Thermal and Spectral Studies of Y(III) and Lanthanide(III) Complexes with Mesaconic Acid

Y(III) and lanthanide(III) mesaconates were prepared as crystalline solids with general formula Ln₂(C₅H₄O₄)₃⋅nH₂O, where n=7 for La−Pr, n=4 for Y,Nd−Ho, n=8 for Er−Lu. IR spectra of the prepared mesaconates suggest that carboxylate groups are bidentate bridging anf chelating. During heating the hydrated complexes are dehydrated in one (Y, Nd−Lu) or two steps (La−Pr) and then decompose directly to oxides (Y, Ce, Pr, Sm, Gd−Lu) or with intermediate formation Ln₂O₂CO₃ (La, Nd, Eu). This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.