Synthesis and Characterization of Two New Copper Tellurites, Ba(2)Cu(4)Te(4)O(11)Cl(4) and BaCu(2)Te(2)O(6)Cl(2), in Supercritical H(2)O

Synthesis, crystal structures, and magnetic properties of one-dimensional alkali metal copper chlor-tellurites A(NH4)Cu4Te2O6Cl6 (A = K, Cs), NaCu4Te2Cl5O6 and Rb3(NH4)2Cu12Te6Cl16.5O18(OH)0.5

Four new alkali metal copper chlor-tellurites, [Cs(NH4)]layer[Cu4Te2O6Cl6]layer (I), [Rb3(NH4)2(OH)0.5]layer[Cu12Te6Cl16.5O18]layer (II), [K(NH4)]layer[Cu4Te2O6Cl6]layer (III) and [NaCl]layer[Cu4Te2O6Cl4]layer (IV), have been synthesized via hydrothermal reactions using mixtures of AF (A = Cs, Rb, K, Na), CuCl2·2H2O, TeO2, and hydrazine monohydrate. They have two-dimensional (2D)-layered [Cu4Te2Cl5+x-yO6]∞ (x = 0, 2/3, 1; y = 0, 1/6) structures that are separated by different layers comprised of various cations and anions, including A+, NH4+ Cl- OH-, etc. The blocks feature S-shaped ∞[Cu2O3Cl3-x] chains linked by TeO3 trigonal pyramids. The magnetic susceptibility shows a broad maximum at 220 K for I and 240 K for III, which is well simulated by using an alternating antiferromagnetic chain model. The J2/J1 ratio within the alternating chain is estimated to be 0.60(1), and the spin gaps are refined to be 152 K for I and 136 K for III.

Transition Metal Selenite Halides: A Fascinating Family of Magnetic Compounds

The problem of searching for low-dimensional magnetic systems has been a topical subject and has attracted attention of the chemistry and physics community for the last decade. In low-dimensional magnetic systems, magnetic ions are distributed anisotopically and form different groups such as dimers, chains, ladders, or planes. In 3D frameworks, the distances between magnetic ions are equal in all directions while in low-dimensional systems the distances within groups are different from those between groups. The main approach of searching for desired systems is a priori crystal chemical design expecting the needed distribution of transition metal ions in the resulting structure. One of the main concepts of this structural design is the incorporation of the p-element ions with stereochemically active electron pairs and ions acting as spacers in the composition. Transition metal selenite halides, substances that combine SeO32− groups and halide ions in the structure, seem to be a promising object of investigation. Up to now, there are 33 compounds that are structurally described, magnetically characterized, and empirically tested on different levels. The presented review will summarize structural peculiarities and observed magnetic properties of the known transition metal selenite halides. In addition, the known compounds will be analyzed as possible low-dimensional magnetic systems.

New large volume hydrothermal reaction cell for studying chemical processes under supercritical hydrothermal conditions using time-resolved in situ neutron diffraction

The design and testing of a new large volume Inconel pressure cell for the in situ study of supercritical hydrothermal syntheses using time-resolved neutron diffraction is introduced for the first time. The commissioning of this new cell is demonstrated by the measurement of the time-of-flight neutron diffraction pattern for TiO(2) (Anatase) in supercritical D(2)O on the POLARIS diffractometer at the United Kingdom's pulsed spallation neutron source, ISIS, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory. The sample can be studied over a wide range of temperatures (25-450 °C) and pressures (1-355 bar). This novel apparatus will now enable us to study the kinetics and mechanisms of chemical syntheses under extreme environments such as supercritical water, and in particular to study the crystallization of a variety of technologically important inorganic materials.

Single-crystal X-ray study of Ba2Cu2Te4O11Br2 and its incommensurately modulated superstructure companion

