Reactions with Oleum under Harsh Conditions: Characterization of the Unique [M(S2O7)3]2− Ions (M=Si,Ge, Sn) in A2[M(S2O7)3] (A=NH4, Ag)

The reactions of group 14 tetrachlorides MCl₄ (M=Si, Ge, Sn) with oleum (65 % SO₃) at elevated temperatures lead to the unique complex ions [M(S₂O₇)₃]^2?, which show the central M atoms in coordination with three chelating S₂O₇^2? groups. The mean distances M? O within the anions increase from 175.6(2)–177.5(2) pm (M=Si) to 186.4(4)–187.7(4) pm (M=Ge) to 201.9(2)–203.5(2) pm (M=Sn). These distances are reproduced well by DFT calculations. The same calculations show an increasing positive charge for the central M atom in the row Si, Ge, Sn, which can be interpreted as the decreasing covalency of the M? O bonds. For the silicon compound (NH₄)₂[Si(S₂O₇)₃], ²⁹Si solid‐state NMR measurements have been performed, with the results showing a signal at ?215.5 ppm for (NH₄)₂[Si(S₂O₇)₃], which is in very good agreement with theoretical estimations. In addition, the vibrational modes within the [MO₆] skeleton have been monitored by Raman spectroscopy for selected examples, and are well reproduced by theory. The charge balance for the [M(S₂O₇)₃]^2? ions is achieved by monovalent A⁺ counter ions (A=NH₄, Ag), which are implemented in the syntheses in the form of their sulfates. The sizes of the A⁺ ions, that is, their coordination requirements, cause the crystallographic differences in the crystal structures, although the complex [M(S₂O₇)₃]^2? ions remain essentially unaffected with the different A⁺ ions. Furthermore, the nature of the A⁺ ions influences the thermal behavior of the compounds, which has been monitored for selected examples by thermogravimetric differential thermal analysis (DTA/TG) and XRD measurements.     

Pr4S3[Si2O7] und Pr3Cl3[Si2O7]: Durch weiche Fremdanionen modifizierte Derivate von Praseodymdisilicat

Pr₄S₃[Si₂O₇] and Pr₃Cl₃[Si₂O₇]: Derivatives of Praseodymium Disilicate Modified by Soft Foreign Anions For synthesizing both the disilicate derivatives Pr₄S₃[Si₂O₇] and Pr₃Cl₃[Si₂O₇], Pr, Pr₆O₁₁ and SiO₂ are brought to reaction with S and PrCl₃, respectively, in suitable molar ratios (850 °C, 7 d) in evacuated silica tubes. By using NaCl as a flux, Pr₄S₃[Si₂O₇] crystallizes as pale green, transparent single crystals (tetragonal, I4₁/amd, a = 1201.6(1), c = 1412.0(2) pm, Z = 8) with the appearance of slightly compressed octahedra. On the other hand, Pr₃Cl₃[Si₂O₇] emerges as pale green, transparent platelets and crystallizes monoclinically (space group: P2₁, a = 530.96(6), b = 1200.2(1), c = 783.11(8) pm, β = 109.07(1)°, Z = 2). In both crystal structures ecliptically conformed [Si₂O₇]^6– units of two corner‐linked [SiO₄] tetrahedra with Si–O–Si bridging angles of 131° in the sulfide and 148° in the chloride disilicate are present. In Pr₄S₃[Si₂O₇] both crystallographically independent Pr³⁺ cations show coordination numbers of 8 + 1 (5 S^2– and 3 + 1 O^2–) and 9 (3 S^2– and 6 O^2–). For Pr1, Pr2 and Pr3 in Pr₃Cl₃[Si₂O₇] coordination numbers of 10 (5 Cl^– and 5 O^2–) and 9 (2 ×; 4 Cl^– and 5 O^2– or 3 Cl^– and 6 O^2–, respectively) occur.     

