Polynuclear Lanthanide Hydroxo Complexes: New Chemical Precursors for Coordination Polymers

The synthesis of hexanuclear lanthanide hydroxo complexes by controlled hydrolysis led to polymorphic compounds.
The hexanuclear entities crystallize in four different ways that depend on the extent of their hydration. The four
structures can be described as hexanuclear lanthanide entities with formula [Ln6(μ6-O)(μ3-OH)8(NO3)6(H2O)12]2+.
Two additional NO3- ions intercalate between the hexanuclear entities in order to ensure the electroneutrality of
the crystal structure. Some crystallization water molecules fill the intermolecular space. The three first families of
compounds (1−3) exhibit crystal structures that have previously been reported. The fourth family of compounds (4)
is described here for the first time. Its chemical formula is [Ln6(μ6-O)(μ3-OH)8(NO3)6(H2O)12](NO3)2·2H2O (Ln =
Gd, Er, and Y). In this paper, the chemical and thermal stabilities of the hexanuclear lanthanide compounds are
reported together with the magnetic properties of the Gd(III)-containing species. To use these entities as precursors
for new materials, the substitution of the nitrato groups by chloride ions has been studied. Two byproduct compounds
have so been obtained: The first (compound 5) is a nitrato/chloride hexanuclear compound of chemical formula
[Er6(μ6-O)(μ3-OH)8(NO3)6(H2O)12](NO3)Cl·2H2O. The second one (compound 6) is a polymeric compound in which
the hexanuclear entities are linked by an unexpected and original N2O4 bridge. Its chemical formula is [Er6(μ6-O)(μ3-OH)8(NO3)4(H2O)11(OH)(ONONO2)]Cl3·2H2O. Its crystal structure can be described as the juxtaposition of chainlike
molecular motifs. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first example of a coordination polymer synthesized
from an isolated polylanthanide hydroxo complex.