Two-Dimensional Lattices with Lanthanoids, Anilato Ligands and Formamide

Here, we illustrate the use of formamide (fma) and anilato-type ligands to build two-dimensional lattices with lanthanoids. Thus, we describe the synthesis and crystal structure of four lattices formulated as [Ln2(C6O4X2)3(fma)6]·6fma with Ln/X = La/Cl (1), La/Br (2), Eu/Cl (3), and Eu/Br (4), where C6O4X22− = dianion of 3,6-disubstituted-2,5-dihydroxy-1,4-benzoquinone with X = Cl (chloranilato) and X = Br (bromanilato). Single crystal X-ray analysis shows that the four compounds crystallize in the triclinic P-1 space group and present two-dimensional, very distorted hexagonal lattices with the lanthanoids ions in the vertex coordinated by three anilato ligands forming the sides of the distorted hexagons that appear as rectangles. The rectangles are disposed parallel to their long sides in a brick wall fashion. The nona-coordination of the lanthanoids is completed by three formamide molecules. These layered compounds include three additional formamide molecules per lanthanoid atom, located in the interlayer space inside the channels formed by the eclipsed packing of the layers. We discuss the differences observed among these compounds due to the change of the lanthanoid ion (La and Eu) and of the substituent group X in the anilato ligand (Cl and Br).