Complexation of trivalent lanthanide cations by erythritol in the solid state. The crystal structure and FT-IR study...

Erythritol was chosen to study the interactions between metal ions and carbohydrates. FTIR spectroscopy results indicate that a EuCl3-erythritol complex different from a previously reported one was obtained. The crystal structure of EuCl3-erythritol complex, 2EuCl3.2C4H10O4.7H2O, Mr=443.49, a=13.846(3) A , b=7.4983(15) A, c=14.140(3) A, beta=116.39(3) degrees, V=1315.1(5) A(3), Z=4, mu=5.394 mm(-1) and R=0.0395 for 2965 observed reflections and 143 parameters, was determined. Characteristic of this complex is the presence of binuclear europium ions with different coordination structures. One Eu3+ ion is nine-coordinated, with five Eu-O bonds from water molecules, and four from hydroxyl groups of two erythritol molecules and another Eu3+ is eight-coordinated with two water molecules, two chloride ions, and four hydroxyl groups from two erythritol molecules. Erythritol provides two hydroxyl groups to one lanthanide ion and the other two to another rare earth ion. The OH, CO stretching and other vibrations are shifted in the IR spectra of the complexes and the results are consistent with the crystal structure.