Thermal and Spectral Behaviour of 5-chloro-2-methoxybenzoates of Heavy Lanthanides and Yttrium

Abstract

5-Chloro-2-methoxybenzoates of heavy lanthanides and yttrium were obtained as di- or tetrahydrates with a metal to ligand ratio of 1:3 and general formula: Ln(C8H6ClO3)3⋅nH2O, where n=2 for Ln=Tb, Dy, Y and n=4 for Ln=Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, Lu. The complexes were characterized by elemental analysis, IR and FIR spectra, thermogravimetric studies, X-ray diffraction and magnetic measurements. The carboxylate group appears to be a symmetrical, bidentate, chelating ligand. All complexes are polycrystalline compounds. Their thermal stabilities were determined in air and in nitrogen atmospheres. When heated they dehydrate to form anhydrous salts which next in air are decomposed to the oxides of the respective metals while in nitrogen to the mixtures of carbon and oxides or carbon and oxychlorides of respective metals. The complexes are more stable in air than in nitrogen. The solubilities of yttrium and heavy lanthanide 5-chloro-2-methoxybenzoates in water at 293 K are of the order of 10–3 mol dm–3 The magnetic moments of the complexes were determined over the range 77–298 K. They obey the Curie–Weiss law. The values of µeff calculated for all compounds are close to those obtained for Ln3+ by Hund and Van Vleck. The results indicate that there is no influence of the ligand field of 4f electrons on lanthanide ions and the metal ligand bonding is mainly electrostatic in nature.