MG3RUH6, A COMPLEX HYDRIDE CONTAINING 2 TYPES OF HYDROGEN-ATOMS DIFFERING IN THEIR BONDING

The ternary ruthenium hydride Mg3RuH6 was successfully prepared by reacting magnesium or magnesium hydride with ruthenium under a hydrogen pressure of 90 bar. The structure of the rusty brown product was determined by X-ray investigations on powdered samples and elastic neutron powder diffraction experiments on the deuterated compound. Mg3RuH6 Crystallizes in the orthorhombic space group Cmcm. The atomic arrangement contains two differently bonded types of hydrogen atoms. One forms complex ruthenium-hydrogen anions, whereas the other is surrounded exclusively by magnesium cations. The relationship with the magnesium-ruthenium hydrides Mg2RuH4 and Mg2RuH6 is discussed.