Structural studies of lanthanide ion complexes of pure gold, pure silver and mixed metal (gold-silver) dicyanides
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Updated: Aug 19, 2026

Preparation, Purification, and Characterization of Lanthanide Complexes for Use as Contrast Agents for Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Published on: July 21, 2011
Julie Clarissa F Colis1, Christie Larochelle, Richard Staples
1Department of Chemistry, University of Maine, Orono, ME 04469, USA.
Abstract:
Crystal structures of four lanthanide complexes of La[Au(CN)2](3).3H2O, La[Ag(CN)2](3).3H2O, La[Ag(0.83)Au(0.17)(CN)2](3).3H2O, and La[Ag(0.39)Au(0.61)(CN)2](3).3H2O are reported. Studies reveal that all the structures reported are isostructural. All systems were found to be in the hexagonal crystal system, space group P6(3)/mcm. The metal-metal distance for the pure gold system is 3.332 (1) A versus 3.359(1) A for the pure silver system. The mixed-metal systems have shown no distinct differences in the location of the metal atoms, with the La[Ag(0.83)Au(0.17)(CN)2](3).3H2O complex having a metal-metal Ag-Au separation of 3.346(1) A, and 3.344(1) A for the La[Ag(0.39)Au(0.61)(CN)2](3).3H2O complex. The crystal structures of the pure and mixed La complexes have been solved to provide evidence of Ag-Au heterometallic interactions and as a basis for understanding the interesting optical properties of the systems.
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