Synthesis,Crystal Structure,Bonding, and Properties of (Ba6O)(OsN3)2

The new barium nitridoosmate oxide (Ba₆O)(OsN₃)₂ was prepared by reacting elemental barium and osmium (3:1) in nitrogen at 815–830 °C. The crystal structure of (Ba₆O)(OsN₃)₂ as determined by laboratory powder X‐ray diffraction ( , No 148: a=b=8.112(1) Å, c=17.390(1) Å, V=991.0(1) ų, Z=3), consists of sheets of trigonal OsN₃ units and trigonal‐antiprismatic Ba₆O groups, and is structurally related to the “313 nitrides” AE₃MN₃ (AE=Ca, Sr, Ba, M=V–Co, Ga). Density functional calculations, using a hybrid functional, likewise indicate the existence of oxygen in the Ba₆ polyhedra. The oxidation state 4+ of osmium is confirmed, both by the calculations and by XPS measurements. The bonding properties of the OsN₃^5? units are analyzed and compared to the Raman spectrum. The compound is paramagnetic from room temperature down to T=10 K. Between room temperature and 100 K it obeys the Curie–Weiss law (μ=1.68 μ_B). (Ba₆O)(OsN₃)₂ is semiconducting with a good electronic conductivity at room temperature (8.74×10^?2 Ω^?1 cm^?1). Below 142 K the temperature dependence of the conductivity resembles that of a variable‐range hopping mechanism.