Synthesis and structure of the scandium‐rich indides Sc₅Ni₂In₄ and Sc₅Rh₂In₄

Abstract

Abstract The ternary indides Sc 5 Ni 2 In 4 and Sc 5 Rh 2 In 4 were synthesized by arc‐melting of the elements and subsequent annealing. A structural investigation by X‐ray powder and single crystal diffraction revealed: Lu 5 Ni 2 In 4 type, Pbam, a = 1716.3(2), b = 755.1(1), c = 335.22(5) pm, wR2 = 0.0721, 844 F 2 values for Sc 5 Ni 2 In 4 , and a = 1754.3(3), b = 765.0(1), c = 332.97(6) pm, wR2 = 0.0363, 1107 F 2 values for Sc 5 Rh 2 In 4 with 36 variables per refinement. Both structures can be described as intergrowths of distorted AlB 2 ‐ and CsCl‐related slabs, where the transition metal (T) atoms have a trigonal prismatic and the indium atoms a distorted square prismatic coordination. The shortest interatomic distances occur for ScT and TIn. The crystal chemistry and chemical bonding in these intermetallics are briefly discussed. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Heteroatom Chem 16:364–368, 2005; Published online in Wiley InterScience ( www.interscience.wiley.com ). DOI 10.1002/hc.20106