Einkristalle des Cer(IV)–Oxotellurats(IV) CeTe2O6

Single Crystals of the Cerium(IV) Oxotellurate(IV) CeTe₂O₆ Orange‐red, coffin‐shaped single crystals of CeTe₂O₆ (monoclinic, P2₁/n; a = 703.71(5), b = 1106.32(8), c = 735.24(5) pm, β = 108.066(6)°; Z = 4) were obtained by the reaction of admixtures of cerium dioxide and tellurium dioxide (CeO₂, TeO₂; molar ratio 1 : 2) in the presence of fluxing CsCl (750 °C, 4 d) in evacuated silica tubes. The crystal structure contains eightfold coordinated Ce⁴⁺ cations, which are surrounded by irregular trigonal dodecahedra of oxygen atoms. The interconnection of these CeO₈] polyhedra occurs via two edges (O2–O2′ and O3–O3′) with equatorial orientation relative to each other forming zigzag chains {CeO_4/1O_4/2]^8–} which run parallel to 100] and arrange as a hexagonal packing of rods. Both crystallographically different Te⁴⁺ cations exhibit trigonal non‐planar coordination figures (ψ¹ tetrahedra) with three oxygen atoms each as a result of the stereochemical activity of the non‐binding electron pairs (“lone pairs”). They also are responsible for the necessary cross‐linkage of the anionic {CeO₆]^8–} chains. The isotypical relationship with Ce(SeO₃)₂ therefore justifies the formulation Ce(TeO₃)₂ for CeTe₂O₆.