The reaction of Eu2O3 with fuming nitric acid, trifluormethanesulfonic acid, and its anhydride in torch-sealed glass ampoules at 120 °C gave the europium compound (NO)5[Eu(O3SCF3)8] (orthorhombic, Fddd, Z = 16, a = 1932.69(4), b = 2878.44(7), c = 2955.12(7) pm, V = 16439.7(7) Å(3)). The compound exhibits the [Eu(O3SCF3)8](5-) anion showing for the first time a lanthanide ion that is exclusively coordinated by eight triflate anions. The anion has been further investigated by DFT calculations, which also allowed clear assignment of the vibrational spectra. Moreover, magnetochemical and luminescence measurements gave additional insight into the properties of this complex. The luminescence spectra revealed that the Eu(3+) ions are in a pseudo D4d symmetric environment.
Keywords: europium; luminescence; rare earths; thermal decomposition; vibrational spectroscopy.
© 2015 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.