Li12Cu12.60Al14.37: a new ternary derivative of the binary Laves phases

New ternary dodecalithium dodecacopper tetradecaaluminium, Li₁₂Cu_12.60Al_14.37 (trigonal, Rm, hR39), crystallizes as a new structure type and belongs to the structural family that derives from binary Laves phases. The Li atoms are enclosed in 15‐ and 16‐vertex and the Al3 atom in 14‐vertex pseudo‐Frank–Kasper polyhedra. The polyhedra around the statistical mixtures of (Cu,Al)1 and (Al,Cu)2 are distorted icosahedra. The electronic structure was calculated by the TB–LMTO–ASA (tight‐binding linear muffin‐tin orbital atomic spheres approximation) method. The electron localization function, which indicates bond formation, is mostly located at the Al atoms. Thus, Al—Al bonding is much stronger than Li—Al or Cu—Al bonding. This indicates that, besides metallic bonding which is dominant in this compound, weak covalent Al—Al interactions also exist.     

Proton‐stabilized three‐dimensional anionic framework in H[Zn6O2(BO3)3]

A three‐dimensional anionic framework built up from [ZnO₄] tetra­hedra and planar [BO₃] groups, stabilized by H atoms, has been found for hydrogen zinc oxide borate, H[Zn₆O₂(BO₃)₃]. Boron and one of the borate O atoms are on 18e (2) positions. Triple units of [ZnO₄] tetra­hedra sharing a common oxygen vertex on a 12c (3) site and strong asymmetrical linear hydrogen bonds with the H atom [on a 12c (3) position] disordered over a twofold axis are specific structural features of this zincoborate. There is evidence that the reported Zn₄O(BO₃)₂ [Harrison, Gier & Stuky (1993). Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. Engl. 32 , 724–726] corresponds to this structure.     

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 three‐dimensional ZnII coordination framework: poly[[μ2‐(E)‐1,2‐bis(pyridin‐4‐yl)ethene][μ4‐(E)‐2,2′‐(diazene‐1,2‐diyl)dibenzoato][μ2‐(E)‐2,2′‐(diazene‐1,2‐diyl)dibenzoato]dizinc(II)]

In the title coordination polymer, [Zn₂(C₁₄H₈N₂O₄)₂(C₁₂H₁₀N₂)]_n, the asymmetric unit contains one Zn^II cation, two halves of 2,2′‐(diazene‐1,2‐diyl)dibenzoate anions (denoted L²⁻) and half of a 1,2‐bis(pyridin‐4‐yl)ethene ligand (denoted bpe). The three ligands lie across crystallographic inversion centres. Each Zn^II centre is four‐coordinated by three O atoms of bridging carboxylate groups from three L²⁻ ligands and by one N atom from a bpe ligand, forming a tetrahedral coordination geometry. Two Zn^II atoms are bridged by two carboxylate groups of L²⁻ ligands, generating a [Zn₂(CO₂)₂] ring. Each loop serves as a fourfold node, which links its four equivalent nodes via the sharing of four L²⁻ ligands to form a two‐dimensional [Zn₂L₄]_n net. These nets are separated by bpe ligands acting as spacers, producing a three‐dimensional framework with a 4⁶6⁴ topology. Powder X‐ray diffraction and solid‐state photoluminescence were also measured.     

Mackay,Anti-Mackay,Double-Mackay,Pseudo-Mackay,and Related Icosahedral Shell Clusters

Mackay introduced two important crystallographic concepts in a short paper published 40 years ago. One is the icosahedral shell structure (iss) consisting of concentric icosahedra displaying fivefold rotational symmetry. The number of atoms contained within these icosahedral shells and subshells agrees well with the magic numbers in rare gas clusters, (C₆₀) _N molecules, and some metal clusters determined by mass spectroscopy or simulated on energy considerations. The cluster of 55 atoms within the second icosahedral shell occurs frequently and has been called Mackay icosahedron, or simply MI, which occurs not only in various clusters, but also in intermetallic compounds and quasicrystals. The second concept is the hierarchic icosahedral structures caused by the presence of a stacking fault in the fcc packing of the successive triangular faces in the iss. For instance, a fault occurs after the ABC layers resulting an ABCB packing. This is, in fact, a hierarchic icosahedral structure of a core icosahedron connected to 12 outer icosahedra by vertex sharing, or an icosahedron of icosahedra (double MI. Contrary to Mackay's iss, a faulted hierarchic icosahedral shell is, in fact, a twinlike face capping of the underlying triangles; it is, therefore, called an anti-Mackay cluster. The hierarchic icosahedral structure in an Al-Mn-Pd icosahedral quasicrystal has a core of body-centered cube rather than an icosahedron and, therefore, is called a pseudo-Mackay cluster. The hierarchic icosahedral structures have been studied separately in the past in the fields of clusters, nanoparticles, intermetallic compounds, and quasicrystals, but the underlying geometry should be the same. In the following a unified geometrical analysis is presented.     

