Structural chemistry of complex carbides and related compounds

Complex carbides formed in ternary systems of a transition element (M), a B-group element (M′), and carbon and having a formula M₂M′C (H-phase) or M₃M′C (perovskite carbide) occur frequently. This reflects the simple geometry of the atomic arrangement of the metals and the filling mode by an interstitial stabilizer such as carbon or nitrogen. The phase relationship of the ternary combinations {Ti, Zr, Hf, V, Nb, Ta, Cr, Mn, and Ni}-aluminum-carbon was investigated. New complex carbides were found with the corresponding zirconium, hafnium, and tantalum combinations. The crystal structures in the case of Zr- and Hf-containing complex carbides can be characterized by a twelve-metal-layer sequence and by a ten-metal-layer sequence with carbon atoms again filling octahedral voids. The transition of structure types from TiC, Ti₂AlC, Ti₃SiC₂, ZrAlC₂, Zr₂Al₃C₅, to Al₄C₃ is also discussed.     

Crystallographic and structural characterization of heterometallic platinum compounds part IV: heterotetranuclear clusters

This review includes over two hundred heterotetranuclear platinum clusters. The clusters are of the compositions Pt₃M, Pt₃M₂, PtM₃, Pt′₂MM′, PtM₂M′ and PtMM′M”. There are twenty five different M atoms (transition and non-transition) as a partner(s) of platinum. The four metal atoms are found in a tetrahedral, planar-rhombohedral, butterfly, spited-triangular, cubane, eight — and oligo-membered rings and a unique structures. There is wide variety of the ligands from uni to- undecadentate, with the most common P and C donor sites. The shortest Pt-M (transition) versus Pt-M (non-transition) bond distances are 2.4833(8)Å (M=Pd) vs. 2.4365(5)Å (Ge). Several relationships between the various structural parameters were found and are discussed.      

Ultrashort Beryllium−Beryllium Distances Rivalling Those of Metal−Metal Quintuple Bonds Between Transition Metals

Chemical bonding is at the heart of chemistry. Recent work on high bond orders between homonuclear transition metal atoms has led to ultrashort metal?metal (TM?TM) distances defined as d_M?M<1.900 Å. The present work is a computational design and characterization of novel main group species containing ultrashort metal?metal distances (1.728–1.866 Å) between two beryllium atoms in different molecular environments, including a rhombic Be₂X₂ (X=C, N) core, a vertical Be?Be axis in a 3D molecular star, and a horizontal Be?Be axis supported by N‐heterocyclic carbene (NHC) ligands. The ultrashort Be?Be distances are achieved by affixing bridging atoms to attract the beryllium atoms electrostatically or covalently. Among these species are five global minima and one chemically viable diberyllium complex, which provide potential targets for experimental realization.     

Interpretation of structure and magnetism in transition-metal pnictides M2X and (M1−xM′x)2X

The transition-metal pnictides M₂X and (M_1?xM′_x)₂X containing first-row transition elements and X = P, As or Sb tend to crystallize in three related structures that permit metal-metal bonding via partially filled 3d-shell cores. It is argued that in the phosphides, and probably in most arsenides and antimonides, of the first-row transition elements, the X-atom p bands are filled and the cation 4s bands are empty, so that the number of 3d electrons per metal atom are known unambiguously. Furthermore, some of the phosphides are magnetic and some are not, so that the width of the 3d-electron bands can be varied by As substitution or by hydrostatic pressure to provide critical information about changes in magnetic order, magneticordering temperatures, and the magnitudes of the atomic moments as a function of bandwidth and band occupation in the critical region where the transition from spontaneous magnetism to Pauli paramagnetism occurs. General conceptual phase diagrams are developed from physical arguments about the influence of electron-electron correlations on quasidegenerate, narrow d bands. This discussion, which leads to an explanation of the Slater-Pauling curve of magnetization vs electron/atom ratio in the transition metals, is then applied to an interpretation of available magnetic data for the transition-metal pnictides M₂X and (M_1?xM′_x)₂X. Prediction of individual atomic moments requires that allowance be made for distinguishable cation sites and for the transfer of 3d-electron charge from lighter to heavier elements, but the crystal-field effects appear to be manifest only in the signs of the interatomic exchange interactions. Significantly, in alloys an equal and integral number of majority-spin electrons tend to be stabilized at each atomic constituent that is magnetic.     

