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The aerobic oxidation of copper(I) to copper(II) was studied in the ionic liquid (IL) 1-n-butyl-3-methylimidazolium acetate [BMIm][OAc]. Temperatures above 100 °C promote the deprotonation of the C2 atom of the imidazolium ring and the dissolution of CuCl. 1H and 13C NMR spectra indicate the formation of the N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) complex [NHC] CuICl under inert conditions. Upon aerobic oxidation, air-stable blue-green crystals of [BMIm]2[CuII 2(OAc)4Cl2] precipitate in high yield and the NHC is recovered. X-ray diffraction on a single-crystal of the complex salt revealed a monoclinic structure with space group P21/n. The centrosymmetric dinuclear acetate complex [Cu2(OAc)4Cl2]2– has the paddle-wheel motif and is weakly paramagnetic.

New Heusler compounds NiRh2Sb and CuRh2Sb are synthesized in nano-scale and in bulk. The nanoparticles prove to be excellent catalysts for electrochemical water splitting.

Crystal structure data for potassium orthoselenate(IV), K2SeO3, are reported for the first time. Colorless, block-shaped crystals were grown in a potassium hydroflux, i.e. under ultra-alkaline conditions, within 10 h. K2SeO3 crystallizes isostructural with Na2SO3 and K2TeO3 in the trigonal space group P\overline{3} with lattice parameters a = 6.1063 (4) Å and c = 6.9242 (4) Å at 100 (1) K. In the trigonal–pyramidal, C 3v-symmetric [SeO3]2– anion, the bond length is 1.687 (1) Å, and the bond angle is 103.0 (1)°. Two of the three unique potassium cations exhibit a coordination number of six, and the third a coordination number of nine.

Electron-rich [Fe(CN)4]6− features a π-backbonding scheme with non-innocent CN-ligands exhibiting weak C–N bonds and a d10 configuration on iron.

Antimony sulfide (Sb2S3) can be dissolved in phosphonium-based ionic liquids (ILs) and re-precipitated in amorphous form. The reaction with a Lewis-acidic imidazolium-based IL results in the formation of quadruple-heterocubane cluster cations.

The study of Bi2Rh formation in a polyol process revealed a two-step mechanism. BiRh is formed by co-reduction of bismuth and rhodium cations and converted into Bi2Rh by Bi diffusion. Various starting materials and reaction parameters are examined.

The reaction of Bi and Bi2S3 in the Lewis-acidic ionic liquid [BMIm]Cl ⋅ 4.3AlCl3 (BMIm=1-n-butyl-3-methylimidazolium) at 200 °C yielded air-sensitive black crystals of (Bi2S2)[AlCl4]. X-ray diffraction on single-crystals revealed a monoclinic structure containing infinite chains ∞1(Bi2S2)+. These polycations contain bismuth(II,III) and sulfur(-II) atoms, connected by polar covalent Bi−S and Bi−Bi bonds. The assignment of bonds is ambiguous as a distinction between primary and secondary interactions is arbitrary based on interatomic distances. A real-space quantum chemical bonding analysis, including delocalization indices, helped to quantify the interactions and charge distribution, confirming that a simple Lewis formula is inappropriate to describe the polycation.

The reaction of Bi, BiBr3, and CuBr in the Lewis-acidic ionic liquid [BMIm]Br·4AlBr3 (BMIm = 1-n-butyl-3-limidazolium) at 180 °C yielded air-sensitive, shiny black crystals of (CuBi8)[AlBr4]2[Al2Br7]. Crystals of [MBi10][AlCl4]4 (M = Pd, Pt) were obtained by reacting Bi, BiCl3, and MCl2 under similar conditions. The structures have been determined by X-ray diffraction on single-crystals and were found to be very similar to that of the known analogues with other halogens, although not isostructural. In crystals of the complex salts, polyhedral bimetallic clusters (CuBi8)3+ or [MBi10]4+ are embedded in matrices of halogenidoaluminate anions. The heteroatomic nido-cluster (CuBi8)3+ consists of a (Bi8)2+ square antiprism η4-coordinating a copper(I) cation. In the cluster cation [MBi10]4+, the metal atoms M center a pentagonal antiprism of bismuth atoms.

