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metal-organic compounds
A new heterobimetallic tetranuclear alkoxide of the Er-Al system, [Al2Er2(C3H7O)12(C3H8O)2], has been synthesized and characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction and IR spectroscopy. Hexakis(2-isopropoxo)hexakis(isopropoxo)bis(2-propanol) dialuminiumdierbium has the linear composition [(OiPr)2Al]-(2-OiPr)2-[(HOiPr)Er(OiPr)]-(2-OiPr)2-[(OiPr)Er(HOiPr)]-(2-OiPr)2- [Al(OiPr)2]. The inner pair of Er atoms are each sixfold coordinated and the outer Al atoms are each fourfold coordinated by O atoms. Two intramolecular hydrogen bonds exist, each one between the 2-propanol group at the Er atom and the monodentate isopropoxo ligand at the adjacent Al atom. The adopted chain geometry of four alkoxo-bridged metal atoms is a rather unusual structural feature for heterobimetallic (M2M'2) alkoxides.