Synthesis, crystal structure, and thermal decomposition of La(CH3SO3)(3) center dot 2H(2)O

La(CH3SO3)(3 .)2H(2)O was prepared by the reaction of La2O3 with CH3SO3H. A ccording to the X-ray single crystal determination, the compound crystalliz es with triclinic symmetry (P (1) over bar, Z=2, a=524.99(8), b=1015.3(2), c = 1298.0(2) pm, alpha =98.62(2)degrees, beta= 91.12(2)degrees, gamma =104 .61(2)degrees, R-all=0.0405) and contains ninefold coordinate La3+ ions. Th e coordination polyhedra are tricapped trigonal prisms which are connected by CH3SO3- ions to double chains. These are linked via hydrogen bonding onl y. The thermal decomposition of La(CH3SO3)(3). 2H(2)O was investigated by m eans of temperature dependent X-ray powder diffraction and DSC/TG/EGA metho ds. The compound dehydrates in a first step around 120 degreesC to give the anhydrous methanesulfonate which decomposes finally yielding La2O2S2. Acco rding to the powder diffraction results the anhydrous methane sulfonate La( CH3SO3)(3) crystallizes with a hexagonal structure (P6(3)/m, a = 998.26(6), c = 597.97(6) pm) which has been found for the respective perchlorate, hyd rogensulfate, and amidosulfate previously.