Rare‐Earth‐Metal Nitridophosphates through High‐Pressure Metathesis

Developing a synthetic method to target an broad spectrum of unknown phases can lead to fascinating discoveries. The preparation of the first rare‐earth‐metal nitridophosphate LiNdP₄N₈ is reported. High‐pressure solid‐state metathesis between LiPN₂ and NdF₃ was employed to yield a highly crystalline product. The in situ formed LiF is believed to act both as the thermodynamic driving force and as a flux to aiding single‐crystal formation in dimensions suitable for crystal structure analysis. Magnetic properties stemming from Nd³⁺ ions were measured by SQUID magnetometry. LiNdP₄N₈ serves as a model system for the exploration of rare‐earth‐metal nitridophosphates that may even be expanded to transition metals. High‐pressure metathesis enables the systematic study of these uncharted regions of nitride‐based materials with unprecedented properties.     

Accessing Tetravalent Transition‐Metal Nitridophosphates through High‐Pressure Metathesis

Advancing the attainable composition space of a compound class can lead to fascinating materials. The first tetravalent metal nitridophosphate, namely Hf_9?xP₂₄N_52?4xO_4x (x≈1.84), was prepared by high‐pressure metathesis. The Group 4 nitridophosphates are now an accessible class of compounds. The high‐pressure metathesis reaction using a multianvil setup yielded single crystals that were suitable for structure analysis. Magnetic properties of the compound indicate Hf in oxidation state +IV. Optical measurements show a band gap in the UV region. The presented route unlocks the new class of Group 4 nitridophosphates by significantly improving the understanding of this nitride chemistry. Hf_9?xP₂₄N_52?4xO_4x (x≈1.84) is a model system and its preparation is the first step towards a systematic exploration of the transition‐metal nitridophosphates.     

C‐Alkylation of Ketones and Related Compounds by Alcohols: Transition‐Metal‐Catalyzed Dehydrogenation

Transition‐metal‐catalyzed C‐alkylation of ketones and secondary alcohols, with alcohols, avoids use of organometallic or environmentally unfriendly alkylating agents by means of borrowing hydrogen (BH) or hydrogen autotransfer (HA) activation of the alcohol substrates. Water is formed as the only by‐product, thus making the BH process atom‐economical and environmentally benign. Diverse homogeneous and heterogeneous transition‐metal catalysts, ketones, and alcohols can be used for this transformation, thus rendering the BH process promising for replacing those procedures that use traditional alkylating agents. This Minireview summarizes the advances during the last five years in transition‐metal‐catalyzed BH α‐alkylation of ketones, and β‐alkylation of secondary alcohols with alcohols. A discussion on the application of the BH strategy for C?C bond formation is included.     

Hysteretic Spin Crossover above Room Temperature and Magnetic Coupling in Trinuclear Transition‐Metal Complexes with Anionic 1,2,4‐Triazole Ligands

The reaction of 4‐(1,2,4‐triazol‐4‐yl)ethanesulfonate ( L ) with Zn²⁺, Cu²⁺, Ni²⁺, Co²⁺, and Fe²⁺ gave a series of analogous neutral trinuclear complexes with the formula [M₃(μ‐ L )₆(H₂O)₆] ( 1 – 5 ). These compounds were characterized by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction, thermogravimetry, and elemental analysis. The magnetic properties of compounds 2 – 5 were studied. Complexes 2 – 4 show weak antiferromagnetic superexchange, with J values of ?0.33 ( 2 ), ?9.56 ( 3 ), and ?4.50 cm^?1 ( 4 ) (exchange Hamiltonian H=?2 J (S₁S₂+S₂S₃)). Compound 5 shows two additional crystallographic phases ( 5 b and 5 c ) that can be obtained by dehydration and/or thermal treatment. These three phases exhibit distinct magnetic behavior. The Fe²⁺ centers in 5 are in high‐spin (HS) configuration at room temperature, with the central one exhibiting a non‐cooperative gradual spin transition below 250 K with T_1/2=150 K. In 5 b , the central Fe²⁺ stays in its low‐spin (LS) state at room temperature, and cooperative spin transition occurs at higher temperatures and with the appearance of memory effect (T_1/2↑=357 K and T_1/2↓=343 K). In the case of 5 c , all iron centers remain in their HS configuration down to very low temperatures, with weak antiferromagnetic coupling (J=?1.16 cm^?1). Compound 5 b exhibits spin transition with memory effect at the highest temperature reported, which matches the remarkable features of coordination polymers.     

Syntheses and Structures of New Rare‐Earth Metal Tetracyanidoborates

Six new rare‐earth metal tetracyanidoborates were prepared and characterized by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction. Crystals of these salts contain co‐crystallized solvent molecules, such as water, acetone, ethanol, or diethyl ether. In [La(EtOH)₃(H₂O)₂{B(CN)₄}₃] ( 1 ), [La(EtOH)(H₂O)₄{B(CN)₄}₃] · Et₂O ( 2 ), and [Y(EtOH)(H₂O)₄{B(CN)₄}₃] · EtOH ( 6 ) the tetracyanidoborate anions are all or in part bonded to the RE³⁺ ions, whereas in [Pr(H₂O)₉][B(CN)₄]₃ · (CH₃)₂CO ( 3 ), [Er(H₂O)₈][B(CN)₄]₃ · (CH₃)₂CO ( 4 ), and [Lu(EtOH)(H₂O)₇][B(CN)₄]₃ · EtOH · 0.5H₂O ( 5 ) the [B(CN)₄]^– anions are not coordinated to the central metal atoms. Only in 1 , one of the three crystallographically independent [B(CN)₄]^– anions acts as a bridging ligand.