The reaction of chalcogen dioxides ChO2 (Ch=Se, Te) with As2O3 in a 30 molar KOH hydroflux at about 200 °C yielded crystals of potassium trichalcogenides K2 Ch 3 with dimensions up to 2 cm. Arsenic trioxide acts as electron donor and is oxidized to arsenate(V). The new heterochalcogenide anion (TeSe2)2− formed when starting from SeO2 and TeO2 simultaneously. The compound K2TeSe2 crystallizes isostructural to K2S3 and K2Se3. The unexpected redox reaction as well as the precipitation of hygroscopic compounds from an aqueous solution are attributed to a strongly reduced activity of water. The reactions were studied by Raman and UV/Vis spectroscopy. Depending on the concentration of As2O3, colorless monochalcogenide Ch 2− or orange Se2 2− and purple Te2 2− anions are dominating the solutions., The unexpected reduction of selenium(IV) and tellurium(IV) oxides to chalcogenides was achieved under ultra‐alkaline conditions by using As2O3 as reducing agent. By optimization of the reaction conditions, large crystals of K2Se3, K2Te3 and K2Se2Te were grown within two days. In the latter compound, the novel mixed chalcogenide anion (SeTe)2− was discovered.

Orange‐colored crystals of the oxoferrate tellurate K12+6x Fe6Te4−x O27 [x=0.222(4)] were synthesized in a potassium hydroxide hydroflux with a molar water–base ratio n(H2O)/n(KOH) of 1.5 starting from Fe(NO3)3 ⋅ 9H2O, TeO2 and H2O2 at about 200 °C. By using (NH4)2TeO4 instead of TeO2, a fine powder consisting of microcrystalline spheres of K12+6x Fe6Te4−x O27 was obtained. K12+6x Fe6Te4−x O27 crystallizes in the acentric cubic space group I 4‾ 3d. [FeIIIO5] pyramids share their apical atoms in [Fe2O9] groups and two of their edges with [TeVIO6] octahedra to form an open framework that consists of two loosely connected, but not interpenetrating, chiral networks. The flexibility of the hinged oxometalate network manifests in a piezoelectric response similar to that of LiNbO3.The potassium cations are mobile in channels that run along the directions and cross in cavities acting as nodes. The ion conductivity of cold‐pressed pellets of ball‐milled K12+6x Fe6Te4−x O27 is 2.3×10−4 S ⋅ cm−1 at room temperature. Magnetization measurements and neutron diffraction indicate antiferromagnetic coupling in the [Fe2O9] groups., K(nockout) response: K12+6x Fe6Te4−x O27 was synthesized under hydroflux conditions. The acentric cubic crystal structure comprises two non‐interpenetrating chiral oxometalate networks formed by edge‐ or corner‐sharing [TeVIO6] and [FeIIIO5] polyhedra. The potassium ions are mobile in the labyrinth between the networks. The magnetic moments of the iron cations are pairwise antiparallel, and the compound exhibits a strong piezoelectric response.

Growth of dendrites, limited coulombic efficiency (CE), and the lack of high-voltage electrolytes restrict the commercialization of zinc batteries and capacitors. These issues are resolved by a new electrolyte, based on the zinc(II)-betaine complex [Zn(bet)

Ionic liquids and deep eutectic solvents are of growing interest as solvents for the resource‐efficient synthesis of inorganic materials. This Review covers chemical reactions of various deep eutectic solvents and types of ionic liquids, including metal‐containing ionic liquids, [BF4]−‐ or [PF6]−‐based ionic liquids, basic ionic liquids, and chalcogen‐containing ionic liquids. Cases in which cations, anions, or both are incorporated into the final products are also included. The purpose of this Review is to raise caution about the chemical reactivity of ionic liquids and deep eutectic solvents and to establish a guide for their proper use., The chemical reactivity of ionic liquids and deep eutectic solvents can intentionally be exploited as a synthetic tool to prepare inorganic materials that are difficult or even impossible to obtain by traditional synthetic routes. This Review summarizes recent developments in inorganic syntheses that take advantage of reactions with ionic liquids or deep eutectic solvents.

