Synthesis and theoretical study of a mixed-ligand indium(III) complex for fabrication of ß-In2S3 thin films via chemical vapor deposition.

Two new heteroleptic indium aminothiolate compounds [InClSC2H4N(Me)SC2H4]3[1] and [InSC2H4N(Me)SC2H4(C8H5F3NO)] [2] were synthesized by in situ salt metathesis reaction involving indium trichloride, aminothiol, and N,O-ß-heteroarylalkenol ligands. The complexes were subsequently purified and thoroughly characterized by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) analysis, elemental studies, mass spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction single crystal analysis that showed a trigonal bipyramidal coordination of In(III) in both complexes. Thermogravimetric analysis of [1] revealed a multistep decomposition pathway and the formation of In2S3 at 350 °C, which differed from the pattern of [2] due to the lower thermal stability of [1]. Compound [2] exhibited a three-step decomposition process, resulting in the formation of In2S3 at 300 °C. The Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD) experiment involving compound [2] was conducted on the FTO substrate, resulting in the production of singular-phase In2S3 deposits. A comprehensive characterization of these deposits, including crystal structure analysis via X-ray diffraction (XRD), and surface topography examination through scanning electron microscopy (SEM) has been completed. The presence of In-S units was also supported by the Raman spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) of the as-deposited films. Moreover, the electronic structure and thermal properties of compound [2] were investigated through DFT calculations. Electron density localization analysis revealed that the highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) exhibited dense concentration at the aminothiolate moiety of the complex, while the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) predominantly resided at the N,O-ß-heteroarylalkenolate ligand. Furthermore, our computational investigation has validated the formation of indium sulfide by elucidating an intermediate state, effectively identified through EI-MS analysis, as one of the plausible pathways for obtaining In2S3. This intermediate state comprises the aminothiolate ligand (LNS) coordinated with indium metal.

Triflate's bigger brother: The unprecedented tribrate anion, [Br3 CSO3 ].

The synthesis of the unprecedented [Br3 CSO3 ]- anion starts with the bromination of phenylmethanesulfonate, C6 H5 OSO2 CH3 , with KOBr leading to C6 H5 OSO2 CBr3 . The formation of the [CBr3 ] moiety has been proved, also by an X-ray structure determination of the compound (triclinic, P-1, a=685.9(2), b=698.1(2), c=1190.2(3) pm, α=93.99(1)°, ß=97.42(1)°, γ=94.45(1)°). The ester C6 H5 OSO2 CBr3 can be split under basic conditions. The resulting acid provides access to the yet unknown tribromomethanesulfates ("tribrates"). K[Br3 CSO3 ] ⋅ H2 O, the first tribrate known so far has been characterized comprehensively, including an X-ray structure determination (monoclinic, C2/c, a=2267.1(2), b=1282.25(8), c=2618.2(2) pm, ß=111.266(2)°), vibrational spectroscopy and theoretical calculations. Moreover, the thermal analysis shows that, after loss of the crystal water, the tribrate decomposes between 530 and 630 K.

Hydrazine Sulfonic Acid, NH3 NH(SO3 ), the Bigger Sibling of Sulfamic Acid.

The reaction of hydrazine hydrate, N2 H4 ⋅ H2 O, and SO3 leads to hydrazine sulfonic acid (Pca21 , a=849.59(4) pm, b=482.18(2) pm, c=832.17(4) pm). Structure elucidation reveals the zwitter-anionic nature of the compound according to NH3 NH(SO3 ). With the barium salt Ba[NH2 NH(SO3 )]2 (H2 O), a first salt of hydrazine sulfonic acid has been prepared (P 1 ‾ $\bar 1$ , a=489.75(5) pm, b=737.52(7) pm, c=1317.4(1) pm, α=88.238(4)°, ß=84.761(4)°, γ=79.701(4)°). The compounds were characterized by vibrational spectroscopy, DFT calculations and thermal analyses.

Trichlates, an Unattended Class of Compounds: Characterization of Cl3 CSO2 Cl, and (H5 O2 )[Cl3 CSO3 ].

Chlorination of CS2 leads to trichloromethanesulfenyl chloride, Cl3 CSCl, in moderate yields. The oxidation of Cl3 CSCl with H2 O2 gives Cl3 CSO2 Cl, the chloride of trichloromethanesulfonic acid. Cl3 CSO2 Cl is the crucial product for the preparation of trichloromethanesulfonates ("trichlates") and has been characterized by IR spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and X-ray diffraction measurements (P-1, a=609.99(5) pm, b=727.45(6) pm, c=782.49(7) pm, α=80.644(3)°, ß=85.175(3)°, γ=88.311(3)°. The acid Cl3 CSO3 H can be gained in form of the hydrate (H5 O2 )[Cl3 CSO3 ] in two different modifications (I: monoclinic, P21 /n, Z=8, a=1292.47(7) pm, b=605.89(2) pm, c=2661.1(1) pm, ß=98.708(4)°, V=1672.8(1) Å3 ; II: monoclinic, Cc, Z=4, a=699.80(5) pm, b=1054.72(8) pm, c=1139.88(8) pm, ß=95.303(3)°, V=837.7(1) Å3 . Both modifications have been investigated by IR spectroscopy, thermal analyses and theoretical calculations.

The Cyanido-Sulfate Anion [SO3 CN].

