Rational Syntheses and Serendipity: Complexes [LSnPtCl2 (SMe2 )]2 , [{LSnPtCl(SMe2 )}2 SnCl2 ], [(LSn)3 (PtCl2 )(PtClSnCl){LSn(Cl)OH}], and [O(SnCl)2 (SnL)2 ] with L=MeN(CH2 CMe2 O)2.

Syntheses and molecular structures of the dimeric tin-platinum complex [LSnPtCl2 (SMe2 )]2 (2), the tin-platinum clusters [{LSnPtCl(SMe2 )}2 SnCl2 )] (3) and [(LSn)3 (PtCl2 )(PtClSnCl)(LSnOHCl)] (6) (L=MeN(CH2 CMe2 O- )2 ), and of the unprecedented tin(II) aminoalkoxide-tin oxide chloride complex [O(SnCl)2 ⋅(SnL)2 ] (5) are reported. The compounds were characterized by NMR spectroscopy (1 H, 13 C, 119 Sn, 195 Pt), 119 Sn Mössbauer spectroscopy (1-3, 6), electrospray ionization mass spectrometry, elemental analyses, and single-crystal X-ray diffraction analyses (2⋅CH2 Cl2 , 3⋅2 C4 H8 O, 5, 6⋅3CH2 Cl2 ). The tin(II) aminoalkoxide [MeN(CH2 CMe2 O)2 Sn]2 (1) behaves like a neutral ligand, inserts into a Pt-Cl bond, or is involved in rearrangement reactions with the different behavior occurring even within one compound (3, 6). DFT calculations show that the tin-platinum compounds behave like electronic chameleons.

Tuneable anisotropy and magnetism in Sn2Co3S2-xSex - probed by (119)Sn Mößbauer spectroscopy and DFT studies.

The half metal (HFM) Sn2Co3S2 shows a fascinating S = 1/2 magnetism. Anisotropic coupling of spins in and between Co Kagomé layers by Sn sites is now studied from the substitution effects of S by Se by systematic and local experimental and first principles data. Trends in crystal structure changes (c/a ratio) as retrieved from XRD data on the solid solution Sn2Co3S2-xSex are complemented by DFT modelling on Sn2Co3SeS and hitherto unknown Sn2Co3Se2. The relationship of crystal structure effects with changes in Curie temperatures and magnetic hysteresis is shown from susceptibility measurements. An insight into the role of the Sn sites in magnetism and bonding is gained from (119)Sn Mössbauer spectroscopic measurements. Isomer shifts, quadrupole splitting, and magnetic hyperfine fields are interpreted by DFT calculations on chemical bonding, electric field gradients (EFG), Fermi contact, and spin polarization.

Neutral diiron(III) complexes with Fe2(µ-E)2 (E = O, S, Se) core structures: reactivity of an iron(I) dimer towards chalcogens.

Three neutral bis(µ-chalcogenido)diiron(III) complexes, [{(N,N'-Pipiso)Fe(µ-E)}2] (Pipiso(-) = [(DipN)2C(cis-2,6-Me2NC5H8)](-), (Dip = C6H3Pr(I)2-2,6; E = O, S or Se) have been prepared by reactions of the iron(I) dimer [{(µ-N,N'-Pipiso)Fe}2] with O2, S8 or Se∞. Treating the µ-selenido compound [{(N,N'-Pipiso)Fe(µ-Se)}2] with O2 cleanly generated its µ-oxo counterpart, [{(N,N'-Pipiso)Fe(µ-O)}2]. X-ray crystallographic analyses of the compounds showed them to possess Fe2(µ-E)2 core structures with distorted square planar (E = O) or tetrahedral (E = S or Se) iron coordination geometries. Magnetic, (57)Fe Mössbauer spectroscopic and computational studies indicate medium to strong antiferromagnetic coupling between the two high-spin Fe(III) ions in all three compounds.

{Sn10 [Si(SiMe3 )3 ]4 }(2-) : A highly reactive metalloid tin cluster with an open ligand shell.

The reaction of a Sn(I) Cl solution with LiSi(SiMe3 )3 gave the anionic metalloid tin cluster {Sn10 [Si(SiMe3 )3 ]4 }(2-) (7) in good yield. The arrangement of the ten tin atoms in the cluster core can be described as a distorted centaur polyhedron. Quantum chemical calculations suggest that there are 26 bonding electrons in the cluster core, which may be described as an arachno cluster in agreement with Wade's rules. NMR and mass spectrometric investigations showed that 7 is highly reactive, which may be due to the open ligand shell. The easily available tin atoms in 7 thereby open the door to further subsequent reactions, in which 7 may act as a building block to larger cluster aggregates.

