Coordination numbers lanthanides

Crystal Structure and Ionic Radii. Crystal stmcture data have provided the basis for the ionic radii (coordination number = CN = 6), which are summarized in Table 9 (13,14,17). For both and ions there is an actinide contraction, analogous to the lanthanide contraction, with increasing positive charge on the nucleus. 

The anhydrous trihalides are ionic, high melting, crystalline substances which, apart from the trifluorides are extremely deliquescent. As can be seen from Table 30.4, the coordination number of the Ln changes with the radii of the ions, from 9 for the trifluorides of the large lanthanides to 6 for the triiodides of the smaller lanthanides. Their chief importance has been as materials from which the pure metals can be prepared. 

The coordination chemistry of the large, electropositive Ln ions is complicated, especially in solution, by ill-defined stereochemistries and uncertain coordination numbers. This is well illustrated by the aquo ions themselves.These are known for all the lanthanides, providing the solutions are moderately acidic to prevent hydrolysis, with hydration numbers probably about 8 or 9 but with reported values depending on the methods used to measure them. It is likely that the primary hydration number decreases as the cationic radius falls across the series. However, confusion arises because the polarization of the H2O molecules attached directly to the cation facilitates hydrogen bonding to other H2O molecules. As this tendency will be the greater, the smaller the cation, it is quite reasonable that the secondary hydration number increases across the series. 

Various crown ethers (p. 96) with differing cavity diameters provide a range of coordination numbers and stoichiometries, although crystallographic data are sparse. An interesting series, illustrating the dependence of coordination number on cationic radius and ligand cavity diameter, is provided by the complexes formed by the lanthanide nitrates and the 18-crown-6 ether (i.e. 1,4,7,10,13,16-... 

As with other transition elements, the lanthanides can be induced to form complexes with exceptionally low coordination numbers by use of the very bulky ligand, N(SiMe3)2 ... 

Table 31.4 is a list of typical compounds of the actinides and demonstrates the wider range of oxidation states compared to lanthanide compounds. High coordination numbers are still evident, and distortions from the idealized stereochemistries which are quoted are again general. However, no doubt at least partly because the early actinides have received most attention, the widest range of stereochemistries is... 

Although the lanthanide cations most commonly give complexes with coordination numbers of 8 or 9, the [ML3(LH)3] species predominate on extraction with phosphorus(V) acids and it has been suggested that the bulk of the L- LH chelate ring favors a lower coordination number 4 The phosphorus(V) acids are very effective reagents for the extraction and separation of lanthanides.124 (See chapter 3.2). 

FIGURE 11.7 Radii of the +3 ions of the lanthanides as a function of atomic number. The coordination number is assumed to be 6. 

Figure 2. Dy(P30io)2 is a lanthanide shift reagent commonly used in biological 7Li NMR experiments. The Dy3+ ion has a coordination number of nine with two P3O10 moieties, acting as tetradentate ligands, and one molecule of H2O coordinated in the first coordination sphere up to seven Li+ ions can bind in the second coordination sphere.

The third category is the high coordination number lanthanides and actinides. The trivalent lanthanides show a decrease in with the progressive filling of the 4f orbitals, called the lanthanide contraction. Since the 4f orbitals are shielded by the filled 5s and 5p orbitals, the electronic configuration has no remarkable effect and therefore the variation in rM and an eventual change in coordination number and geometry determine the lability of the 1st coordination shell. 

EXAFS study on Eu2+ and Sr2+ in both solid state and aqueous solution gave coordination numbers of 8.0 for strontium(II) and 7.2 for europium(II) (228). The water exchange rate measured on the divalent europium aqua ion is the fastest ever measured by 170 NMR (Table XVI) (2). The activation volume is much more negative (—11.7 cm3 mol-1) than those determined on trivalent lanthanide aqua ions clearly indicating an a-activation mechanism which is most probably a limiting... 

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