Vibrational Spectra of Cluster Anions. 2. Vibrational Spectra of Compounds with the Cluster Anions [E4]4−: M4E4 (M = K,Rb, Cs; E = Ge,Sn) and β‐Na4Sn4

Vibrational spectra of the compounds M₄E₄ (M = K, Rb, Cs; E = Ge, Sn) and of β‐Na₄Sn₄ with the cluster anions [E₄]^4? were analysed based on the point group of isolated tetrahedranide units. The lower individual symmetry of the anions in the real structure being more patterned and complex primarily affects the spectra of the tetrahedro‐tetragermanides. ν₃(F₂) clearly splits both in Raman and IR and in the case of K₄Sn₄ only in IR. Rb₄Sn₄ and Cs₄Sn₄ exhibit very simple spectra with three bands in Raman and one band in IR. The breathing mode ν₁(A₁) for the quasi isolated [E₄]^4? cluster appears only in the Raman spectrum and is hardly influenced by the structural environment and by the nature of the alkali metal cations: ν₁(A₁) = 274 cm^?1 ([Ge₄]^4?) and 183‐187 cm^?1 ([Sn₄]^4?), respectively. The calculated valence force constants f_d(E–E) are: [Ge₄]^4? : f_d = 0.89 Ncm^?1 ( K ), 0.87 Ncm^?1 ( Rb ), 0.86 Ncm^?1 ( Cs ) and [Sn₄]^4? : 0.67 Ncm^?1 ( Na ), 0.66 Ncm^?1 ( K ), 0.67 Ncm^?1 ( Rb ), 0.68 Ncm^?1 ( Cs ). Both, the frequencies and the force constants fit well into the range previously reported.     

Studies on the Reactivity of [Ge9]4− towards [Fe(cot)(CO)3]: Synthesis and Characterization of [Ge8Fe(CO)3]3− and of the Anionic Organometallic Species [Fe(cot)(CO)3]−

Reaction of cyclooctatetraene (COT) iron(II) tricarbonyl, [Fe(cot)(CO)₃], with one equivalent of K₄Ge₉ in ethylenediamine (en) yielded the cluster anion [Ge₈Fe(CO)₃]^3? which was crystallographically‐characterized as a [K(2,2,2‐crypt)]⁺ salt in [K(2,2,2‐crypt)]₃[Ge₈Fe(CO)₃]. The chemically‐reduced organometallic species [Fe(η³‐C₈H₈)(CO)₃]^? was also isolated as a side‐product from this reaction as [K(2,2,2‐crypt)][Fe(η³‐C₈H₈)(CO)₃]. Both species were further characterized by EPR and IR spectroscopy and electrospray mass spectrometry. The [Ge₈Fe(CO)₃]^3? cluster anion represents an unprecedented functionalized germanium Zintl anion in which the nine‐atom precursor cluster has lost a vertex, which has been replaced by a transition‐metal moiety.     

Synthesis,Crystal Structures and Properties of Tetrametallic Complexes: [M2(phen)4(FCA)2](ClO4)2·(H2O)2 (M=Zn or Co,phen=1,10‐phenanthroline,FCA=anion of 3‐ferrocenyl‐2‐crotonic acid)

Two new complexes [Zn₂(phen)₄(FCA)₂](ClO₄)₂·(H₂O)₂ ( 1 ) and [Co₂(phen)₄ (FCA)₂](ClO₄)₂·(H₂O)₂ (2) (FCA=anion of 3‐ferrocenyl‐2‐crotonic acid, phen=1,10‐phenanthroline) have been synthesized, and characterized by elemental analysis, IR, UV‐Vis spectra, thermal analyses, and single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction. Two M(II) (M=Zn or Co) ions are bridged by two FCA anions with syn‐anti bridging ligands, leading to dimeric cores, [M₂(phen)₄(FCA)₂]²⁺, and each M(II) ion is six‐coordinated in a distorted octahedral geometry by two chelate phen ligands and two μ₂‐carboxylate oxygen atoms from two FCA groups. The M(II)…M(II) intradimer distances are 0.4391 and 0.4462 nm in 1 and 2 , respectively. Electrochemical properties of the complexes have been discussed.     