Global Planar Tetra-, Penta- and Hexa-coordinate Silicon Clusters Constructed by Decorating SiO3 with Alkali Metals

The achievement of the rule-breaking planar hypercoordinate motifs (carbon and other elements) is mainly attributed to a practical electronic stabilization mechanism, where the bonding of the central atom p_z π electrons is a crucial issue. We have demonstrated that strong multiple bonds between the central atom and partial ligands can be an effective approach to explore stable planar hypercoordinate species. A set of planar tetra-, penta- and hexa-coordinate silicon clusters were herein found to be the lowest-energy structure, which can be viewed as decorating SiO₃ by alkali metals in the MSiO₃⁻, M₂SiO₃ and M₃SiO₃⁺ (M=Li, Na) clusters. The strong charge transfer from M atoms to SiO₃ effectively results in [M]⁺SiO₃²⁻, [M₂]²⁺SiO₃²⁻ and [M₃]³⁺SiO₃²⁻ salt complexes, where the Si−O multiple bonding and structural integrity of the Benz-like SiO₃ framework is maintained better than the corresponding SiO₃²⁻ motifs. The bonding between M atoms and SiO₃ motif is best described as M⁺ forming a few dative interactions by employing its vacant s, p, and high-lying d orbitals. These considerable M←SiO₃ interactions and Si−O multiple bonding give rise to the highly stable planar hypercoordinate silicon clusters.     

Röntgenographische und schwingungsspektroskopische Untersuchung der Mischkristallreihen Cu3MxM′;1-xX4 (M,M′ = V,Nb, Ta; X = S,Se) mit Sulvanitstruktur

X-ray and Vibrational Spectroscopical Investigation of the Mixed Crystal Series Cu₃M_xM′_1-xX₄ (M, M′ = V, Nb, Ta; X = S, Se) with Sulvanite Structure Solid solutions Cu₃M_xM′_1-xX₄ (M, M′ = V, Nb, Ta; X = S, Se) with Sulvanite structure have been prepared in the range 0 ≤ x ≤ 1 by solid state reaction between 600°C and 900°C. The lattice constants decrease linearly with x. The UR active antisymmetrical as well as the Raman active symmetrical M–X stretching vibrations may be attached to independently vibrating MX₄ and M′X₄ tetrahedrons.     

Fractional Site Occupation in Ternary Metal Compounds: Structure, Bonding, and Thermodynamics

Summary. Ternary compounds of the type (M,M′)_xA_y where M and M′ are early transition metals of the groups 4–6 and A is a main group element of the groups 14–16 are showing interesting substitution mechanisms among the metal atoms ranging from classical and partially ordered solid solution phases to ternary compounds showing differential fractional site occupation. In these compounds the transition metals show mixed site occupation at the metal positions in combination with pronounced site preferences leading to varying metal mixtures at crystallographically independent sites. The connection between partial ordering and the differences in the local coordination of the respective lattice sites is discussed. Chemical bonding arguments obtained from electronic calculations using the extended Hückel approach are used to understand the observed distribution of the metals over the respective lattice sites and allow a qualitative prediction of site preferences. A thermodynamic model was applied in order to investigate the observed substitution mechanism and Gibbs energies for the occupation of the lattice sites with different metal atoms could be obtained by adjusting the model parameters to the experimentally observed site fractions.     

Analysis of tertiary phosphanes, arsanes, and stibanes as bridging ligands in dinuclear Group 9 complexes

