LiLa6I12Os, a substitutional derivative of rhombohedral La(La6I12Os)

The series of quaternary rare-earth-metal halide cluster compounds ALa₆I₁₂Z with transition metal interstitials Z and alkali or alkaline-earth metal cations A has been expanded to include A=Li. The compounds synthesized by high-temperature solid-state techniques for Z=Os, Ir, Pt, Ru are isotypic with rhombohedral R₇X₁₂Z (, Z=3). The refined single X-ray crystal structure of (Li_0.967La_0.033)La₆I₁₂Os is reported, along with supportive results from a Rietveld analysis of neutron powder diffraction from a different sample, ⁷Li MAS-NMR, and electronic resistivity and magnetic susceptibility measurements. The samples show continuous Li_1−xLa_x cation compositions and are generally semiconductors, but their complex paramagnetic properties are not those of simple spin-only systems.