Synthesis and characterization of a series of rubidium aryloxide compounds

Abstract

A series of rubidium aryloxides, [Rb(OAr)(solv) _n ] _x , was synthesized from the reaction of Rb^o with a select set of 2-alkyl phenols [alkyl = methyl (H-oMP), iso-propyl (H-oPP), and tert-butyl (H-oBP)] and 2,6-di-alkyl phenols [alkyl = methyl (H-DMP), iso-propyl (H-DIP), and tert-butyl (H-DBP)]. The products were identified by single-crystal X-ray diffraction as [Rb₅(μ_x-O)(η^x,μ_x-oMP)₃] _n (1), [Rb₄(η^x,μ_x-oPP)₄(py)] _n (2), [Rb(μ₃-oBP)(η^x-tol)]₆ (3), [H]₂[Rb₇(O)(η^x,μ-DMP)₇(py)₂] _n (4), and [Rb(η⁶,μ _x -DIP)] _n (5) (where η^x and μ_x indicate an undetermined amount of the specified interaction). Acceptable crystals of the DBP derivative could not be grown in our hands. In contrast to the solvated polymeric K and unsolvated Cs derivatives, the Rb derivatives were a mixture of solvated and unsolvated polymers and for the first time some were isolated with oxo ligands. NMR studies indicated that these compounds become smaller symmetric species upon dissolution.

Keywords:

• Rubidium
• Aryloxide
• Crystal structure

Acknowledgements

For support of this research, the authors thank the Laboratory Directed Research and Development (LDRD) program at Sandia National Laboratories and the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Electricity, under Contract DE-AC04-94AL85000. Sandia is a multiprogramming laboratory operated by Sandia Corporation, a Lockheed Martin Company, for the United States Department of Energy.