Structural Systematics of Rare Earth Complexes. XIII (‘Maximally’) Hydrated (Heavy) Rare Earth Nitrates

Abstract

Room-temperature single-crystal X-ray structure determinations are known for a number of ‘maximally hydrated" nitrates of, in particular, the lighter lanthanoid elements; in all cases, all nitrates coordinate as O,O′-bidentate ligands so that the series may be represented at the outset as Ln(O₂NO)₃.x H₂O. Two distinct triclinic P 1 hexahydrate phases of similar cell dimensions are recognized, the most distinctive distinguishing feature being that in the La, Ce phase the 11-coordinate Ln is surrounded by three O,O′-bidentate nitrate and five O-unidentate water molecule ligands; the domain of the other, with four coordinated water molecules, extends from Ln = Pr to Ln = Dy (inclusive of Y). At local ambience, we have crystallized heavier members of the series as pentahydrates, isomorphous with the previously characterized Ln = Eu example, also containing a molecule of the form [Ln(O₂NO)₃(OH₂)₄] (with a molecule of water of crystallization), but a different stereoisomer to that found in the Ln = Pr(-)Dy array. Structure determinations are recorded for Ln = Dy, Er, Yb, conventional R on |F| 0·042, 0·034, 0·029 for N_o = 3858, 3980, 3935 independent ‘observed’ (I > 3σ(I)) diffractometer reflections. For Ln = Lu a new tetrahydrate phase is described, monoclinic P2₁/n, a 7·379(7), b 10·364(5), c 14·26(1) Å, β 96·09(7)°, Z = 4, R 0·048 for N_o 2324, together with a new triclinic P 1 trihydrate, a 12·591(4), b 12·144(3), c 7·355(2) Å, α 80·22(2), β 77·68(3), γ 62·30(2)°, Z = 4, R 0·051 for N_o 4552. In both of the latter, Lu is nine-coordinate, with three bidentate nitrate groups and three coordinated water molecules; remarkably, the two independent molecules of the asymmetric unit in the triclinic phase are distinct isomers, one having the water molecules fac, derivative of the 10-coordinate array of the Pr(-)Yb series with quasi-3 symmetry, while the other, like that in the monoclinic phase, is mer.