Single crystal x‐ray study of solid solutions of a Jahn‐Teller compound in an undistorted host: The Cr, Zn Saccharinate Hexahydrate System

Abstract

AbstractA series of phases of composition [M/M′(C7H4NO3S)2(H2O)4] · 2 H2O, where C7H4NO3S− is the anion of saccharine, have been prepared and studied by single crystal X‐ray diffraction. In addition to the end members, where M = M′ = Cr and M = M′ = Zn, the Cr/Zn mixed phases with atom percentages of Cr = 38.2(9), 49.3(8), 56(2), 63(1) and 69(1) have been structurally characterized. The atom percentages were established from the X‐ray data. All crystals are based on a monoclinic unit cell in space group P21/c, the volume of which changes from 990.4(9) Å3 for 100% Cr to 972.7(4) Å3 for 100% Zn. The Jahn‐Teller distortion imposed by the Cr atoms is mainly localized in one pair of trans M — O bonds. The significant and not necessarily expected feature of interest is that there is microscopic structural uniformity over all molecules in the mixed systems, rather than a disordered array of Cr‐ and Zn‐containing molecules. It is believed that the extensive hydrogen bond network in these crystals is instrumental in causing this result.