Redetermination of the lanthanum iron sulfide La52Fe12S90

A redetermination of the structure of `La_32.66Fe₁₁S₆₀' in the trigonal space group Rm led to the new formula La₅₂Fe₁₂S₉₀ and to a redefinition of the structure type. In the structure, the Fe²⁺ cations occur in Fe₂S₉ dimers of face‐sharing octa­hedra (with 3m symmetry). The dimers are linked by face‐ and vertex‐sharing bi‐ and tricapped LaS₆ trigonal prisms (with m symmetry) to form a three‐dimensional network containing two types of cubocta­hedral cavities. The larger cavities remain empty, while the smaller ones accommodate alternative sites for disordered La³⁺ cations.     

Pseudo‐Fivefold Diffraction Symmetries in Tetrahedral Packing

We review the way in which atomic tetrahedra composed of metallic elements pack naturally into fused icosahedra. Orthorhombic, hexagonal, and cubic intermetallic crystals based on this packing are all shown to be united in having pseudo‐fivefold rotational diffraction symmetry. A unified geometric model involving the 600‐cell is presented: the model accounts for the observed pseudo‐fivefold symmetries among the different Bravais lattice types. The model accounts for vertex‐, edge‐, polygon‐, and cell‐centered fused‐icosahedral clusters. Vertex‐centered and edge‐centered types correspond to the well‐known pseudo‐fivefold symmetries in I_h and D_5h quasicrystalline approximants. The concept of a tetrahedrally‐packed reciprocal space cluster is introduced, the vectors between sites in this cluster corresponding to the principal diffraction peaks of fused‐icosahedrally‐packed crystals. This reciprocal‐space cluster is a direct result of the pseudosymmetry and, just as the real‐space clusters, can be rationalized by the 600‐cell. The reciprocal space cluster provides insights for the Jones model of metal stability. For tetrahedrally‐packed crystals, Jones zone faces prove to be pseudosymmetric with one another. Lower and upper electron per atom bounds calculated for this pseudosymmetry‐based Jones model are shown to accord with the observed electron counts for a variety of Group 10–12 tetrahedrally‐packed structures, among which are the four known Cu/Cd intermetallic compounds: CdCu₂, Cd₃Cu₄, Cu₅Cd₈, and Cu₃Cd₁₀. The rationale behind the Jones lower and upper bounds is reviewed. The crystal structure of Zn₁₁Au₁₅Cd₂₃, an example of a 1:1 MacKay cubic quasicrystalline approximant based solely on Groups 10–12 elements is presented. This compound crystallizes in Im$\bar 3$ (space group no. 204) with a=13.842(2) Å. The structure was solved with R₁=3.53 %, I>2σ;=5.33 %, all data with 1282/0/38 data/restraints/parameters.     

Highly Robust but Surface‐Active: An N‐Heterocyclic Carbene‐Stabilized Au25 Nanocluster

Surface organic ligands play a critical role in stabilizing atomically precise metal nanoclusters in solutions. However, it is still challenging to prepare highly robust ligated metal nanoclusters that are surface‐active for liquid‐phase catalysis without any pre‐treatment. Now, an N‐heterocyclic carbene‐stabilized Au₂₅ nanocluster with high thermal and air stabilities is presented as a homogenous catalyst for cycloisomerization of alkynyl amines to indoles. The nanocluster, characterized as [Au₂₅(ⁱPr₂‐bimy)₁₀Br₇]²⁺ (ⁱPr₂‐bimy=1,3‐diisopropylbenzimidazolin‐2‐ylidene) ( 1 ), was synthesized by direct reduction of AuSMe₂Cl and ⁱPr₂‐bimyAuBr with NaBH₄ in one pot. X‐ray crystallization analysis revealed that the cluster comprises two centered Au₁₃ icosahedra sharing a vertex. Cluster 1 is highly stable and can survive in solution at 80 °C for 12 h, which is superior to Au₂₅ nanoclusters passivated with phosphines or thiols. DFT computations reveal the origins of both electronic and thermal stability of 1 and point to the probable catalytic sites. This work provides new insights into the bonding capability of N‐heterocyclic carbene to Au in a cluster, and offers an opportunity to probe the catalytic mechanism at the atomic level.     

