Mixed-Metal Imidazolates Containing Alkali and Alkaline Earth Metals: Mechanochemical Synthesis and Crystal Structure of AMgIm3 (A = Na or K).

The first bimetallic imidazolates containing alkali and alkaline earth metals, NaMgIm3 and KMgIm3, respectively, are prepared by mechanochemical synthesis and are reported in this paper. NaMgIm3 has been prepared by the reaction between NaIm and Mg(BH4)2 as well as directly from NaIm and MgIm2. Structural evolution and thermal stability were followed by an in situ high-temperature X-ray powder diffraction experiment utilizing synchrotron radiation. In both compounds, the imidazolate ligand is connected to four metal cations forming a complex three-dimensional network with channels running along the c-direction. NaMgIm3 and KMgIm3 are the first members of a new family of imidazolate frameworks with stp topology. The formation of mixed-alkali-metal imidazolate compounds is thermodynamically controlled. LiIm and MgIm2 have not yielded a mixed-metal compound, while KIm reacts swiftly and forms KMgIm3.