Refined crystal structure and idealized structure of mixed-valent Eu4F5(CN2)2: transition possible

The new europium fluoride carbodiimide Eu(4)F(5)(CN(2))(2) was synthesized by solid state reaction from mixtures of EuF(3) and Li(2)(CN(2)) at 700 °C. The crystal structure as refined by single crystal X-ray diffraction (P ?42(1)c, no. 114, a = 16.053(1) ?, c = 6.5150(6) ?, Z = 8) reveals three crystallographically distinct N═C═N](2-) ions in the structure of mixed-valent Eu(4)F(5)(CN(2))(2). The presence of one Eu(3+) and three Eu(2+) per formula unit Eu(4)F(5)(CN(2))(2) is confirmed by magnetic measurements and (151)Eu-Mo?ssbauer spectroscopy. The arrangement of Eu ions and gravity centers of NCN](2-) ions in the structure of Eu(4)F(5)(CN(2))(2) follow the motif formed by atoms in the CuAl(2)-type structure. A possible high-symmetry structure of Eu(4)F(5)(CN(2))(2) is discussed on the basis of a group-subgroup scheme.