Mixed-ligand approach to design of heterometallic single-source precursors with discrete molecular structure.

Heterometallic single-source precursors for the Pb/Fe = 1:1 oxide materials, PbFe(β-dik)4 (β-dik = hexafluoroacetylacetonate (hfac, 1), acetylacetonate (acac, 2), and trifluoroacetylacetonate (tfac, 4)), have been isolated by three different solid-state synthetic methods. The crystal structures of heterometallic diketonates 1, 2, and 4 were found to contain polymeric chains built on alternating [Fe(β-dik)2] and [Pb(β-dik)2] units that are held together by bridging M-O interactions. Heterometallic precursors are highly volatile, but soluble only in coordinating solvents, in which they dissociate into solvated homometallic fragments.

Volatile single-source molecular precursor for the lithium ion battery cathode.

The first single-source molecular precursor for a lithium-manganese cathode material is reported. Heterometallic β-diketonate LiMn(2)(thd)(5) (1, thd = 2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-3,5-heptanedionate) was obtained in high yield by simple one-step solid-state reactions employing commercially available reagents. Substantial scale-up preparation of 1 was achieved using a solution approach.

Fluorinated heterometallic β-diketonates as volatile single-source precursors for the synthesis of low-valent mixed-metal fluorides.

Hexafluoroacetylacetonates that contain lead and divalent first-row transition metals, PbM(hfac)(4) (M = Ni (1), Co (2), Mn (3), Fe (4), and Zn (5)), have been synthesized. Their heterometallic structures are held together by strong Lewis acid-base interactions between metal atoms and diketonate ligands acting in chelating-bridging fashion. Compounds 1-5 are highly volatile and decompose below 350 °C.