A novel parallel interpenetrating two‐dimensional (4,4) network: poly[[μ2‐1,4‐bis(imidazol‐1‐ylmethyl)benzene](μ2‐naphthalene‐1,4‐dicarboxylato)zinc(II)]

In the title coordination compound, [Zn(C₁₂H₆O₄)(C₁₄H₁₄N₄)]_n, the two Zn^II centers exhibit different coordination environments. One Zn^II center is four‐coordinated in a distorted tetrahedral environment surrounded by two carboxylate O atoms from two different naphthalene‐1,4‐dicarboxylate (1,4‐ndc) anions and two N atoms from two distinct 1,4‐bis(imidazol‐1‐ylmethyl)benzene (1,4‐bix) ligands. The coordination of the second Zn^II center comprises two N atoms from two different 1,4‐bix ligands and three carboxylate O atoms from two different 1,4‐ndc ligands in a highly distorted square‐pyramidal environment. The 1,4‐bix ligand and the 1,4‐ndc anion link adjacent Zn^II centers into a two‐dimensional four‐connected (4,4) network. The two (4,4) networks are interpenetrated in a parallel mode.     

Tetrakis(5‐tert‐butylpyrazole‐1κN2)tetrachloro‐1κCl,2κ3Cl‐μ‐oxo‐1:2κ2O‐diiron(III)

The title compound, [Fe₂Cl₄O(C₇H₁₂N₂)₄], contains vertex‐sharing distorted tetrahedral [FeOCl₃]^? and octahedral [FeOCl(Hpz^tBu)₄]⁺ moieties (Hpz^tBu is 5‐tert‐­butyl­pyrazole), linked by a bent oxo bridging ligand. The two Fe^III centres are also bridged by intramolecular hydrogen bonds between the pyrazole N—H groups and the O^2? and Cl^? ligands.     

[Zn3(PO4)2(H2O)0.8(NH3)1.2]

The structure of the title compound, ammineaquadi‐μ₅‐phosphato‐trizinc(II), [Zn₃(PO₄)₂(H₂O)_0.8(NH₃)_1.2], consists of two parts: (i) PO₄ and ZnO₄ vertex‐sharing tetrahedra arranged in layers parallel to (100) and (ii) ZnO₂(N/O)₂ tetrahedra located between the layers. Elemental analysis establishes the ammine‐to‐water ratio as 3:2. ZnO₂(N/O)₂ tetrahedra are located at special position 4e (site symmetry 2) in C2/c. The two O atoms of ZnO₂(N/O)₂ are bonded to neighbouring P atoms, forming two Zn—O—P linkages and connecting ZnO₂(N/O)₂ tetrahedra with two adjacent bc plane layers. A noteworthy feature of the structure is the presence of NH₃ and H₂O at the same crystallographic position and, consequently, qualitative changes in the pattern of hydrogen bonding and weaker N/O—H...O electrostatic interactions, as compared to two closely related structures.     

Inter­actions of thia­mine with polymeric halogenocadmate anions in the organic–inorganic hybrid compound (thia­minium)[Cd3Br4.4Cl3.6]

The structure of poly[3‐[(4‐amino‐2‐methylpyrimidin‐1‐ium‐5‐yl)meth­yl]‐5‐(2‐hydroxy­ethyl)‐4‐methyl­thia­zolium octa‐μ‐bromo/chloro­(4.4/3.6)‐tricadmate(II)], {(C₁₂H₁₈N₄OS)[Cd₃ Br_4.41Cl_3.59]}_n consists of hydrogen‐bonded thia­mine mol­ecules and polymeric cadmium bromide/chloride anions in an organic–inorganic hybrid fashion. The one‐dimensional anion ribbons are formed by edge‐sharing octa­hedra and vertex‐sharing tetra­hedra. Thia­mine mol­ecules adopting the S conformation are linked to anions via three types of inter­actions, namely an N(amino)—H⋯anion⋯thia­zolium bridging inter­action, an N(pyrimidine)—H⋯anion hydrogen bond and an O(hydr­oxy)—H⋯anion hydrogen bond.     

