New Examples for the Unexpected Stability of the 10π‐Electron Hückel Arene [Si6]10–

The compounds Ba₄Ag₂Si₆, Eu₄Ag₂Si₆, and Ca₄Ag₂Si₆, prepared from the elements at 1273 K (the components in inner corundum crucibles are enclosed in sealed quartz ampoules), are brittle semiconductors with silvery luster. They react slowly with acids liberating hydrogen. Ba₄Ag₂Si₆] and Eu₄Ag₂Si₆] crystallize like Ba₄Li₂Si₆] (space group Fddd (No. 70); a = 8.613 Å, b = 14.927 Å, c = 19.639 Å, and a = 8.420 Å, b = 14.585 Å, c = 17.864 Å, respectively), whereas Ca₄Ag₂Si₆] represents a new structure type (space group Fmmm (No. 69); a = 8.315 Å, b = 14.391 Å, c = 8.646 Å). The three compounds are Zintl phases with the formal charges M²⁺, Ag⁺ and Si₆]^10–. The mean bond lengths d(Si–Si) = 2.335–2.381 Å in the 10π‐Hückel arene Si₆]^10– as well as d(Ag–Si) = 2.464–2.595 Å vary with the size of the M²⁺ cations. The chemical bonding was analyzed in terms of the Electron Localization Function (ELF) and compared with the bonding in related systems (Ce₄Co₂Si₆).