title: YAlC: A Bonding Chameleon with Heteropolyacetylene Features.
abstract: YAlC was prepared by a flux method. It crystallizes as a partially filled-up TlI structure, showing remarkable structural aspects at the border between Zintl phases and intermetallics. This novel ternary aluminide-carbide exhibits a unique one-dimensional multi-center bond and a polyacetylene-related aluminum carbide substructure. The different functionalities of aluminum and of yttrium are quite remarkable. While the latter behaves more like a trivalent ion, aluminum contributes considerably to covalent bonding with carbon. Still yttrium d states contribute, but hardly in a directed manner.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Inorganic Chemistry, ETH Zurich, Vladimir-Prelog-Weg 1-5/10, 8093 Zurich (Switzerland).
authors.forename: Martin R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Kotyrba
authors.affiliation: Reliability Science and Technology, EMPA Dübendorf, Überlandstrasse 129, 8600 Dübendorf (Switzerland).
authors.forename: Eduardo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Cuervo-Reyes
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Inorganic Chemistry, ETH Zurich, Vladimir-Prelog-Weg 1-5/10, 8093 Zurich (Switzerland). nesper@inorg.chem.ethz.ch.
authors.forename: Reinhard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Nesper
keywords: Zintl phases; carbides; electronic structure; intermetallic phases