Sm4S3[Si2O7] und NaSm9S2[SiO4]6: Zwei Sulfidsilicate mit dreiwertigem Samarium

Sm₄S₃[Si₂O₇] and NaSm₉S₂[SiO₄]₆: Two Sulfide Silicates with Trivalent Samarium The sulfide silicates Sm₄S₃[Si₂O₇] and NaSm₉S₂[SiO₄]₆ are obtained as light yellow transparent crystals by the reaction of Sm, Sm₂O₃, S, and SiO₂ with fluxing SmCl₃ or NaCl, respectively, in suitable molar ratios in fused evacuated silica tubes (850 °C, 7 d). Tetragonal crystals of Sm₄S₃[Si₂O₇] (I4₁/amd; Z = 8; a = 1186.4(1); c = 1387.0(2) pm) with ecliptically conformed [Si₂O₇]^6–‐groups of corner sharing [SiO₄]‐tetrahedra are formed. These double tetrahedra as well the sulfide anions (S^2–) coordinate two crystallographically independent metal cations. They provide coordination numbers of 8 + 1 (5 S^2– and 3 + 1 O^2–) for Sm1 and 9 (3 S^2– and 6 O^2–) for Sm2. NaSm₉S₂[SiO₄]₆ crystallizes hexagonally (P6₃/m; Z = 1; a = 975.32(9); c = 676.46(7) pm) in a modified bromapatite‐type structure. The coordination spheres about the two crystallographically different Sm³⁺ cations are built up by oxygen atoms of the orthosilicate units ([SiO₄]^4–) and sulfide anions (S^2–). As a result, Sm1 and Sm2 have coordination numbers of 9 and 8, respectively. Na⁺ and (Sm1)³⁺ occupy the position 4 f in a molar ratio of 1 : 3 whereas the lower coordinated (Sm2)³⁺ occupies the 6 h position.     

Electronic properties of Strandberg anions: A DFT study of [X2Mo5O23]n−, (X = PV,SVI, AsV,SeVI), and [(RP)2Mo5O21]4− (R = H,CH3, C2H5)

The electronic properties of the anions mentioned in the title polyanions were calculated by means of Density Functional Theory (DFT). The redox properties and the basicity of the external oxygen sites of those polyanions were analyzed. The results show that the redox properties of Strandberg anions depend on the nature of heteroatom X. The organic group bonded to the heteroatom modifies the redox property of the cluster. The oxygen basicities of the polyanions were analyzed by virtue of molecular electrostatic potential (MEP). The MEP distribution suggests that the most basic centers are triple‐bridging oxygen atoms, one of which is shared with two metal atoms and one heteroatom X in [P₂Mo₅O₂₃]^6? and [As₂Mo₅O₂₃]^6?. In [(RP)₂Mo₅O₂₁]^4?, the triple‐bridging oxygen atoms and the double‐bridging oxygen atoms bonded to two Mo atoms identified as the most basic centers. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2005     

Binary alkali metal compounds with the zintl anions [Ge9]4− and [Sn9]4−

The binary germanides M₁₂Ge₁₇ and M₄Ge₉ (M ? Na, K, Rb, Cs) and the stannides M₁₂Sn₁₇ and M₄Sn₉ (M ? K, Rb, Cs) were identified by a combination of direct synthesis, thermogravimetric analysis, vibrational spectroscopy, X-ray powder data and single crystal structure analysis. The M₁₂E₁₇ phases contain the cluster anions [E₉]^4? and [E₄]^4? in the ratio 1:2, forming a hierarchical structure with the cluster anions at the atomic positions of the hexagonal Laves phase MgZn₂. Like the M₄E₄ phases, the M₄Ge₉ compounds are hierarchical derivatives of the cubic Cr₃Si structure but with [Ge₉]^4? anions. The thermogravimetric analyses give strong evidence for the existence of at least one more phase with [E₉]^4? and [E₄]^4? clusters and of the clathrate phases M₆E₁₃₆ in addition to the well-known M₈E₄₄□₂ chlathrates.     

