Florian Kraus

Zintl Ions, Cage Compounds, and Intermetalloid Clusters of Group 14 and Group 15 Elements

For a long time, Zintl ions of Group 14 and 15 elements were considered to be remarkable species domiciled in solid-state chemistry that have unexpected stoichiometries and fascinating structures, but were of limited relevance. The revival of Zintl ions was heralded by the observation that these species, preformed in solid-state Zintl phases, can be extracted from the lattice of the solids and dissolved in appropriate solvents, and thus become available as reactants and building blocks in solution chemistry. The recent upsurge of research activity in this fast-growing field has now provided a rich plethora of new compounds, for example by substitution of these Zintl ions with organic groups and organometallic fragments, by oxidative coupling reactions leading to dimers, oligomers, or polymers, or by the inclusion of metal atoms under formation of endohedral cluster species and intermetalloid compounds; some of these species have good prospects in applications in materials science. This Review presents the enormous progress that has been made in Zintl ion chemistry with an emphasis on syntheses, properties, structures, and theoretical treatments.

Reactions of beryllium halides in liquid ammonia: the tetraammineberyllium cation [Be(NH3)4]2+, its hydrolysis products, and the action of Be2+ as a fluoride-ion acceptor.

The first structural characterization of the text-book tetraammineberyllium(II) cation [Be(NH(3))(4)](2+), obtained in the compounds [Be(NH(3))(4)](2)Cl(4)⋅17NH(3) and [Be(NH(3))(4)]Cl(2), is reported. Through NMR spectroscopic and quantum chemical studies, its hydrolysis products in liquid ammonia were identified. These are the dinuclear [Be(2)(μ-OH)(NH(3))(6)](3+) and the cyclic [Be(2)(μ-OH)(2)(NH(3))(4)](2+) and [Be(3)(μ-OH)(3)(NH(3))(6)](3+) cations. The latter species was isolated as the compound [Be(3)(μ-OH)(3)(NH(3))(6)]Cl(3)⋅7NH(3). NMR analysis of solutions of BeF(2) in liquid ammonia showed that the [BeF(2)(NH(3))(2)] molecule was the only dissolved species. It acts as a strong fluoride-ion acceptor and forms the [BeF(3)(NH(3))](-) anion in the compound [N(2)H(7)][BeF(3)(NH(3))]. The compounds presented herein were characterized by single-crystal X-ray structure analysis, (9)Be, (17)O, and (19)F NMR, IR, and Raman spectroscopy, deuteration studies, and quantum chemical calculations. The extension of beryllium chemistry to the ammine system shows similarities but also decisive differences to the aquo system.

Off the Beaten Track-A Hitchhiker's Guide to Beryllium Chemistry.

This Minireview aims to give an introduction to beryllium chemistry for all less-experienced scientists in this field of research. Up to date information on the toxicity of beryllium and its compounds are reviewed and several basic and necessary guidelines for a safe and proper handling in modern chemical research laboratories are presented. Interesting phenomenological observations are described that are related directly to the uniqueness of this element, which are also put into historical context. Herein we combine the contributions and experiences of many scientist that work passionately in this field. We want to encourage fellow scientists to reconcile the long-standing reservations about beryllium and its compounds and motivate intense research on this spurned element. Who on earth should be able to deal with beryllium and its compounds if not chemists?

A New Route to Metal Azides

Beside several other applications, metal azides can be used for the synthesis of nitridophosphates and binary nitrides. Herein we present a novel synthetic access to azides: Several metals, such as main-group, transition metals, and rare-earth metals, react with silver azide in liquid ammonia as a solvent giving the corresponding metal azides. In this work Mn(N3)2, Sn(N3)2, and Eu(N3)2, as well as their ammonia complexes were synthesized for the first time through low-temperature methods. Also a simpler access to Zn(N3)2 was possible. At room temperature and the respective vapor pressure of NH3, it became possible to grow single crystals of the dinuclear holmium azide [Ho2(μ-NH2)3(NH3)10](N3)3⋅1.25NH3. We are confident that this new route could lead to novel metal azides as well as nitrides of the main-group, the transition, and the rare-earth metals upon careful decomposition.

Na6ZnSn2, Na4.24K1.76(1)ZnSn2, and Na20Zn8Sn11: three intermetallic structures containing the linear {Sn-Zn-Sn}6- unit.

The novel intermetallic compounds Na6ZnSn2 (1), Na4.24K1.76(1)ZnSn2 (2), and Na20Zn8Sn11 (3) were obtained from direct fusion of the pure elements, and their structures were determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction. All three compounds adopt new structure types and contain linear anionic {Sn-Zn-Sn}6- units with rather short Zn-Sn contacts (2.55-2.58 A), separated by alkali metal counterions. Compound 3 comprises layers of interconnected heteroatomic {Zn7Sn5} icosahedra as an additional unique structural motif. The bonding situation in this 16 valence-electron anion is analyzed by quantum chemical methods. The results of NBO, AIM, and ELF calculations (Gaussian03 on HF/3-21G level) reveal covalent bonding between Sn and Zn. The relationship to isovalent CO2 is discussed. Band structure calculations on the density functional theory level (LMTO) show that 1 can be understood as a Zintl phase containing a {Sn-Zn-Sn}6- anion; however, Na-Sn contacts must also be considered. Magnetic susceptibility measurements show a temperature-independent, weak diamagnetism for Na6ZnSn2 (1).

