Related Experiment Videos
Octanuclear Lanthanide Sulfido Clusters: Synthesis, Structure, and Coordination Chemistry
Jonathan H. Melman1, Thomas J. Emge, J. G. Brennan
1Department of Chemistry, Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, 610 Taylor Road, Piscataway, New Jersey 08854-8087.
Inorganic Chemistry
|October 24, 2001
Summary
New octanuclear lanthanide sulfur clusters, (THF)(8)Ln(8)S(6)(SPh)(12), were synthesized and characterized. These thermally unstable complexes exhibit a consistent octanuclear framework, with structural variations due to solvent molecules.
Area of Science:
- Inorganic Chemistry
- Coordination Chemistry
- Lanthanide Chemistry
Background:
- Lanthanide complexes with sulfur ligands are of interest for their unique electronic and structural properties.
- Synthesis of octanuclear clusters offers insights into complex coordination environments.
Purpose of the Study:
- To synthesize and characterize novel octanuclear lanthanide sulfur clusters.
- To investigate the structural diversity and stability of these complexes.
Main Methods:
- Reaction of lanthanide(III) phenylthiolates with elemental sulfur in tetrahydrofuran (THF).
- Isolation and characterization of complexes using elemental analysis and low-temperature single-crystal X-ray diffraction.
- Unit cell determinations for structural confirmation.
Main Results:
- Successful isolation of octanuclear clusters for multiple lanthanides (Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er).
- Observed thermal instability of THF and pyridine solvated complexes at room temperature.
- Consistent octanuclear framework with metal atoms forming a cube bridged by sulfide and phenylthiolate ligands.
Conclusions:
- The synthesized octanuclear lanthanide sulfur clusters share a common structural motif.
- Structural variations are primarily attributed to the arrangement of phenyl groups and lattice solvent molecules.
- The study provides a foundation for understanding the coordination chemistry of lanthanides with sulfur.