Rhombohedral boron subnitride,B13N2, by X‐ray powder diffraction

The structure of the title compound consists of distorted B₁₂ icosahedra linked by N—B—N chains. The compound crystallizes in the rhombohedral space group Rm (No. 166). The unit cell contains four symmetry‐independent atom sites, three of which are occupied by boron [in the 18h, 18h (site symmetry m) and 3b (site symmetry m) Wyckoff positions] and one by nitrogen (in the 6c Wyckoff position, site symmetry 3m). Two of the B atoms form the icosahedra, while N atoms link the icosahedra together. The main feature of the structure is that the 3b position is occupied by the B atom, which makes the structure different from those of B₆O, for which these atom sites are vacant, and B_4+xC_1−x, for which this position is randomly occupied by both B and C atoms.     

Carborane Substituents Promote Direct Electrophilic Insertion over Reduction–Metalation Reactions

Two‐electron reduction of 1,1′‐bis(o‐carborane) followed by reaction with [Ru(η‐mes)Cl₂]₂ affords [8‐(1′‐1′,2′‐closo‐C₂B₁₀H₁₁)‐4‐(η‐mes)‐4,1,8‐closo‐RuC₂B₁₀H₁₁]. Subsequent two‐electron reduction of this species and treatment with [Ru(η‐arene)Cl₂]₂ results in the 14‐vertex/12‐vertex species [1‐(η‐mes)‐9‐(1′‐1′,2′‐closo‐C₂B₁₀H₁₁)‐13‐(η‐arene)‐1,13,2,9‐closo‐Ru₂C₂B₁₀H₁₁] by direct electrophilic insertion, promoted by the carborane substituent in the 13‐vertex/12‐vertex precursor. When arene=mesitylene (mes), the diruthenium species is fluxional in solution at room temperature in a process that makes the metal–ligand fragments equivalent. A unique mechanism for this fluxionality is proposed and is shown to be fully consistent with the observed fluxionality or nonfluxionality of a series of previously reported 14‐vertex dicobaltacarboranes.     

[Zn4O] Cluster‐Based Metal‐Organic Frameworks as Catalysts for Conversion of CO2

One unique two‐dimensional (2D) Zn‐MOF {Na[Zn_1.5(μ₄‐O)(L)]}_n ( 1 ) was synthesized under hydrothermal conditions and characterized by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction. Four Zn atoms are bridged through μ₄‐O to form [Zn₄O] clusters, which are further linked to form a 2D layer network through sharing Zn as vertexes. 1 exhibits high thermal stability up to 280 °C and keeps stable in common solvents and water solutions with pH ranging from 1 to 13. The catalytic studies reveal that compound 1 exhibits excellent catalytic activity for cycloaddition of CO₂ with epoxides into cyclic carbonates under mild conditions. Furthermore, 1 demonstrates good generality in CO₂ coupling reaction with extensive epoxides. Importantly, 1 can be reused for at least five times without significant reduction in catalytic ability.     

A three‐dimensional coordination polymer based on the Zn4(μ3‐OH)2 unit: poly[[(μ4‐benzene‐1,4‐dicarboxylato)bis(μ3‐benzene‐1,4‐dicarboxylato)bis(μ3‐hydroxido)bis(1,10‐phenanthroline‐5,6‐dione)tetrazinc] dihydrate]

The title compound, {[Zn₄(C₈H₄O₄)₃(OH)₂(C₁₂H₆N₂O₂)₂]·2H₂O}_n, has been prepared hydrothermally by the reaction of Zn(NO₃)₂·6H₂O with benzene‐1,4‐dicarboxylic acid (H₂bdc) and 1,10‐phenanthroline‐5,6‐dione (pdon) in H₂O. In the crystal structure, a tetranuclear Zn₄(OH)₂ fragment is located on a crystallographic inversion centre which relates two subunits, each containing a [ZnN₂O₄] octahedron and a [ZnO₄] tetrahedron bridged by a μ₃‐OH group. The pdon ligand chelates to zinc through its two N atoms to form part of the [ZnN₂O₄] octahedron. The two crystallographically independent bdc²⁻ ligands are fully deprotonated and adopt μ₃‐κO:κO′:κO′′ and μ₄‐κO:κO′:κO′′:κO′′′ coordination modes, bridging three or four Zn^II cations, respectively, from two Zn₄(OH)₂ units. The Zn₄(OH)₂ fragment connects six neighbouring tetranuclear units through four μ₃‐bdc²⁻ and two μ₄‐bdc²⁻ ligands, forming a three‐dimensional framework with uninodal 6‐connected α‐Po topology, in which the tetranuclear Zn₄(OH)₂ units are considered as 6‐connected nodes and the bdc²⁻ ligands act as linkers. The uncoordinated water molecules are located on opposite sides of the Zn₄(OH)₂ unit and are connected to it through hydrogen‐bonding interactions involving hydroxide and carboxylate groups. The structure is further stabilized by extensive π–π interactions between the pdon and μ₄‐bdc²⁻ ligands.     