Compounds containing lone-pair elements such as Te(IV) are very interesting from the structural point of view, as the lone-pair nonbonding regions create low-dimensional geometrical arrangements. We have synthesized two new compounds with these features-Ba(2)Cu(2)Te(4)O(11)Br(2) (I) and Ba(2)Cu(2)Te(4)O(11-delta)(OH)(2delta)Br(2) (II, delta approximately equal to 0.57)-as members of the AE-M-Te-O-X (AE=alkaline-earth metal, M=transition metal, X=halide) family of compounds by solid-state reactions. Preliminary single-crystal X-ray analysis indicated that compound I crystallizes in the orthorhombic system, but attempts at refinement proved unsatisfactory. Closer inspection of the reciprocal lattice revealed systematic, non-crystallographic absences that indicate twinning. The structure is in fact triclinic, space group C_1 (equivalent to P_1), with unit cell parameters (at 120 K) of a=10.9027(9), b=15.0864(7), c=9.379(2) A, beta=106.8947 degrees . It is layered and built from [TeO(3)E] tetrahedra, [TeO(3+1)E] trigonal bipyramids (where E is the lone pair of Te(IV)), [CuO(4)] squares and irregular [BaO(10)Br] polyhedra. The crystal structure of II shows the same basic structure as I but contains additional oxygen, probably in the form of OH groups. The presence of satellites reveals that ordering on this O site creates an incommensurate modulation, primarily affecting Br and Te. The modulated structure of II was solved in the triclinic superspace group X$\bar 1$(alphabetagamma)0 with the vector q approximately equal to1/16 c*.

[Cd2(Te6O13)][Cd2Cl6] and Cd7Cl8(Te7O17): Novel Tellurium(IV) Oxide Slabs and Unusual Cadmium Chloride Architectures

Initial attempts to prepare new Ln-Cd-Te-O-Cl compounds led to the isolation of two novel cadmium tellurium(IV) oxychlorides with two different types of structures, namely, [Cd(2)(Te(6)O(13))][Cd(2)Cl(6)] and Cd(7)Cl(8)(Te(7)O(17)). Both compounds feature novel polymeric tellurium(IV) oxide anions and unusual cadmium chloride substructures. The structure of [Cd(2)(Te(6)O(13))][Cd(2)Cl(6)] is composed of 1D [Cd(2)Cl(6)](2)(-) double chains and (002) [Cd(2)(Te(6)O(13))](2+) layers. The 1D Te(6)O(13)(2)(-) slab of the [Cd(2)(Te(6)O(13))](2+) layer is formed by TeO(3), TeO(4), and TeO(5) groups via corner- and edge-sharing, and it contains six- and seven-membered tellurium(IV) polyhedral rings. The structure of Cd(7)Cl(8)(Te(7)O(17)) features a 3D network with long-narrow tunnels along the b axis. The two types of structural building blocks are 1D [Te(7)O(17)](6)(-) anions and unusual corrugated [Cd(7)Cl(8)](6+) layers based on "cyclohexane-like" Cd(3)Cl(3) rings.

Synthesis and characterization of two novel mixed metal tellurates: KGaTeO5·H2O and K3GaTe2O8(OH)2·H2O

Single crystals of KGaTeO5 x H2O and K3GaTe2O8(OH)2 x H2O have been synthesized by supercritical hydrothermal techniques using Te(OH)6, Ga2O3 and KOH as reagents, and characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction, thermal analysis, IR and Raman spectroscopy. Ion-exchange studies revealed KGaTeO5 x H2O, with its open-framework structure, is capable of exchanging both smaller (Na+) and larger (Rb+) ions. In addition, higher thermal stability and reversible hydration properties were observed for KGaTeO5 x H2O.

Hydrothermal preparation, structures, and NLO properties of the rare earth molybdenyl iodates, RE(MoO2)(IO3)4(OH) [RE = Nd, Sm, Eu]

The reactions of RE(IO3)3 [RE = Nd, Sm, Eu] with I2O5 and MoO3 in a 1:2:2 molar ratio at 200 degrees C in aqueous media provide access to RE(MoO2)(IO3)4(OH) [RE = Nd (1), Sm (2), Eu (3)] as pure phases as determined from powder X-ray diffraction data. Single crystal X-ray diffraction experiments demonstrate that these compounds are isostructural and crystallize in the chiral and polar space group P2(1). The structures are composed of three-dimensional networks formed from eight-coordinate, square antiprismatic RE3+ cations and MoO2(OH)+ moieties that are bound by bridging iodate anions. The Mo(VI) centers are present in distorted octahedral environments composed of two cis-oxo atoms, a hydroxo group, and three bridging iodate anions arranged in a fac geometry. There are four crystallographically unique iodate anions in the structures of 1-3, one of these is actually present in the form of a IO3+1 polyhedron where a short interaction of 2.285(4) A is formed between the iodate anion and the hydroxo group bound to the Mo(VI) center. This interaction results in significant distortions of the iodate anion similar to those found in tellurites with TeO3+1 units. Two of the four iodate anions are aligned along the polar b-axis, imparting the required polarity to these compounds. Second-harmonic generation (SHG) measurements on sieved powders of 1 show a response of 350 x alpha-quartz. Crystallographic data: 1, monoclinic, space group P2(1), a = 6.9383(5) A, b = 14.0279(9) A, c = 7.0397(5) A, beta = 114.890(1) degrees, Z = 2; 2, monoclinic, space group P2(1), a = 6.9243(6) A, b = 13.963(1) A, c = 7.0229(6) A, beta = 114.681(1) degrees, Z = 2; 3, monoclinic, space group P2(1), a = 6.9169(6) A, b = 13.943(1) A, c = 7.0170(6) A, beta = 114.542(1) degrees, Z = 2.