Exceptionally electron‐rich, nearly trigonal‐planar tricyanidometalate anions [Fe(CN)3]7− and [Ru(CN)3]7− were stabilized in LiSr3[Fe(CN)3] and AE3.5[M(CN)3] (AE=Sr, Ba; M=Fe, Ru). They are the first examples of group 8 elements with the oxidation state of −IV. Microcrystalline powders were obtained by a solid‐state route, single crystals from alkali metal flux. While LiSr3[Fe(CN)3] crystallizes in P63/m, the polar space group P63 with three‐fold cell volume for AE3.5[M(CN)3] is confirmed by second harmonic generation. X‐ray diffraction, IR and Raman spectroscopy reveal longer C−N distances (124–128 pm) and much lower stretching frequencies (1484–1634 cm−1) than in classical cyanidometalates. Weak C−N bonds in combination with strong M−C π‐bonding is a scheme also known for carbonylmetalates. Instead of the formal notation [Fe−IV(CN−)3]7−, quantum chemical calculations reveal non‐innocent intermediate‐valent CN1.67− ligands and a closed‐shell d10 configuration for Fe, that is, Fe2−., The electron‐rich cyanidometalates [Fe(CN)3]7− and [Ru(CN)3]7− represent the first examples of group 8 elements with an oxidation state of −IV. DFT calculations reveal a nominal d10s0 configuration, which corresponds to an effective charge of 2−. The high negative charge also weakens the C−N bonds by the population of antibonding states.

The reaction of Bi and BiCl3 with RbCl or CsCl in the Lewis-acidic ionic liquid (IL) [BMIm]Cl·4AlCl3 at T = 200 °C yielded air-sensitive, shiny black crystals. X-ray diffraction on single crystals revealed the hexagonal structures of two new salts (Bi8)M[AlCl4]3 (M = Rb, Cs), which are isostructural to the high-temperature form of (Bi8)Tl[AlCl4]3. The known (Bi8)2+ polycation is a square antiprism and can be interpreted as an arachno cluster following modified Wade rules. The crystal structure is a complex variant of the hexagonal perovskite structure type ABX 3 with A = (Bi8)2+, B = M + and X = [AlCl4]–. Chiral strands ∞ { M [ AlCl 4 ] 3 } 2 − ∞ 1 $\infty {}_{\infty }{}^{1}{\left\{M{\left[{\text{AlCl}}_{4}\right]}_{3}\right\}}^{2-}$ (M = Rb, Cs) run along [001]. The (Bi8)2+ polycations are only weakly coordinated inside a cage of 24 chloride ions and show dynamic rotational disorder at room temperature. Upon slow cooling to 170 K, the reorientation of the clusters was frozen, yet no long-range order was established.

The low temperature syntheses of AuTe2 and Ag2Te starting from the elements were investigated in the ionic liquids (ILs) [BMIm]X and [P66614]Z ([BMIm]+=1‐butyl‐3‐methylimidazolium; X = Cl, [HSO4]−, [P66614]+ = trihexyltetradecylphosphonium; Z = Cl−, Br−, dicyanamide [DCA]−, bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide [NTf2]−, decanoate [dec]−, acetate [OAc]−, bis(2,4,4‐trimethylpentyl)phosphinate [BTMP]−). Powder X‐ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy revealed that [P66614]Cl is the most promising candidate for the single phase synthesis of AuTe2 at 200 °C. Ag2Te was obtained using the same ILs by reducing the temperature in the flask to 60 °C. Even at room temperature, quantitative yield was achieved by using either 2 mol % of [P66614]Cl in dichloromethane or a planetary ball mill. Diffusion experiments, 31P and 125Te‐NMR, and mass spectroscopy revealed one of the reaction mechanisms at 60 °C. Catalytic amounts of alkylphosphanes in commercial [P66614]Cl activate tellurium and form soluble phosphane tellurides, which react on the metal surface to solid telluride and the initial phosphane. In addition, a convenient method for the purification of [P66614]Cl was developed.

