Basic beryllium acetate

Basic beryllium acetate is the chemical compound with the formula Be₄O(O₂CCH₃)₆. Although this species has no applications and has been only lightly studied, it adopts a distinctive structure and exhibits remarkable thermal stability. "Basic acetates" consist of an ensemble of metal atoms, a central oxide atom, and an exterior of acetate groups. Another family of basic acetates are trimetallic with the formula M₃O(O₂CCH₃)₆(H₂O)₃ (M = Cr, Fe, Ru). Mixed metal members of this family also exist.

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Preparation

To prepare Be₄O(O₂CCH₃)₆, basic beryllium carbonate is treated with hot acetic acid. The product is insoluble in water but soluble in chloroform, indicative of a nonpolar species. It melts at 284 °C and sublimes in a vacuum without decomposition.^[1]

Structure

The structure of Be₄O(O₂CCH₃)₆ is relevant to its considerable stability. It is diamondoid, consisting of interlocking six-membered Be₂O₃C rings. The structure of this compound has been examined by two famous crystallography laboratories.^[2][3]

References

1. ^ Moeller, T.; Cohen, A. J.; Marvell, E. “Basic Beryllium Acetate and Proprionate” Inorganic Syntheses McGraw-Hill: New York, 1950; Vol. 3, 9-11.
2. ^ Bragg, W. H. "Crystal Structure of Basic Beryllium Acetate" Nature, 1923, volume 111, page 532.
3. ^ Pauling, L.; Sherman, J. "The Structure of the Carboxyl Group: II. The Crystal Structure of Basic Beryllium Acetate." Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (US) 1934, volume 20, pages 340-5.