temperature-resolved in situ powder diffraction measurements and IR-spectroscopic investigations on β-Dy₂B₄O₉.     

Coordination of water to organolead(IV) nitrates: The examples of [PbPh2(NO3)2(H2O)2] and [PbMe3(NO3)(H2O)]

The compound [PbPh₂(NO₃)₂(H₂O)₂] was synthesized and characterized by spectroscopic methods (IR; ¹H, ¹³C and ²⁰⁷Pb NMR) and mass spectrometry. An X-ray diffraction study showed that the crystal is a supramolecular tridimensional network of hydrogen-bonded PbPh₂(NO₃)₂(H₂O)₂ units in which the Pb atom is octacoordinated and adopts a distorted hexagonal bipyramidal geometry, with four O (bidentate nitrate) and two O (water) atoms in equatorial positions and two C-phenyl atoms in axial positions. The crystal of [PbMe₃(NO₃)(H₂O)], obtained as a byproduct in the synthesis of PbMe₂(NO₃)₂, contains chains of hydrogen-bonded PbMe₃(NO₃)(H₂O) units in which the Pb atom is pentacoordinated with a slightly distorted trigonal bipyramidal environment. In this arrangement the three C-methyl atoms are equatorial and the O atoms from the monodentate nitrate and the water molecule are axial.