TETRAKIS(MU-DL-ALANINE-O-O')OCTA-AGUADIERBIUM(III) HEXAPERCHLORATE

The structure of the title compound, [Er-2(C3H7NO2)(4)- (H2O)(8)](ClO4 )(6), consists of dimeric [Er-2(DL-alanine)(4)-(H2O)(8)](6+) cations a nd perchlorate anions. The four alanine molecules act as bridging liga nds linking two Er3+ ions through their carboxyl O atoms. Each Er3+ io n is also coordinated by four water molecules to complete eightfold co ordination in a square antiprism fashion. The perchlorate anions and t he methyl groups of the alanine ligands are disordered.