Synthesis and structure of CsNaLa6Br14N2 and La3Br6N: rare-earth-metal nitride halides with isolated bitetrahedral La6N2 units

The compounds CsNaLa6Br14N2 and La3Br6N were obtained in high yields as pale yellow, transparent crystals after reacting with appropriate mixtures of CsBr, NaBr, LaBr3 and LaN in sealed Ta tubing at 850 deg C for 20 d. The significant structural characteristics of both compounds were pairs of rare-earth-metal tetrahedra that were each centered by N and share a common edge to form La6N2 bitetrahedral units.