The unusual bridging and semi‐bridging binding mode of tertiary phosphanes, arsanes, and stibanes in dinuclear low‐valent Group 9 complexes have been studied by density functional methods and bonding analyses. The influence of various parameters (bridging and terminal ligands, metal atoms) on the structural preferences and bonding of dinuclear complexes of the general composition [A¹ M¹(μ‐CH₂)₂(μ‐EX₃)M² A²] (M¹, M²=Co, Rh, Ir; A¹, A²=F, Cl, Br, I, κ²‐acac; E=P, As, Sb, X=H, F, CH₃) has been analyzed. A number of factors have been identified that favor bridging or semi‐bridging modes for the phosphane ligands and their homologues. A more symmetrical position of the bridging ligand EX₃ is promoted by more polar E? X bonding, but by less electronegative (softer) terminal anionic ligands. Among the Group 9 metal elements Co, Rh, and Ir, the computations clearly show that the 4d element rhodium exhibits the largest preference for a {M¹(μ‐EX₃)M²} bridge, in agreement with experimental observation. Iridium complexes should be valid targets, whereas cobalt does not seem to support well a symmetric bridging mode. Analyses of the Electron Localization Function (ELF) indicate a competition between a delocalized three‐center bridge bond and direct metal–metal bonding.     

Über Usovite Ba2M″ M″ M2″ F14 und die Hochdruckphasen von BaMnVF7 und BaMnFeF7: Verbindungen mit BaMnGaF7-Struktur

On Usovites Ba₂M^IIM′^IIM₂^IIIF₁₄ and the High Pressure Phases of BaMnVF₇ and BaMnFeF₇: Compounds with BaMnGaF₇ Structure The results of complete single crystal structure determinations of the monoclinic BaMnGaF₇ type compounds Ba₂CaCoV₂F₁₄ (and Ba₂CdMn Fe₂F₁₄) are reported: C2/c, Z = 4, a = 1369.7 (1381.2), b = 538.4 (537.2), c = 1491.6 (1489.5) pm, β = 91.49 (91.11)°, Rg = 0.036 (0.038) for 4389 (2521) reflections. The atoms Ca/Co (Cd/Mn) distribute not completely ordered on the 8? and 6?coordinated sites of this “usovite” structure (Ba₂CaMgAl₂F₁₄). This is also evident for Cd/Fe from Mössbauer spectra of Ba₂CdFeAl₂F₁₄. The lattice constants of this and further seven compounds Ba₂M^IIM′^IIM2_IIIF₁₄ (M^II = Ca, Cd; M′^II = Mg, Mn? Cu; M^II = Al, Ga) are given. Two novel representatives of the same structure with M^II = M′^II = Mn could be prepared in the form of the high pressure phases of BaMn VF₇ and BaMnFeF₇. The magnetic properties of both modifications of the iron compound and of BaMnGaF₇ are reported and discussed.     

Interpenetration of a 3D Icosahedral M@Ni12 (M=Al,Ga) Framework with Porphyrin‐Reminiscent Boron Layers in MNi9B8

Two ternary borides MNi₉B₈ (M=Al, Ga) were synthesized by thermal treatment of mixtures of the elements. Single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction data reveal AlNi₉B₈ and GaNi₉B₈ crystallizing in a new type of structure within the space group Cmcm and the lattice parameters a=7.0896(3) Å, b=8.1181(3) Å, c=10.6497(4) Å and a=7.0897(5) Å, b=8.1579(4) Å, c=10.6648(7) Å, respectively. The boron atoms build up two‐dimensional layers, which consist of puckered [B₁₆] rings with two tailing B atoms, whereas the M atoms reside in distorted vertices‐condensed [Ni₁₂] icosahedra, which form a three‐dimensional framework interpenetrated by boron porphyrin‐reminiscent layers. An unusual local arrangement resembling a giant metallo‐porphyrin entity is formed by the [B₁₆] rings, which, due to their large annular size of approximately 8 Å, chelate four of the twelve icosahedral Ni atoms. An analysis of the chemical bonding by means of the electron localizability approach reveals strong covalent B?B interactions and weak Ni?Ni interactions. Multi‐center dative B?Ni interaction occurs between the Al–Ni framework and the boron layers. In agreement with the chemical bonding analysis and band structure calculations, AlNi₉B₈ is a Pauli‐paramagnetic metal.     