The reaction of the pyridine adduct of SO3 and tetra-n-butyl-ammonium cyanide, [N(n Bu)4 ][CN] at room temperature leads to the unprecedented cyanido-sulfate anion [SO3 CN]- stabilized in the salt [N(n Bu)4 ][SO3 CN]. The anion is a pseudo-halogen congener of the well-known fluoro- and chloro-sulfates. The new anion has been studied by vibrational spectroscopy and theoretical calculations.

Direct Synthesis of Two-Dimensional SnSe and SnSe2 through Molecular Scale Preorganization.

Two-dimensional tin monoselenide (SnSe) and tin diselenide (SnSe2) materials were efficiently produced by the thermolysis of molecular compounds based on a new class of seleno-ligands. Main group metal chalcogenides are of fundamental interest due to their layered structures, thickness-dependent modulation in electronic structure, and small effective mass, which make them attractive candidates for optoelectronic applications. We demonstrate here the synthesis of stable tin selenide precursors by in situ reductive bond cleavage in the dimeric diselenide ligand (SeC2H4N(Me)C2H4Se)2 in the presence of SnCl4. New molecular precursors [SnIV(SeC2H4N(Me)C2H4Se)2], [SnIVCl2(SeC2H4N(Me)C2H4Se)], and [SnIV(SC2H4N(Me)C2H4S)(SeC2H4N(Me)C2H4Se)] were thoroughly characterized by multinuclear magnetic resonance studies and single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis that revealed the Sn(IV) center to be octahedrally coordinated by two tridentate dianionic chelating ligands or trigonally pyramidally coordinated by one chelating ligand and two chlorido ligands. Preorganization of metal-selenium bonds in both compounds offered direct and reproducible synthetic access to two-dimensional tin chalcogenides (SnSe and SnSe2) via simple adjustment of the pyrolysis temperature. Additionally, SnSe2 and SnSxSe2-x particles could be successfully synthesized by microwave-assisted decomposition of the molecular precursors, which was unambiguously corroborated by both experimental and computational analyses that explained the formation of a selenium rich SnSxSe2-x phase from a single molecular precursor containing both Sn-Se and Sn-S bonds.

The Unprecedented [S4 N2 O10 ]2- Anion in the Molecular Gold Complexes [Au2 Br2 (S4 N2 O10 )2 ] and [Au2 Cl2 (S4 N2 O10 )2 ](S2 O5 Cl2 ).

The reaction of hexachlorophosphazene, P3 N3 Cl6 , with SO3 and the gold halides AuCl3 and AuBr3 , respectively, leads to the new cyclic anionic tetramer, [S4 N2 O10 ]2- , which is coordinated to Au3+ in the dimeric complexes [Au2 X2 (S4 N2 O10 )2 ] (X=Cl, Br). The [S4 N2 O10 ]2- anion can be seen as the condensation product of two sulfate anions, [SO4 ]2- , and two amidosulfate anions, [NH2 SO3 ]- .

Stabilizing the Homopolycation (I4 )2+ with a Hexasulfate in (I4 )[S6 O19 ] and a Borosulfate in (I4 )[B(S2 O7 )2 ]2.

The reaction of elemental iodine and SO3 in a sealed glass ampoule yielded a turquoise-colored solution. At temperatures below 7 °C, deep red crystals of (I4 )[S6 O19 ] grow. With the addition of B2 O3 and pyridine-SO3 complex red crystals of (I4 )[B(S2 O7 )2 ]2 can be obtained after heating the mixture to 120 °C. The combination of an (I4 )2+ cation with oxoanions has previously not been observed. Both anions have a significant but different influence on the structural properties of the (I4 )2+ cation.

Polycations Stabilised by Borosulfates: [Au3 Cl4 ][B(S2 O7 )2 ] and the One-Dimensional Metal [Au2 Cl4 ][B(S2 O7 )2 ](SO3 ).

(SO4 )-rich silicate analogue borosulfates are able to stabilise cationic cluster-like and chain-like aggregates. Single crystals of [Au3 Cl4 ][B(S2 O7 )2 ] and [Au2 Cl4 ][B(S2 O7 )2 ](SO3 ) were obtained by solvothermal reaction with SO3 , and the electronic properties were investigated by means of density functional theory-based calculations. [Au3 Cl4 ][B(S2 O7 )2 ] exhibits a cluster-like cation, and the cationic gold-chloride strands in [Au2 Cl4 ][B(S2 O7 )2 ](SO3 ) are found to resemble one-dimensional metallic wires. This is confirmed by polarisation microscopy.

S6 N2 O15 -A Nitrogen-Poor Sulfur Nitride Oxide, and the Anhydride of Nitrido-tris-Sulfuric Acid.

The reaction of hexachlorophosphazene, P3 N3 Cl6 , with SO3 leads to the new sulfur nitride oxide S6 N2 O15 . The compound displays an extraordinarily low nitrogen content and exhibits a bicyclic cage structure according to the formulation N{S(O)2 O(O)2 S}3 N, with both nitrogen atoms in trigonal planar coordination of sulfur atoms. Interestingly, the new nitride oxide can be also seen as the anhydride of nitrido-tris-sulfuric acid, N(SO3 H)3 .

Palladium(IV) in an Oxoanionic Environment: The XeF2 Assisted Synthesis of [Pd(S2 O7 )3 ](2.).

For the first time tetravalent palladium is detected, coordinated exclusively by simple oxoanions. Stabilization was achieved by formation of the [Pd(S2 O7 )3 ](2-) complex in which three chelating disulfate groups surround the metal atom. The salt K2 [Pd(S2 O7 )3 ] could only be obtained if the reaction of K2 [PdCl6 ] and neat SO3 was performed in the presence of XeF2 .