Intermetallic phases are usually obtained by crystallization from the melt. However, phases containing elements with widely different melting and boiling points, as well as nanoparticles, which provide a high specific surface area, are hardly accessible via such a high-temperature process. The polyol process is one option to circumvent these obstacles by using a solution-based approach at moderate temperatures. In this study, the formation of Bi2Ir nanoparticles in a microwave-assisted polyol process was investigated. Solutions were analyzed using UV–Vis spectroscopy and the reaction was tracked with synchrotron-based in situ powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD). The products were characterized by PXRD and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy. Starting from Bi(NO3)3 and Ir(OAc)3, the new suboxide Bi4Ir2O forms as an intermediate phase at about 160 °C. Its structure was determined by a combination of PXRD and quantum-chemical calculations. Bi4Ir2O decomposes in vacuum at about 250 °C and is reduced to Bi2Ir by hydrogen at 150 °C. At about 240 °C, the polyol process leads to the immediate reduction of the two metal-containing precursors and crystallization of Bi2Ir nanoparticles.

Five substituted oxohydroxoferrates K2–x(Fe,M)4O7–y(OH)y (M=Si, Ge, Ti, Mn, Ir) were synthesized in a potassium hydroxide hydroflux with a molar base‐water ratio q(K) of about 0.9. While the hexagonal prisms of K2–x(Fe,Ti)4O7–y(OH)y crystallize in P63/mcm, all other compounds form hexagonal plates with the trigonal space group Purn:x-wiley:14341948:media:ejic202000891:ejic202000891-math-0001 1 m. The crystal structure of the oxohydroxoferrates resembles ß‐alumina. It consists of honeycomb layers urn:x-wiley:14341948:media:ejic202000891:ejic202000891-math-0002 Fe2O6] of edge‐sharing [FeO6] octahedra, where the hexagonal voids are capped by vertex‐sharing [FeO4] tetrahedra pairs. The cavities between the oxoferrate layers host the potassium ions. Depending on M, the substitution affects different iron positions and varies between 5 and 20 %. The magnetic structures of the antiferromagnetic compounds were determined by neutron powder diffraction. The potassium ion conductivity was characterized by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy at room temperature. By storing the oxohydroxoferrates in air or annealing them at 700 °C the ion conductivity was significantly increased, e. g. to 5.0 ⋅ 10−3 S cm−1 for a pressed pellet of the iridium substituted compound.

Clean air is an indispensable prerequisite for human health. The capture of small toxic molecules requires the development of advanced materials for air filtration. Two-dimensional nanomaterials offer highly accessible surface areas but for real-world applications their assembly into well-defined hierarchical mesostructures is essential. DUT-134(Cu) ([Cu2(dttc)2]n, dttc=dithieno[3,2-b : 2′,3′-d]thiophene-2,6-dicarboxylate]) is a metal-organic framework forming platelet-shaped particles, that can be organized into complex structures, such as millimeter large free-standing layers (carpets) and tubes. The structured material demonstrates enhanced accessibility of open metal sites and significantly enhanced H2S adsorption capacity in gas filtering tests compared with traditional bulk analogues.

Colorless crystals of the barium rare earth hydrogarnets Ba3[RE(OH)6]2 (RE = Sc, Y, Ho–Lu) were synthesized under hydroflux conditions with KOH at about T = 200 °C starting from the respective RE 2O3 and Ba (NO3)2. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis on these distorted rhombic dodecahedra revealed the cubic space group Ia 3 ‾ $‾{3}$ d (no. 230). The crystal structures of the hydrogarnets Ba3[RE(OH)6]2 are discussed and compared with those of other hydrogarnets. The occurrence of additional reflections, which do not fulfill the reflection conditions of Ia 3 ‾ $‾{3}$ d, is analyzed and described by Renninger or λ/2 effects. A correlation is established between the space group adopted by a hydrogarnet and characteristic interatomic distances. In addition, single-crystal structure data of the strontium indium hydrogarnet Sr3[In(OH)6]2 are provided.