Small Cycloalkane (CN)2CC(CN)2 Structures Are Highly Directional Non‐covalent Carbon‐Bond Donors

High‐level calculations (RI‐MP2/def2‐TZVP) disclosed that the σ‐hole in between two C atoms of cycloalkane X₂C?CX₂ structures (X=F, CN) is increasingly exposed with decreasing ring size. The interacting energy of complexes of F^?, HO^?, N≡C^?, and H₂CO with cyclopropane and cyclobutane X₂C?CX₂ derivatives was calculated. For X=F, these energies are small to positive, while for X=CN they are all negative, ranging from ?6.8 to ?42.3 kcal mol^?1. These finding are corroborated by a thorough statistical survey of the Cambridge Structural Database (CSD). No clear evidence could be found in support of non‐covalent carbon bonding between electron‐rich atoms (El.R.) and F₂C?CF₂ structures. In marked contrast, El.R.???(CN)₂C?C(CN)₂ interactions are abundant and highly directional. Based on these findings, the hydrophobic electrophilic bowl formed by 1,1′,2,2′‐tetracyano cyclopropane or cyclobutane derivatives is proposed as a new and synthetically accessible supramolecular synthon.     

Crystallographic and structural characterization of heterometallic platinum complexes Part V. Heteropentanuclear complexes

This review classifies and analyzes over eighty heteropentanuclear Pt complexes. There are eight types of metal combinations: Pt₄M, Pt₃M₂, Pt₂M₃, PtM₄, Pt₃MM′, Pt₂M₂M′, PtM₂M′₂ and PtM₃M′. The five metal atoms are in a wide variety of arrangements: trigonal-bipyramidal (most common), square-pyramidal, spike-triangular, butterfly, cubane, linear and one unique. Platinum bonds to a variety of triad partner metal atoms, soft, through borderline to hard. The shortest Pt-M bond distances for non-transition and transition M are 2.406(4) Å (M = Ge) and 2.30(1) Å (M = Co). The shortest Pt-Pt bond distance is 2.580(1) Å. Several relationships between the structural parameters were found and are discussed. Several complexes exist in two isomeric forms and others contain two crystallographically independent molecules. Both the isomers as well as independent molecules are examples of distortion isomerism.      

Mössbauer effect study of carbides and silico-carbides. II. (Mn1−xFex)5SiC

The substitution of iron in Mn₅SiC has been studied by Mössbauer spectroscopy at room temperature. The Mn₃ site is the first saturated site while the filling of the Mn₄ site is the most difficult. The magnitude of the quadrupole splittings of iron atoms having two carbon nearest neighbors at a distance close to 2 Å in Fe₃C, Fe₅C₂, Mn₅SiC, and some M₃M′C perovskite carbides in the paramagnetic state are discussed. These quadrupole splittings are practically insensitive to the metallic neighborhood of the sites under consideration. They increase regularly with the angle of the two iron-carbon bonds.     

Alkoxide Clusters of Molybdenum and Tungsten as Templates for Organometallic Chemistry: Comparison with Carbonyl Clusters of the Later Transition Elements

Alkoxide and carbonyl ligands complement each other because they both behave as “π buffers” to transition metals. Alkoxides, which are π donors, stabilize early transition metals in high oxidation states by donating electrons into vacant d_π orbitals, whereas carbonyls, which are π acceptors, stabilize later transition elements in their lower oxidation states by accepting electrons from filled d_π orbitals. Both ligands readily form bridges that span M? M bonds. In solution fluxional processes that involve bridge–terminal ligand exchange are common to both alkoxide and carbonyl ligands. The fragments [W(OR)₃], [CpW(CO)₂], [Co(CO)₃], and CH are related by the isolobal analogy. Thus the compounds [(RO)₃W ? W(OR)₃], [Cp(CO)₂W?W(CO)₂Cp], hypothetical [(CO)₃Co?Co(CO)₃], and HC?CH are isolobal. Alkoxide and carbonyl cluster compounds often exhibit striking similarities with respect to substrate binding—e.g., [W₃(μ₃-CR)(OR′)₉] versus [Co₃(μ₃-CR)(CO)₉] and [W₄(C)(NMe)(OiPr)₁₂] versus [Fe₄(C)(CO)₁₃]—but differ with respect to M? M bonding. The carbonyl clusters use e_g-type orbitals for M? M bonding whereas the alkoxide clusters employ t_2g-type orbitals. Another point of difference involves electronic saturation. In general, each metal atom in a metal carbonyl cluster has an 18-electron count; thus, activation of the cluster often requires thermal or photochemical CO expulsion or M? M bond homolysis. Alkoxide clusters, on the other hand, behave as electronically unsaturated species because the π electrons are ligand-centered and the LUMO metal-centered. Also, access to the metal centers may be sterically controlled in metal alkoxide clusters by choice of alkoxide groups whereas ancillary ligands such as tertiary phosphanes or cyclopentadienes must be introduced if steric factors are to be modified in carbonyl clusters. A comparison of the reactivity of alkynes and ethylene with dinuclear alkoxide and carbonyl compounds is presented. For the carbonyl compounds CO ligand loss is a prerequisite for substrate uptake and subsequent activation. For [M₂(OR)₆] compounds (M = Mo and W) the nature of substrate uptake and activation is dependent upon the choice of M and R, leading to a more diverse chemistry.     

