Syntheses and structural analyses of nine-coordinate protonated (Py)2[GdIII(HNta)(Nta)(H2O)] · 5H2O and eight-coordinate (NH4)3[HoIII(Nta)2] complexes

The syntheses and structural determination of Gd(III) and Ho(III) complexes with nitrilotriacetic acids (Nta) were reported in this paper. Their structures and compositions were determined and characterized by single-crystal X-ray structure analyses, elemental analyses, and IR spectra. The first protonated Nta complex was found. Structural analyses indicate that the structure greatly changes, while an alternative Nta ligand was protonated in the ((Py)₂Gd^III(HNta)(Nta)(H₂O)] · 5H₂O complex and the(NH₄)₃Ho^III(Nta)₂] complex crystallized as a centrosymmetric structure. By contrast, it is further confirmed that the coordination number and coordinate structure of all trivalent rare-earth metal complexes with aminopolycarboxylic acids mainly depend on the ionic radii and electronic configuration of the central metal ions and their countercations.