Ionic Pathways in Li13Si4 investigated by (6)Li and (7)Li solid state NMR experiments.

Local environments and dynamics of lithium ions in the binary lithium silicide Li13Si4 have been studied by (6)Li MAS-NMR, (7)Li spin-lattice relaxation time and site-resolved (7)Li 2D exchange NMR measurements as a function of mixing time. Variable temperature experiments result in distinct differences in activation energies characterizing the transfer rates between the different lithium sites. Based on this information, a comprehensive picture of the preferred ionic transfer pathways in this silicide has been developed. With respect to local mobility, the results of the present study suggests the ordering Li6/Li7>Li5>Li1>Li4 >Li2/Li3. Mobility within the z=0.5 plane is distinctly higher than within the z=0 plane, and the ionic transfer between the planes is most facile via Li1/Li5 exchange. The lithium ionic mobility can be rationalized on the basis of the type of the coordinating silicide anions and the lithium-lithium distances within the structure. Lithium ions strongly interacting with the isolated Si(4-) anions have distinctly lower mobility than those the coordination of which is dominated by Si2(6-) dumbbells.

Dinuclear copper complexes: coordination of Group 14 heteroborates.

Dicopper(i) complexes with the chelating dmapm ligand [dmapm = 1,1-bis{di(o-N,N-dimetylanilinyl)phosphino}methane] have been synthesized and characterized structurally. Synthesis of the acetonitrile adduct [Cu2(µ-dmapm)(CH3CN)2][BF4]2 () has been presented and the dicopper electrophile has been used as the starting material in reaction with Group 14 heteroborates. Coordination of the closo-borates at the dicopper moiety resulted in different molecular structures with varying CuCu distances. In the case of the side on coordinated stanna-closo-dodecaborate the tin vertex has been characterized by (119)Sn Mössbauer spectroscopy and the nucleophilicity at the tin was established in reaction with a molybdenum carbonyl complex.

Equiatomic intermetallic compounds YTX (T = Ni, Ir; X = Si, Ge, Sn, Pb): a systematic study by 89Y solid state NMR and ¹¹9Sn Mössbauer spectroscopy.

The equiatomic TiNiSi type tetrelides YTX (space group Pnma) with T = Ni, Ir and X = Si, Ge, Sn, Pb were synthesized from the elements by arc-melting or via high-frequency-melting of the elements in sealed niobium ampoules. All samples were characterized by powder X-ray diffraction using the Guinier technique. The structures of YNiGe, YNiPb, YIrSi, YIrGe, and YIrSn were refined from single crystal X-ray diffractometer data. The YTX tetrelides are characterized by a three-dimensional [TX] network that consists of puckered T3X3 hexagons with T-X distances in the order of the sums of the covalent radii. YIrSi and YIrGe show a reverse occupancy of the T and X sites with respect to the remaining YTX compounds, which is most likely a size effect. Solid state NMR studies reveal the sensitivity of (89)Y Knight shifts to electronic structure details. A monotonic dependence on the tetrelide Pauling electronegativity is observed in addition. The stannides YTSn (T = Ni, Rh, Ir, Pt) were further characterized by (119)Sn Mössbauer spectroscopy. They show single signals that are subjected to quadrupole splitting. Comparison of the isomer shifts with the whole series of YTSn stannides gives no hint of obvious correlations as a consequence of the valence electron count but reveals a systematic decrease with atomic number within a given group.

Fe-doped ZnO nanoparticles: the oxidation number and local charge on iron, studied by 57Fe Mößbauer spectroscopy and DFT calculations.

Iron bru: Fe-doped ZnO may contain Fe(2+) and Fe(3+) species. Whilst Mößbauer spectroscopy can distinguish these sites in pure oxides FeO and Fe(2)O(3), it gives very similar shifts for Fe-doped phases. This result is rationalized by electron redistribution from the dopant site to the crystal matrix. Mößbauer shifts correlate with the local charge on the Fe sites and different dopant sites can be identified by the Mößbauer quadrupole splitting (see figure).

[{Fe(CO)3}4{SnI}6I4]2-: the first bimetallic adamantane-like cluster.

Show some metal: the first bimetallic adamantane-like cluster, [{Fe(CO)(3)}(4){SnI}(6)I(4)](2-), was prepared by an ionic-liquid-based synthesis. The valence states of iron and tin were verified based on bond-length considerations, FT-IR and (119)Sn Mössbauer spectroscopy, as well as with DFT calculations.