Origin of Extraordinary Stability of Square‐Planar Carbon Atoms in Surface Carbides of Cobalt and Nickel

Surface carbides of cobalt and nickel are exceptionally stable, having stabilities competitive with those of graphitic C on these surfaces. The unusual structure of these carbides has attracted much attention: C assumes a tetracoordinate square‐planar arrangement, in‐plane with the metal surface, and its binding favors a spontaneous p4g clock surface reconstruction. A chemical bonding model for these systems is presented and explains the unusual structure, special stability, and the reconstruction. C promotes local two‐dimensional aromaticity on the surface and the aromatic arrangement is so powerful that the required number of electrons is taken from the void M₄ squares, thus leading to Peierls instability. Moreover, this model predicts a series of new transition‐metal and main‐group‐element surface alloys: carbides, borides, and nitrides, which feature high stability, square‐planar coordination, aromaticity, and a predictable degree of surface reconstruction.     

Relations structurales entre U3O8 et quelques fluorures mixtes de formules M2M′3F11, MM′2F7 et MM′3F10

U₃O₈ oxide, as well as M₂M′₃F₁₁, MM′₂F₇ and MM′₃F₁₀ fluorides, with M = Rb, Tl, Cs, NH₄ and M′ = In, Lu, Yb, Tm, is described as the regular repetition according to the … A-A-A … sequence of identical and parallel sheets of edge-and corner-sharing M′F₇ or UO₇ pentagonal bipyramids and M′F₆ octahedra. M′ and U atoms are systematically located at the lattice points of a pseudohexagonal network, but in the fluorides some of these lattice points are vacant, producing hexagonal tunnels in which M atoms are located. It is shown that in the two kinds of compounds the same linear chains and M′₃X₁₇ groups of pentagonal bipyramids are present, and that the transformation of the U₃O₈ structure into the fluorides can be achieved by an ordered substitution of some linear … UOUO … chains by … M-M-M … chains. All these structures can be described with the same structural model based on the chemical twinning principle.     

Bonding and doping of simple icosahedral-boride semiconductors

A simple model of the bonding and doping of a series of icosahedral-boride insulators is presented. Icosahedral borides contain clusters of boron atoms that occupy the 12 vertices of icosahedra. This particular series of icosahedral borides share both the stoichiometry B₁₂X₂, where X denotes a group V element (P or As), and a common lattice structure. The inter-icosahedral bonding of these icosahedral borides is contrasted with that of B₁₂O₂ and with that of α-rhombohedral boron. Knowledge of the various types of inter-icosahedral bonding is used as a basis to address effects of inter-icosahedral atomic substitutions. The inter-icosahedral bonding is maintained when an atom of a group V element is replaced with an atom of a group IV element, thereby producing a p-type dopant. However, changes of inter-icosahedral bonding occur upon replacing an atom of a group V element with an atom of a group VI element or with a vacancy. As a result, these substitutions do not produce effective n-type dopants. Moreover, partial substitution of boron atoms for atoms of group V elements generally renders these materials p-type semiconductors.     

