Crystal structure and vacuum sublimation of the product of reaction of yttrium hexafluoroacetylacetonate and copper acetylacetonate [Y(Hfa)(3)(H2O)(2)Cu(Acac)(2)]

The cocrystallization of an equimolar mixture of Y(Hfa)(3) (Hfa = hexafluor oacetylacetonate ion) and Cu(Acac)(2) (Acac = acetylacetonate ion) from 96% EtOH gives [Y(Hfa)(3)(H2O)(2)Cu(Acac)(2)] crystals with the following unit cell parameters: a = 12.435, b = 19.692, c = 16.242 Angstrom, beta = 111.3 5 degrees, V= 3704.2 Angstrom(3), Z = 4, space group P2(1)/c. In the [Y(Hfa )(3)(H2O)(2)] molecules (the structure was determined for the first time), the central Y3+ ion is coordinated by six oxygen atoms of three hexafluoroa cetylacetonate ligands and two oxygen atoms of two H2O molecules. The Y-O-H fa bond lengths lie in the range 2.318-2.342 Angstrom (d(av) = 2.331 Angstr om) and are close to the Y-O-H2O bond lengths of 2.342 and 2.346 Angstrom. The Cu(Acac)(2) molecules in the crystals have the same structure as does t he individual Cu(Acac)(2) compound. In the crystal structure, the Y(Hfa)(3) (H2O)(2) and Cu(Acac)(2) molecules are linked together by intermolecular hy drogen bonds to form zigzag chains. Heating of [Y(Hfa)(3)(H2O)(2)Cu(Acac)(2 )] in vacuum induces ligand-exchange reaction and evolution of Cu(Hfa)(2) i nto the gas phase.