Ternary Polar Intermetallics within the Pt/Sn/R Systems (R = La-Sm): Stannides or Platinides?

Starting generally with a 4:6:3 molar ratio of Pt, Sn, and R (where R = La-Sm), with or without the application of a NaCl flux, seven ternary compounds were obtained as single crystals. The platinides Pt4Sn6R3 (R = La-Nd) crystallize with the Pt4Ge6Pr3 type of structure (oP52, Pnma, a = 27.6-27.8 angstrom, b = 4.59-4.64 angstrom, c = 9.33-9.40 angstrom). With R = Pr, Pr4Sn6Pr3-x (oP52, Pnma, a = 7.2863(3) angstrom, b = 4.4909(2) angstrom, c = 35.114(1) angstrom) is also obtained, which might be considered a high-temperature polymorph with disorder on the Sn- and Pr-sites. For R = Nd and Sm, a structurally related isostructural series with a slightly different composition Pt3Sn5R2-x (oP52, Cmc2(1), a = 4.50-4.51 angstrom, b = 26.14-26.30 angstrom, c approximate to 7.29 angstrom) has been observed, together with Pt7Sn9Sm5 (oS42, Amm2, a = 4.3289(5) angstrom, b = 28.798(4) angstrom, c = 7.2534(9) angstrom) under the same conditions. The latter exhibits the rare Zr5Pd9P7-type structure, linking polar intermetallics to metal phosphides, in accord with Pt7Pd9Zr5 Pt7Sn9Sm5. All structures may be described in terms of either negative Pt/Sn networks encapsulating positive R atoms, or {PtSnx} clusters (x = 5, 6, or rarely 7) sharing vertices and edges with R in the second coordination sphere and with considerable heterometallic Pt-R bonding contributions.