Synthese und XPS-Analyse von nano-skaligen Metall/Metalloxid-Kompositen mit Germanium,Zinn und Blei als metallische Komponente

Synthesis and XPS Analysis of nano-scaled Metal/Metaloxid Composites with Germanium, Tin, and Lead as Metallic Component tert-Butanolates of Germanium(II), tin(II), and lead(II) of the formula {M[O-C(CH₃)₃]₂}_n (M ? Ge, n = 2; M ? Sn, n = 2; M ? Pb, n = 3) as well as the corresponding heterometalalkoxides M′M₂[O? C(CH₃)₃]₆ (M ? Ge, M′ ? Sr, Ba; M ? Sn, M′ ? Ca, Sr, Ba; M ? Pb, M′ ? Ca, Ba) have been subject to a single precursor chemical vapour deposition (CVD) process. In this process the volatile precursor has been pyrolized under reduced pressure (0,1 Torr) on a graphit or metal substrate which has been heated by induction in a microwave field to about 300–500°C. The gases originating from this pyrolisis have been analyzed by means of a quadrupole mass spectrometer whereas the solid coating which contained the micro composite was characterized by X-ray diffraction, electron microscopy, EDX-analysis and XPS-spectra. In all cases the solid material contained two phases, in which the element M ((Ge), Sn, Pb) either had oxidation state 0 or +4 (in the surface of the solids made of germanium containing precursors only Ge^II along with Ge⁰ has been detected by XPS spectroscopy). The group 14-element in the starting material had thus undergone a disproportionation from the +2 oxidation state into a lower and a higher one by two units. The elemental phase and the phase containing the formal +4 cation which is amorphous in most cases and which approaches the formula MO₂ or M′MO³ (M ? (Ge), Sn, Pb; M′ ? Ca, Sr, Ba) are uniformally distributed. The composites consist of ball shaped particles on which other smaller particles are placed in a fractal manner ressembling a black berry. In the case of the composite Sn · BaSnO³ the center of the ball shaped particles has been analyzed as pure elemental tin. The organic substituents of the precursors as well as the dynamic vacuum in the decomposition process seem to be responsible for the ball shaped nature of the solid material. In a test experiment gallium tri-tert-but-oxide has been used as precursor: again ball shaped particles are obtained which have the chemical composition Ga₂O₃ but which contain no elemental gallium.     

Er3Pd7P4 — Kristallstrukturbestimmung und Extended Hückel Rechnungen

Er₃Pd₇P₄ — Crystal Structure Determination and Extended Hückel Calculations Er₃Pd₇P₄ was prepared by heating the elements (1050°C) and investigated by means of single-crystal X-ray methods. The compound crystallizes in a new structure (C2/m; a = 15.180(3) Å, b = 3.955(1) Å, c = 9.320(1) Å, β = 125,65(1)°; Z = 2) with a three-dimensional framework of Pd and P atoms and with Er atoms in the holes. The Pd atoms are surrounded tetrahedrally, trigonally or linearly by P atoms, which are coordinated by nine metal atoms in the form of a tricapped trigonal prism. Therefore the atomic arrangement of Er₃Pd₇P₄ is related to the structures of ternary transition metal phosphides with a metal: phosphorus ratio of 2:1. Band calculations using the Extended Hückel method show strong covalent Pd? P bonds and weak bonding interactions between Pd atoms with Pd? Pd distances shorter than 2.9 Å.     

The carbides Gd3Mn2C6 and Tb3Mn2C6

Crystals of the title compounds were obtained by arc-melting cold-pressed pellets of the elemental components, followed by annealing the reaction products in an argon atmosphere slightly below the melting point. The crystal structures of these isotypic, hexagonal carbides (P6₃/m, Z=2) were determined from single-crystal X-ray data; Gd₃Mn₂C₆: a=815.0(2) pm, c=504.93(9) pm, R=0.012 for 526 structure factors and 18 variable parameters; Tb₃Mn₂C₆: a=810.5(2) pm, c=500.5(2) pm, R=0.025 (225 F′s, 18 variables). The carbon atoms form pairs with C—C bond distances corresponding to double bonds. The three-dimensional, polyanionic managanese carbon network contains relatively large trigonal-bipyramidal voids formed by three lanthanoid and two manganese atoms. The rationalization of chemical bonding on the basis of the 18-electron rule suggests that these voids are filled by nonbonding electrons of the adjacent manganese atoms.