Anionic templating: synthesis, structure, and characterization of novel three-dimensional mixed-metal oxychlorides Te(4)M(3)O(15).Cl (M = Nb(5+) or Ta(5+))

Two new three-dimensional oxychlorides are reported, Te(4)M(3)O(15).Cl (M = Nb(5+) or Ta(5+)). The isostructural materials were synthesized by chemical transport reactions utilizing TeO(2), M(2)O(5), and MCl(5) (M = Nb(5+) or Ta(5+)) as reagents. The compounds exhibit a three-dimensional cationic tunnel framework, with Cl(-) anions occupying the tunnels. Crystal data: monoclinic, space group C2/c, a = 18.9944(7) A, b = 7.8314(3) A, c = 21.1658(8) A, beta = 116.6400(10) degrees, Z = 8 (T = 295 K).

Excision of uranium oxide chains and ribbons in the novel one-dimensional uranyl iodates K(2)[(UO(2))3(IO(3))(4)O(2)] and Ba[(UO(2)2(IO(3))(2)O(2)](H(2)O)

The alkali metal and alkaline-earth metal uranyl iodates K(2)[(UO(2))(3)(IO(3))(4)O(2)] and Ba[(UO(2))(2)(IO(3))(2)O(2)](H(2)O) have been prepared from the hydrothermal reactions of KCl or BaCl(2) with UO(3) and I(2)O(5) at 425 and 180 degrees C, respectively. While K(2)[(UO(2))(3)(IO(3))(4)O(2)] can be synthesized under both mild and supercritical conditions, the yield increases from <5% to 73% as the temperature is raised from 180 to 425 degrees C. Ba[(UO(2))(2)(IO(3))(2)O(2)](H(2)O), however, has only been isolated from reactions performed in the mild temperature regime. Thermal measurements (DSC) indicate that K(2)[(UO(2))(3)(IO(3))(4)O(2)] is more stable than Ba[(UO(2))(2)(IO(3))(2)O(2)](H(2)O) and that both compounds decompose through thermal disproportionation at 579 and 575 degrees C, respectively. The difference in the thermal behavior of these compounds provides a basis for the divergence of their preparation temperatures. The structure of K(2)[(UO(2))(3)(IO(3))(4)O(2)] is composed of [(UO(2))(3)(IO(3))(4)O(2)](2)(-) chains built from the edge-sharing UO(7) pentagonal bipyramids and UO(6) octahedra. Ba[(UO(2))(2)(IO(3))(2)O(2)](H(2)O) consists of one-dimensional [(UO(2))(2)(IO(3))(2)O(2)](2)(-) ribbons formed from the edge sharing of distorted UO(7) pentagonal bipyramids. In both compounds the iodate groups occur in both bridging and monodentate binding modes and further serve to terminate the edges of the uranium oxide chains. The K(+) or Ba(2+) cations separate the chains or ribbons in these compounds forming bonds with terminal oxygen atoms from the iodate ligands. Crystallographic data: K(2)[(UO(2))(3)(IO(3))(4)O(2)], triclinic, space group P_1, a = 7.0372(5) A, b = 7.7727(5) A, c = 8.9851(6) A, alpha = 93.386(1) degrees, beta = 105.668(1) degrees, gamma = 91.339(1) degrees, Z = 1; Ba[(UO(2))(2)(IO(3))(2)O(2)](H(2)O), monoclinic, space group P2(1)/c, a = 8.062(4) A, b = 6.940(3) A, c = 21.67(1), beta= 98.05(1) degrees, Z = 4.