Dihydroxybenzoquinone and chloranilic acid derivatives of rare earth metals

Abstract

The crystal structures of lanthanide complexes involving the dianions of dihydroxybenzoquinone (H2dhbq) or chloranilic acid (H2can) are presented. The complexes, Ln2dhbq3·24H2O (Ln = Y, La, Ce, Gd, Yb and Lu) are 2-D coordination polymers with metal centres linked by dhbq2- ligands. Each of these species contain a Ln2(H2O)18 pentagonal dodecahedral cage. Despite the variation in the radii of lanthanide ions this series is isostructural. In contrast, the hydrated structures of Ln2can3 (Ln = Sc, Y, La, Pr, Nd, Gd, Tb, Yb and Lu) show considerable structural variation. The crystal structures of the diamond-like networks Ycan2- and Thcan2 are also presented.