Eu2(CN2)3 and KEu[Si(CN2)4]: Missing Members of the Rare Earth Metal Carbodiimide and Tetracyanamidosilicate Series

Europium( III) compounds with the compositions Eu-2(CN2)(3) and KEu[Si(CN2)(4)] were prepared by solid-state metathesis reactions. The europium(III) carbodiimide was prepared by the reaction of EuF3 and Li2CN2, while the europium(III) tetracyanamidosilicate was prepared from EuF3, K2SiF6, and Li2CN2. Their crystal structures were refined from powder XRD data with space groups C2/m for Eu-2(CN2)(3) and P2(1)2(1)2 for KEu[Si(CN2)(4)]. Luminescence spectra of Eu-2(CN2)(3) and KEu[Si(CN2)(4)] as well as nonlinear optical properties of KEu[Si(CN2)(4)] are reported. The two synthesized compounds are the missing members of the rare earth metal carbodiimide and tetracyanamidosilicate series.