Pentavalent lanthanide nitride-oxides: NPrO and NPrO^- complexes with N≡Pr triple bonds.

ABSTRACT: The neutral molecule NPrO and its anion NPrO^- are produced via co-condensation of laser-ablated praseodymium atoms with nitric oxide in a solid neon matrix. Combined infrared spectroscopy and state-of-the-art quantum chemical calculations confirm that both species are pentavalent praseodymium nitride-oxides with linear structures that contain Pr≡N triple bonds and Pr=O double bonds. Electronic structure studies show that the neutral NPrO molecule features a 4f⁰ electron configuration and a Pr(v) oxidation state similar to that of the isoelectronic PrO₂⁺ ion, while its NPrO^- anion possesses a 4f¹ electron configuration and a Pr(iv) oxidation state. The neutral NPrO molecule is thus a rare lanthanide nitride-oxide species with a Pr(v) oxidation state, which follows the recent identification of the first Pr(v) oxidation state in the PrO₂⁺ and PrO₄ complexes (Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., 2016, 55, 6896). This finding indicates that lanthanide compounds with oxidation states of higher than +IV are richer in chemistry than previously recognized.

SUBMITTER: Hu SX 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5434915 | biostudies-literature | 2017 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature