Chemistry of rare earth hypocoordinate oxocluster cations: Formation of novel oxoacetate clusters

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/S0020-1693(98)00184-4

A fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry (FAB MS) study of Ln(CH₃COO)₃·4H₂O(Ln=Gd (1), Y (2)) was undertaken to explore the chemistry of hypocoordinate rare earth oxide cations (e.g. [LnO]⁺ and [Ln₃O₄]⁺), which are frequently encountered in FAB MS of rare earth compounds. A series of novel rare earth oxoacetate clusters, [Ln_xO_y,(CH₃COO)_3x-(2y+1)] ⁺ (3) was readily and preferentially obtained over oxide clusters. Oxygenation is important for the stability of large clusters, i.e. 3, x≥4. Molecules or molecular ions such as [LnO]⁺,Ln₂O₃ and [Ln₃O₄]⁺ are coordinatively unsaturated, and may have a more extensive coordination chemistry.