The First Alkaline-Earth Azidoaurate(III), Ba[Au(N3)4]2 ⋅ 4 H2O

Transparent, dark orange Ba[Au(N3)4]2 ⋅ 4 H2O was synthesized by reaction of Ba(N3)2 and AuCl3 or HAuCl4 in aqueous solution. The novel barium tetraazidoaurate(III) tetrahydrate crystallizes in the monoclinic space group Cc (no. 9) with a=1813.68(17) pm, b=1737.95(11) pm, c=682.04(8) pm and β=108.849(4)°. The predominant structural features of Ba[Au(N3)4]2 ⋅ 4 H2O are two crystallographically independent discrete anions [Au(N3)4]- with gold in a tetragonal planar coordination by nitrogen. Vibrational spectra show good agreement with those of other azidoaurates(III). Upon drying, this salt was shown to be a highly explosive material.