The Associated Octel Company Limited

Other

Dominic S Wright

Ronald Snaith

Alex Hopkins

Alan T Brooker

Neil Stoodley

Simon R Drake

Disclosed is a process for the production of Zintl compounds by thermal decomposition of heterometallic phosphinidene complexes. The heterometallic phosphinidene complex typically comprises at least two metals, at least one of which is selected from a Group I metal, M , and another being a metal M , selected from Group 13, 14 or 15 of the Periodic Table. The heterometallic phosphinidene complex further comprises one or more phosphinidene ligands, &lsqb;PR&rsqb;, wherein R is typically a substituted or unsubstituted hydrocarbyl group, and a Lewis base stabilizing ligand. Thermal decomposition of the heterometallic phosphinidene complexes in accordance with the invention forms a Zintl compound comprising metals M and M coordinated to Lewis base stabilizing ligands, Lg. The invention further provides a process for removal of the stabilizing ligand from the Zintl compounds to form an intermetallic compound. Intermetallic compounds having photoactive characteristics may be formed by this process, and are useful in the production of photoactive layers in electronic devices.

Processes for the production of zintl compounds, intermetallic compounds and electronic components including intermetallic compounds

Lewis base complexes of alkali metal salts

Novel metallo-organic complexes of the formula (M.sub.x X.sub.z. nL)y where M is an alkaline earth metal, a transition metal(at. Nos. 21-30, 39-48 and 72-80 inclusive) or a rare earth metal (at. Nos. 57-71 inclusive), X is an anion e.g. Cl.sup.-, Br.sup.-, NO.sub.3 -, NCS.sup.- etc. and L is a Lewis base, are prepared by reacting a source of the metal M under anhydrous conditions with an anhydrous ammonium salt of the anion X in the presence of the Lewis base, and cooling the reaction mixture to precipitate the complex.

Alkaline earth, transition and lanthanide metal inorganic salt complexes

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Cambridge, United Kingdom

Dominic S Wright