[XIm][FeI(CO)3(SnI3)2] (XIm: EMIm, EHIm, PMIm) containing a barbell-shaped FeSn2-carbonyl complex.

By reacting Fe(CO)(5) and SnI(4) in the ionic liquids [XIm][NTf(2)] (XIm: 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium/EMIm, 1-ethyl-imidazolium/EHIm, 1-propyl-3-methylimidazolium/PMIm; NTf(2): bistrifluoridomethansulfonimide), the compounds [XIm][FeI(CO)(3)(SnI(3))(2)] are obtained as transparent, dark red crystals. According to single-crystal structure analysis, the title compounds crystallize monoclinically and contain the anionic carbonyl complex [FeI(CO)(3)(SnI(3))(2)](-) as well as [EMIm](+), [EHIm](+) or [PMIm](+) cations. The anionic carbonyl is composed of a Sn-Fe-Sn barbell-shaped building unit with Fe-Sn distances of 252.0(1) pm. Herein, tin is coordinated distorted tetrahedrally by iodine; iron is coordinated pseudo-octahedrally by three carbonyl ligands, one iodine atom and two tin atoms. Bonding situation and valence state are investigated in detail for [EMIm][FeI(CO)(3)(SnI(3))(2)] based on bond-lengths considerations, infrared spectroscopy, Mössbauer spectroscopy, density functional theory and DFT-based Mulliken population analysis. Hence, the formal oxidation state of the metal atoms can be concluded to Fe(±0) and Sn(3+).

{Sn9[Si(SiMe3)3]2}2-: a metalloid tin cluster compound with a Sn9 core of oxidation state zero.

The disproportionation reaction of the subvalent metastable halide SnCl proved to be a powerful synthetic method for the synthesis of metalloid cluster compounds of tin. Now we present the synthesis and structural characterization of the anionic metalloid cluster compound [Sn(9)[Si(SiMe(3))(3)](2)](2-)3 where the oxidation state of the tin atoms is zero. Quantum chemical calculations as well as Mössbauer spectroscopic investigations show that three different kinds of tin atoms are present within the cluster core. Compound 3 is highly reactive as shown by NMR investigations, thus being a good starting material for further ongoing research on the reactivity of such partly shielded metalloid cluster compounds.

Synthesis and characterization of N-[2-P(i-Pr)2-4-methylphenyl]2- (PNP) pincer tin(IV) and tin(II) complexes.

N-[2-P(i-Pr)(2)-4-methylphenyl](2)(-) (PNP) pincer complexes of tin(IV) and tin(II), [(PNP)SnCl(3)] (2) and [(PNP)SnN(SiMe(3))(2)] (3), respectively, were prepared and characterized by X-ray diffraction, solution and solid state NMR spectroscopy, and (119)Sn Mössbauer spectroscopy. Furthermore, (119)Sn cross polarization magic angle spinning NMR spectroscopic data of [Sn(NMe(2))(2)](2) are reported. Compound 2 is surprisingly stable toward air, but attempts to substitute chloride ligands caused decomposition.

Stannylium ions, a tin(II) arene complex, and a tin dication stabilized by weakly coordinating anions.

The reactivity of aryl-substituted stannylenes, Ar(2)Sn (4), towards silylarenium borates, [R(3)SiArH][B(C(6)F(5))(4)] (3), was investigated. The reaction with 2,3,4-trimethyl-6-tert-butylphenyl (mebp)-substituted stannylene gave silyl-substituted stannylium ions 2a,b, which were characterized by NMR spectroscopy supported by the results of quantum-mechanical computations of molecular structures and magnetic properties. The tri-iso-propylphenyl-substituted stannylium ions 2c,d undergo a decomposition reaction in toluene to give the dicationic tin-arene complex [Sn(C(7)H(8))(3)](2+) (5) in the form of the [B(C(6)F(5))(4)] salt in high yields. The 5[B(C(6)F(5))(4)](2) salt was identified by single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis and by Mössbauer spectroscopy. The bonding situation was investigated by using natural bond orbital (NBO) and quantum theory of atoms in molecules (QTAIM) calculations. The substitution of the weakly coordinating borate anion by the carboranate [CB(11)H(6)Br(6)](-) results in replacement of the toluene ligands and formation of tin(II) carboranate with only weak Sn(2+)-anion interactions as suggested by the solid-state structure of the isolated salt.