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Isolated zirconium chloride clusters in the phase Rb sub 5 Zr sub 6 Cl sub 18 B. Generalities regarding the bonding, stability, and size of M sub 6 X sub 12 -type clusters with and without interstitial atoms

Journal Article · · Journal of the American Chemical Society; (USA)
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/ja00191a025· OSTI ID:5117664

The cluster-phase Rb{sub 5}(Zr{sub 6}Cl{sub 12}B)Cl{sub 6} is obtained in high yield from reactions of Zr and B powders, RbCl, and a slight deficiency of ZrCl{sub 4} in a sealed Ta container at 850{degree}C. The presence of isolated Zr{sub 6}Cl{sub 18}B{sup 5{minus}} clusters of {approx}D{sub 3d} symmetry was established by single-crystal X-ray diffraction means (space group Pmna; Z = 2; a = 10.914 (4) {angstrom}, b = 9.078 (4) {angstrom}, c = 17.769 (5) {angstrom}; R, R{sub w} = 2.5, 2.7%). Close-packed layers of clusters stack in an eclipsed manner to generate suitable chlorine polyhedra for three types of rubidium cations. The family of phases A{sub z}{sup I}(Zr{sub 6}Cl{sub 12}{sup i}Z)Cl{sub n} always contains interstitial Z within the clusters, and according to extended-Hueckel MO results, the bonding is dominated by strong Zr-Z bonding and a t{sub 2g}{sup 6} metal-metal bonding HOMO configuration. The predominance of 14-electron clusters in the chloride examples, the increased number of 15- and 16-e{sup {minus}} examples found in Zr{sub 6}I{sub 12}Z-type clusters, and the occurrence of only 15- and 16-e{sup {minus}} (Nb,Ta){sub 6}X{sub 12}-type clusters (X = Cl, Br, I) under normal synthetic conditions (but 14- and 15-e{sup {minus}} types for X = F, O) all correlate with the bonding character of the a{sub 2u} HOMO and matrix effects (X{sup i}-X{sup i} repulsions) within the clusters. Larger repulsive distortions with large X, smaller M, or small Z all lead to decreased antibonding M-X{sup i} contributions in the a{sub 2u} HOMO and to 15- or 16-e{sup {minus}} clusters.

OSTI ID:
5117664
Journal Information:
Journal of the American Chemical Society; (USA), Journal Name: Journal of the American Chemical Society; (USA) Vol. 111:9; ISSN 0002-7863; ISSN JACSA
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English