A Computational Study of [M(CF3)4]− (M = Cu,Ag, Au) and their Properties as Weakly Coordinating Anions

The properties of the tetrakis(trifluoromethyl)‐coinage metallates(III) [M(CF₃)₄]^? (M = Cu, Ag, Au) as W eakly C oordinating A nions (WCAs) have been investigated with quantum mechanical methods in order to quantitatively compare them to other, well‐known WCAs. Also, several new decomposition pathways have been studied. Overall the coinage metallates perform rather well and should be used more frequently in preparative chemistry.     

The Sialons MLn[Si4−xAlxOxN7−x] with M = Eu,Sr, Ba and Ln = Ho‐Yb – Twelve Substitution Variants with the MYb[Si4N7] Structure Type

The oxonitridoalumosilicates (so‐called sialons) MLn[Si_4?xAl_xO_xN_7?x] with M = Eu, Sr, Ba and Ln =Ho, Er, Tm, Yb were obtained by the reaction of the respective lanthanoid metal, the alkaline earth carbonates or europium carbonate, resp., AlN, “Si(NH)₂” and MCl₂ as a flux in a radiofrequency furnace at temperatures around 2100 °C. The compounds MLn[Si_4?xAl_xO_xN_7?x] are relevant for the investigation of substitutional effects on the materials properties due to their ability of tolerating a comparatively large phase width up to x ≈ 2.0(5). The crystal structures of the twelve compounds were refined from X‐ray single crystal data and X‐ray powder data and are found to be isotypic to the MYb[Si₄N₇] structure type. The compounds crystallize in space group P6₃mc (no. 186, hexagonal) and are made up of chains of so‐called starlike units [N^[4](SiN₃)₄] or [N^[4]((Si,Al)(O,N)₃)₄], respectively. These units are formed by four (Si,Al)(N/O)₄ tetrahedra sharing a common central nitrogen atom. The structure refinement was performed utilizing an O/N‐distribution model according to Paulings rules, i.e. nitrogen was positioned on the four‐fold bridging site and nitrogen and oxygen were distributed equally on both of the two‐fold bridging sites, resulting in charge neutrality of the compound. The Si and Al atoms were distributed equally on their two crystallographic sites, referring to their elemental proportion in the compound, due to being poorly distinguishable by X‐ray methods. The chemical compositions of the compounds were derived from electron probe micro analyses (EPMA).     

On the Nature of Bridging Metal Atoms in Intermetalloid Clusters: Synthesis and Structure of the Metal‐Atom‐Bridged Zintl Clusters [Sn(Ge9)2]4− and [Zn(Ge9)2)]6−

The addition of Sn and Zn ions to [Ge₉] clusters by reaction of [Ge₉]^4? with SnPh₂Cl₂, ZnCp*₂ (Cp*=pentamethylcyclopentadienyl), or Zn₂[HC(Ph₂P=NPh)₂]₂ is reported. The resulting Sn‐ and Zn‐bridged clusters [(Ge₉)M(Ge₉)]^q? (M=Sn, q=4; M=Zn, q=6) display various coordination modes. The M atoms that coordinate to the open square of a C_4v‐symmetric [Ge₉] cluster form strong covalent multicenter M?Ge bonds, in contrast to the M atoms coordinating to triangular cluster faces. Molecular orbital analyses show that the M atoms of the Ge₉M fragments coordinate to a second [Ge₉] cluster with similar orbitals but in different ways. The [Ge₉Sn]^2?unit donates two electrons to the triangular face of a second [Ge₉]^2? cluster with D_3h symmetry, whereas [Ge₉Zn]^2?acts as an electron acceptor when interacting with the triangular face of a D_3h‐symmetric [Ge₉]^4? unit.