Topological insulators (TIs) gained high interest due to their protected electronic surface states that allow dissipation‐free electron and information transport. In consequence, TIs are recommended as materials for spintronics and quantum computing. Yet, the number of well‐characterized TIs is rather limited. To contribute to this field of research, we focused on new bismuth‐based subiodides and recently succeeded in synthesizing a new compound Bi12Rh3Sn3I9, which is structurally closely related to Bi14Rh3I9 – a stable, layered material. In fact, Bi14Rh3I9 is the first experimentally supported weak 3D TI. Both structures are composed of well‐defined intermetallic layers of ∞ 2[(Bi4Rh)3I]2+ with topologically protected electronic edge‐states. The fundamental difference between Bi14Rh3I9 and Bi12Rh3Sn3I9 lies in the composition and the arrangement of the anionic spacer. While the intermetallic 2D TI layers in Bi14Rh3I9 are isolated by ∞ 1[Bi2I8]2− chains, the isoelectronic substitution of bismuth(III) with tin(II) leads to ∞ 2[Sn3I8]2− layers as anionic spacers. First transport experiments support the 2D character of this material class and revealed metallic conductivity., Insulating: Bi12Rh3Sn3I9, a weak 3D topological insulator (TI) is derived from Bi14Rh3I9, which was the first weakly coupling (“weak”) 3D TI; a bulk semiconductor that hosts protected electronic surface states that allow dissipation‐free electron and information transport due to the specific symmetries of its electronic band structure. In consequence of their topological properties, TIs are envisioned as promising candidates for high‐performance spin field‐effect transistors and quantum bits.

Single-crystals of the new manganese hydroxide halides Mn5(OH)6Cl4, Mn5(OH)7I3, and Mn7(OH)10I4 were obtained by means of high-pressure/high-temperature synthesis in a Walker-type multianvil apparatus. The chloride crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P21/c (no. 14) with the lattice parameters (single-crystal data) a = 592.55(8), b = 1699.7(2), c = 597.33(8) pm, and β = 112.58(1)°. The iodides crystallize in the triclinic space group P 1 ‾ $\bar{1}$ (no. 2) with a = 653.16(2), b = 905.98(3), c = 1242.98(4) pm, α = 114.21(1)°, β = 99.91(1)°, and γ = 94.37(1)° for Mn5(OH)7I3 and a = 656.90(3), b = 906.59(4), c = 909.32(4) pm, α = 119.29(1)°, β = 97.99(1)°, and γ = 95.03(1)° for Mn7(OH)10I4. The crystal structures consist of edge-sharing Mn(OH)6–n X n (X = Cl, I; n = 1, 2, 3) octahedra arranged in stacked sheets. Adjacent layers are connected by hydrogen bonds of type O–H···X, confirmed by further characterization of single-crystals by IR-spectroscopy. The crystal chemical relationship with the aristotype Mg(OH)2 (brucite) is discussed on the basis of Bärnighausen trees (group–subgroup relations).

Yellow prismatic crystals of rubidium bromido-antimonate(III) Rb7Sb3Br16 and of two different modifications of thallium bromido-bismuthate(III) Tl7Bi3Br16 were obtained by solvent-free synthesis and by precipitation from acidic aqueous solutions. X-ray diffraction analyses revealed the Tl7Bi3I16-type for α-Tl7Bi3Br16 (orthorhombic, Cmcm, a = 2324.31(8) pm, b = 1346.69(4) pm, c = 3460.0(1) pm; Pearson symbol oC312) and a new structure type for β-Tl7Bi3Br16 (monoclinic, C2/c, a = 2331.87(5) pm, b = 1343.33(3) pm, c = 3546.01(7) pm, β = 102.708(1)°; mC312). The antimonate Rb7Sb3Br16 adopts the Tl7Bi3I16-type, too (orthorhombic, Cmcm, a = 2347.16(3) pm, b = 1357.89(5) pm, c = 3539.47(9) pm; oC312). The crystal structures of α- and β-Tl7Bi3Br16 comprise alternating slabs of isolated [BiBr6]3– octahedra and [Bi2Br10]4– octahedra pairs. Both structure types are hierarchically organized and can be regarded as sphere close packing with the same stacking sequence, if octahedra and octahedra pairs are replaced by spheres of equal size. The structural relationship between the Tl7Bi3I16-type and the hydrate Na7Bi3Br16 · 18H2O, which comprises similar structural features, is discussed.

In the field of topological materials, the interaction between band topology and magnetism remains a current frontier for the advancement of new topological states and spintronic functionalities. D...