Self-assembly of a polar open-framework uranyl vanadyl hexaoxoiodate(VII) constructed entirely from distorted octahedral building units in the first uranium hexaoxoiodate: K2[(UO2)2(VO)2(IO6)2O].H2O

The reaction of UO(3) with V(2)O(5) and KIO(4) under mild hydrothermal conditions produces K(2)[(UO(2))(2)(VO)(2)(IO(6))(2)O].H(2)O (1) in the form of orange acicular crystals. The structure of 1 consists of UO(6), VO(6), and IO(6) distorted octahedra that are assembled into a polar, open-framework structure. The distorted VO(6) and IO(6) octahedra edge-share to form chains that run down the c-axis. Each VO(6) octahedron also shares a vertex with an adjacent vanadium atom to link the chains together into a ribbon. The IO(6) units also partake in corner-sharing with the UO(6) units to create interconnected elliptical tubes. The major channels in 1 are filled with K(+) cations and water molecules. The polarity of this compound is caused by alignment of distorted vanadyl hexaoxoiodate ribbons and UO(6) trapezoidal bipyramids resulting in a large second-harmonic generation response of 300 times that of alpha-quartz. Crystallographic data: 1, orthorhombic, space group Pba2, a = 9.984(2) A, b = 16.763(3) A, c = 4.977(1) A, Z = 4 (T = 193 K).     

Further evidence for the tetraoxoiodate(V) anion,IO(4)(3-): hydrothermal syntheses and structures of Ba[(MoO(2))(6)(IO(4))(2)O(4)] x H(2)O and Ba(3)[(MoO(2))(2)(IO(6))(2)] x 2H(2)O

The hydrothermal reaction of MoO(3) with BaH(3)IO(6) at 180 degrees C for 3 days results in the formation of Ba[(MoO(2))(6)(IO(4))(2)O(4)] x H(2)O (1). Under similar conditions, the reaction of Ba(OH)(2) x 8H(2)O with MoO(3) and Ba(IO(4))(2) x 6H(2)O yields Ba(3)[(MoO(2))(2)(IO(6))(2)] x 2H(2)O (2). The structure of 1, determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction, consists of corner- and edge-sharing distorted MoO(6) octahedra that create two-dimensional slabs. Contained within this molybdenum oxide framework are approximately C(2v) tetraoxoiodate(V) anions, IO(4)(3-), that are involved in bonding with five Mo(VI) centers. The two equatorial oxygen atoms of the IO(4)(3-) anion chelate a single Mo(VI) center, whereas the axial atoms are mu(3)-oxo groups and complete the octahedra of four MoO(6) units. The coordination of the tetraoxoiodate(V) anion to these five highly electropositive centers is probably responsible for stabilizing the substantial anionic charge of this anion. The Ba(2+) cations separate the layers from one another and form long ionic contacts with neighboring oxygen atoms and a water molecule. Compound 2 also contains distorted MoO(6) octahedra. However, these solely edge-share with octahedral hexaoxoiodate(VII), IO(6)(5-), anions to form zigzagging one-dimensional, (1)(infinity)[(MoO(2))(IO(6))](3-), chains that are polar. These chains are separated from one another by Ba(2+) cations that are coordinated by additional water molecules. Bond valence sums for the iodine atoms in 1 and 2 are 5.01 and 7.03, respectively. Crystallographic data: 1, monoclinic, space group C2/c, a = 13.584(1) A, b = 7.3977(7) A, c = 20.736(2) A, beta = 108.244(2) degrees, Z = 4; 2, orthorhombic, space group Fdd2, a = 13.356(7) A, b = 45.54(2) A, c = 4.867(3) A, Z = 8.     

Hydrothermal preparation of nickel(II)/uranium(IV) fluorides with one-, two-, and three-dimensional topologies

A modified compositional diagram for the reactions of Ni(C(2)H(3)O(2))(2).4H(2)O with UO(2)(C(2)H(3)O(2))(2).2H(2)O and HF in aqueous media under mild hydrothermal conditions (200 degrees C) has been completed to yield three Ni(II)/U(IV) fluorides, Ni(H(2)O)(4)UF(6).1.5H(2)O (1), Ni(2)(H(2)O)(6)U(3)F(16).3H(2)O (2), and Ni(H(2)O)(2)UF(6)(H(2)O) (3). The structure of 1 consists of one-dimensional columns constructed from two parallel chains of edge-sharing dodecahedral [UF(8)] units. The sides of the columns are terminated by octahedral Ni(II) units that occur as cis-[Ni(H(2)O)(4)F(2)] polyhedra. In contrast, the crystal structure of 2 reveals a two-dimensional Ni(II)/U(IV) architecture built from edge-sharing tricapped trigonal prismatic [UF(9)] units. The top and bottom of the sheets are capped by fac-[Ni(H(2)O)(3)F(3)] octahedra. The structure of 3 is formed from [UF(8)(H(2)O)] tricapped trigonal prisms that edge share with one another to form one-dimensional chains. These chains are then joined together into a three-dimensional network by corner sharing with trans-[Ni(H(2)O)(2)F(4)] octahedra. Crystallographic data: 1, orthorhombic, space group Cmcm, a = 14.3383(8) A, b = 15.6867(8) A, c = 8.0282(4) A, Z = 8; 2, hexagonal, space group P6(3)/mmc, a = 7.9863(5) A, c = 16.566(1) A, Z = 2; 3, monoclinic, space group C2/c, a = 12.059(1) A, b = 6.8895(6) A, c = 7.9351(7) A, beta = 92.833(2) degrees, Z = 4.     

