Preparation and crystal structures of the Ce(IV) β-diketonates, [Ce(tmhd) 4 ] and [Ce(pmhd) 4 ] (tmhd =2,2,6,6-tetramethylheptane-3,5-dionate and pmhd = 1-phenyl-5-methylhexane-1,3-dionate)

Abstract

The cerium(IV) β-diketonate compounds [Ce(β-diket)4] [where β-diket = tmhd (2,2,6,6-tetramethylheptane-3,5-dionate) 1, pmhd (1-phenyl-5-methylhexane-1,3-dionate) 2] were prepared by reacting cerium(IV) ammonium nitrate [CAN; Ce(NH4)2(NO3)6] with the respective Na(β-diket) compound in ethanol, and structurally characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction. Compound 1 crystallizes in the triclinic space group $$P \bar 1$$ with a = 12.472(4), b = 19.972(5), c = 21.436(3) A, α = 97.05(7), β = 90.16(2), γ = 106.55(3)°, V = 5076(2) A3, Z = 4, T = 150(2) K. Compound 2 crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P21/n. with a = 14.817(6), b = 17.123(6), c = 19.146(3) A, β = 105.46(4)°, V = 4682(3) A3, Z = 4, T = 150(2) K. Crystals of 1 contain two independent [Ce(tmhd)4] molecules, with four chelating tmhd ligands bonded to each metal in a distorted dodecahedral arrangement; the cerium atom in 2 is also bonded to four chelating pmhd ligands but in this case the coordination geometry is closer to square antiprism. Both complexes are air and moisture stable. Sublimation studies reveal that 1 sublimes almost quantitatively, while 2 is comparatively involatile.