Poly[μ‐aqua‐μ4‐naphthalene‐1,8‐dicarboxylato‐zinc(II)]

In the title complex, [Zn(C₁₂H₆O₄)(H₂O)]_n, a Zn^II polymer based on naphthalene‐1,8‐dicarboxylate (1,8‐nap), the Zn^II atoms adopt an elongated octahedral coordination geometry. A zigzag chain is formed by μ₂‐aqua ligands and μ₂‐carboxylate groups of the 1,8‐nap ligands. Adjacent parallel chains are further linked by 1,8‐nap ligands, forming a twisted two‐dimensional layer structure along the (100) plane.     

A novel threefold‐interpenetrating primitive cubic network based on a dinuclear Zn2 node

In the mixed‐ligand metal–organic polymeric compound poly[[μ₂‐1,4‐bis(imidazol‐1‐yl)benzene](μ₂‐terephthalato)dizinc(II)], [Zn₂(C₈H₄O₄)₂(C₁₂H₁₀N₄)]_n or [Zn₂(bdc)₂(bib)]_n [H₂bdc is terephthalic acid and bib is 1,4‐bis(imidazol‐1‐yl)benzene], the asymmetric unit contains one Zn^II ion, with two half bdc anions and one half bib molecule lying around inversion centers. The Zn^II ion is in a slightly distorted tetrahedral environment, coordinated by three carboxylate O atoms from three different bdc anions and by one bib N atom. The crystal structure is constructed from the secondary building unit (SBU) [Zn₂(CO₂)₂N₂O₂], in which the two metal centers are held together by two bdc linkers with bis(syn,syn‐bridging bidentate) bonding modes. The SBU is connected by bdc bridges to form a two‐dimensional grid‐like (4,4)‐layer, which is further pillared by the bib ligand. Topologically, the dinuclear SBU can be considered to be a six‐connected node, and the extended structure exhibits an elongated primitive approximately cubic framework. The three‐dimensional framework possesses a large cavity with dimensions of approximately 10 × 13 × 17 Å in cross‐section. The potential porosity is filled with mutual interpenetration of two identical equivalent frameworks, generating a novel threefold interpenetrating network with an α‐polonium topology [Abrahams, Hoskins, Robson & Slizys (2002). CrystEngComm, 4 , 478–482].     

Lithium zincopyrophosphate,Li2Zn3(P2O7)2

The title compound, dilithium(I) trizinc(II) bis[diphosphate(4−)], is the first quaternary lithium zincopyrophosphate in the Li–Zn–P–O system. It features zigzag chains running along c, which are built up from edge‐sharing [ZnO₅] trigonal bipyramids. One of the two independent Zn sites is fully occupied, whereas the other is statistically disordered by Zn²⁺ and Li⁺ cations, although the two Zn sites have similar coordination environments. Li⁺ cations occupy a four‐coordinated independent site with an occupancy factor of 0.5, as well as being disordered on the partially occupied five‐coordinated Zn site with a Zn²⁺/Li⁺ ratio of 1:1.     

Ce20Mg19Zn81: a new structure type with a giant cubic cell

Icosacerium nonadecamagnesium henoctacontazinc, Ce₂₀Mg₁₉Zn₈₁, synthesized by fritting of the pure elements with subsequent arc melting, crystallizes with an unusually large cubic unit cell [space group F3m, a = 21.1979 (8) Å] and represents a new structure type among the technologically important family of ternary rare earth–transition metal–magnesium intermetallics. The majority of atoms (two Ce and five Zn) display .3m site symmetry, two Ce and one Mg atom occupy three 2.mm positions, one Mg and one Zn have 3m site symmetry, one Mg and three Zn atoms sit in ..m positions, and one Zn atom is in a general position. The Ce₂₀Mg₁₉Zn₈₁ structure can be described using the geometric concept of nested polyhedral units, by which it consists of four different polyhedral units, viz.A (Zn+Zn₄+Zn₄+Zn₁₂+Ce₆), B (Mg+Zn₁₂+Ce₄+Zn₂₄+Ce₄), C (Zn₄+Zn₁₂+Mg₆) and D (Zn₄+Zn₄+Mg₁₂+Ce₆), with the outer construction unit being an octahedron or tetrahedron. All interatomic distances in the structure indicate metallic‐type bonding.