Aqueous reactions of U(VI) at high chloride concentrations: syntheses and structures of new uranyl chloride polymers

The reactions of UO(3) with acidic aqueous chloride solutions resulted in the formation of two new polymeric U(VI) compounds. Single crystals of Cs(2)[(UO(2))(3)Cl(2)(IO(3))(OH)O(2)].2H(2)O (1) were formed under hydrothermal conditions with HIO(3) and CsCl, and Li(H(2)O)(2)[(UO(2))(2)Cl(3)(O)(H(2)O)] (2) was obtained from acidic LiCl solutions under ambient temperature and pressure. Both compounds contain pentagonal bipyramidal coordination of the uranyl dication, UO(2)(2+). The structure of 1 consists of infinite [(UO(2))(3)Cl(2)(IO(3))(mu(3)-OH)(mu(3)-O)(2)](2-) ribbons that run down the b axis that are formed from edge-sharing pentagonal bipyramidal [UO(6)Cl] and [UO(5)Cl(2)] units. The Cs(+) cations separate the chains from one another and form long ionic contacts with terminal oxygen atoms from iodate ligands, uranyl oxygen atoms, water molecules, and chloride anions. In 2, edge-sharing [UO(3)Cl(4)] and [UO(5)Cl(2)] units build up tetranuclear [(UO(2))(4)(mu-Cl)(6)(mu(3)-O)(2)(H(2)O)(2)](2-) anions that are bridged by chloride to form one-dimensional chains. These chains are connected in a complex network of hydrogen bonds and interactions of uranyl oxygen atoms with Li(+) cations. Crystal data: 1, orthorhombic, space group Pnma, a = 8.2762(4) A, b = 12.4809(6) A, c = 17.1297(8) A, Z = 4; 2, triclinic, space group P1, a = 8.110(1) A, b = 8.621(1) A, c = 8.740(1) A, Z = 2.     

Rich coordination of Nd3+ in Mg2Nd13(BO3)8(SiO4)4(OH)3, derived from high-pressure/high-temperature conditions

A neodymium borosilicate, Mg(2)Nd(13)(BO(3))(8)(SiO(4))(4)(OH)(3) (MgNdBSi-1), was obtained from a high-temperature (1400 °C), solid-state reaction under high-pressure conditions (4.5 GPa). MgNdBSi-1 contains six different types of Nd(3+) coordination environments with three different ligands: BO(3), SiO(4), and OH groups. Mg(2+) cations are only bond to BO(3) groups and form porous two-dimensional layers based on 12-membered ring fragments. Surprisingly, the OH groups are retained at high temperature and reside at the center of Mg-BO(3) rings.     

Uranyl heteropolyoxometalate: synthesis, structure, and spectroscopic properties

A novel uranium heteropolyoxometalate, [H(3)O](4)[Ni(H(2)O)(3)](4){Ni[(UO(2))(PO(3)C(6)H(4)CO(2))](3)(PO(4)H)}(4)·2.72H(2)O, has been prepared under mild hydrothermal conditions using the diethyl(2-ethoxycarbonylphenyl)phosphonate ligand and in situ ligand synthesis of the HPO(4)(2-) anion. The cluster is derived from a common UO(7), pentagonal bipyramid and is constructed by employing nickel(II) metal ions as linkers. The 3d-5f heteropolyoxometalate core incorporates 12 classical pentagonal uranyl groups and four Ni(2+) octahedral units.     

Periodic trends in lanthanide and actinide phosphonates: discontinuity between plutonium and americium

The hydrothermal reactions of trivalent lanthanide and actinide chlorides with 1,2-methylenediphosphonic acid (C1P2) in the presence of NaOH or NaNO(3) result in the crystallization of three structure types: RE[CH(2)(PO(3)H(0.5))(2)] (RE = La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm; Pu) (A type), NaRE(H(2)O)[CH(2)(PO(3))(2)] (RE = La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy; Am) (B type), or NaLn[CH(2)(PO(3)H(0.5))(2)]·(H(2)O) (Ln = Yb and Lu) (C type). These crystals were analyzed using single crystal X-ray diffraction, and the structures were used directly for detailed bonding calculations. These phases form three-dimensional frameworks. In both A and B, the metal centers are found in REO(8) polyhedra as parts of edge-sharing chains or edge-sharing dimers, respectively. Polyhedron shape calculations reveal that A favors a D(2d) dodecahedron while B adopts a C(2v) geometry. In C, Yb and Lu only form isolated MO(6) octahedra. Such differences in terms of structure topology and coordination geometry are discussed in detail to reveal periodic deviations between the lanthanide and actinide series. Absorption spectra for the Pu(III) and Am(III) compounds are also reported. Electronic structure calculations with multireference methods, CASSCF, and density functional theory, DFT, reveal localization of the An 5f orbitals, but natural bond orbital and natural population analyses at the DFT level illustrate unique occupancy of the An 6d orbitals, as well as larger occupancy of the Pu 5f orbitals compared to the Am 5f orbitals.     

Complex clover cross-sectioned nanotubules exist in the structure of the first uranium borate phosphate

An actinide borate phosphate was prepared via a high temperature solid-state reaction. This phase exhibits unprecedented complex inorganic nanotubular fragments with an external diameter of ~2 × 2 nm. The nanotubular aggregates are based on borate tubes where the exterior of the tubes is decorated with UO(2)(PO(4))(3) moieties to form a complex shape with a cross-section similar to the clover cross.