Tracing Hydrogen Bonding Au···H–C at Gold Atoms: A Case Study

It has been shown in preceding experimental work that cyclometalated 6-benzylpyridines with gold(III) centers in the metallacycle (1) adopt a boat conformation reminiscent of the structure of 9,10-dihydroanthracene. There is a conspicuously short Au···H-C contact with a pseudoaxial methyl group suggesting a significant interaction which may be the prototype for Au(III)···H-C hydrogen bonding. Quantum chemical calculations on the B3LYP/def2-TZVP level have now shown that the ground state structures and conformations adopted by the homologues with two hydrogen atoms, two methyl groups, and a hydrogen atom and a methyl group at the carbon atom bridging the two (hetero)arene rings can be explained on the basis of simple conformation rules. There is no evidence that the Au(III)···H-C contact leads to an attractive interaction. The results are discussed in the context of literature data for Pt(II) analogues. Examples for potential Au(III)···H-X interactions presented in other references appear to be of a similar character.

Pyrophosphate Complexation of Tin(II) in Aqueous Solutions as Applied in Electrolytes for the Deposition of Tin and Tin Alloys Such as White Bronze

Electrodeposition of tin and tin alloys from electrolytes containing tin(II) and pyrophosphates is an important process in metal finishing, but the nature of the tin pyrophosphate complexes present in these solutions in various pH regions has remained unknown. Through solubility and pH studies, IR and (31)P and (119)Sn NMR spectroscopic investigations of solutions obtained by dissolving Sn(2)P(2)O(7) in equimolar quantities of either Na(4)P(2)O(7)·10H(2)O or K(4)P(2)O(7) the formation of anionic 1:1 complexes {[Sn(P(2)O(7))]}(n)(2n-) has now been verified and the molecular structures of the monomer (n = 1) and the dimer (n = 2) have been calculated by density functional theory (DFT) methods. Whereas the alkali pyrophosphates Na/K(4)P(2)O(7) give strongly alkaline aqueous solutions (pH ∼13), because of partial protonation of the [P(2)O(7)](4-) anion, the [Sn(P(2)O(7))](2-) anion is not protonated and the solutions of Na/K(2)[Sn(P(2)O(7))] are almost neutral (pH ∼8). The monomeric dianion appears to have a ground state with C(2v) symmetry with the Sn atom in a square pyramidal coordination and the lone pair of electrons in the apical position, while the dimer approaches C(2) symmetry with the Sn atoms in a rhombic pyramidal coordination, also with a sterically active lone pair. A comparison of experimental and calculated IR details favors the monomer as the most abundant species in solution. With an excess of pyrophosphate, 3:2 and 2:1 complexes (P(2)O(7)):(Sn) are first formed, which, in the presence of more pyrophosphate, undergo rapid ligand exchange on the NMR time scale. The structure of the 2:1 complex [Sn(P(2)O(7))(2)](6-) was calculated to have a pyramidal complexation by two 1,5-chelating pyrophosphate ligands. Neutralization of these alkaline solutions by sulfuric or sulfonic acids (H(2)SO(4), MeSO(3)H), as also practiced in electroplating, appears to afford the tin(II) hydrogen pyrophosphates [Sn(P(2)O(7)H)](-) and [Sn(H(2)P(2)O(7))](0). The molecular structures of the mononuclear model units have also been calculated and were shown to have an unsymmetrical complexation and to feature trigonal pyramidal (pseudotetrahedral) coordination. NMR observations have shown that, contrary to the results obtained for Sn(II) compounds, Sn(IV) as present in K(2)SnO(3) or its hydrated form (K(2)Sn(OH)(6)) does not form a pyrophosphate complex in aqueous solution near pH 7. There is also no interference of sulfite.

UF6 and UF4 in Liquid Ammonia: [UF7(NH3)]3- and [UF4(NH3)4]

From the reaction of uranium hexafluoride UF6 with dry liquid ammonia, the [UF7(NH3)]3- anion and the [UF4(NH3)4] molecule were isolated and identified for the first time. They are found in signal-green crystals of trisammonium monoammine heptafluorouranate(IV) ammonia (1:1; [NH4]3[UF7(NH3)].NH3) and emerald-green crystals of tetraammine tetrafluorouranium(IV) ammonia (1:1; [UF4(NH3)4].NH3). [NH4]3[UF7(NH3)].NH3 features discrete [UF7(NH3)]3- anions with a coordination geometry similar to a bicapped trigonal prism, hitherto unknown for U(IV) compounds. The emerald-green [UF4(NH3)4].NH3 contains discrete tetraammine tetrafluorouranium(IV) [UF4(NH3)4] molecules. [UF4(NH3)4].NH3 is not stable at room temperature and forms pastel-green [UF4(NH3)4] as a powder that is surprisingly stable up to 147 degrees C. The compounds are the first structurally characterized ammonia complexes of uranium fluorides.

Implications of the crystal structure of the ammonia solvate [Au(NH3)2]Cl·4NH3.

Crystals of diammine gold(I) chloride ammonia (1/4), [Au(NH(3))(2)]Cl·4NH(3), have been grown from solutions of AuCl in liquid ammonia. The X-ray diffraction analysis (at 123 K) has shown that the crystals feature an extensive network of hydrogen bonds between the [H(3)N-Au-NH(3)](+) cations (with C(i) symmetry) and the Cl(-) anions, including also the ammonia molecules. There is no evidence for an emerging increase of the coordination number of the gold atom by adopting another ammonia molecule or by approaching a chloride anion. Moreover, the geometry of two distant and angular N-H···Au contacts is not a strong support of hydrogen bonds recently amply discussed in the literature.

No aromaticity of P64− observed via solid state 31P-NMR spectroscopy

The solid state NMR spectra of the binary alkali hexaphosphides Rb4P6 and Cs4P6 unambiguously show the P(6)4- anion not to be aromatic.