Investigation of the fluorolysis of magnesium methoxide

The structures of magnesium methoxide and magnesium methoxide fluoride obtained via the reaction of Mg(OCH3)(2) with HF were investigated by single-crystal structure analysis and multinuclear solid-state NMR (C-13 and F-19). The fluorolysis of magnesium methoxide transforms the cubane structure units in hexanuclear dicubane units containing mu(4)-fluorine atoms. The resulting Mg6F2(OCH3)(10)(CH3OH)(14) compound crystallizes in two different crystalline modifications. Moreover by slow thermal decomposition of the compound Mg6F2(OCH3)(10)(CH3OH)(14), it loses two outer CH3OH molecules and leaves crystal structure Mg6F2(OCH3)(10)(CH3OH)(12). The thermal behavior of Mg(OCH3)(2)(CH3OH)(3.55) and Mg6F2(OCH3)(10)(CH3OH)(14) was investigated by DTA and XRD. Both compounds lose the solvated methanol completely by heating above 150 degrees C and form MgO above 600 degrees C as well as amorphous MgF2 in the case of magnesium methoxide fluoride.