The Quasi-Binary Acetonitriletriide Sr3 [C2 N]2.

The first quasi-binary acetonitriletriide Sr3 [C2 N]2 has been synthesised and characterised. The nearly colourless crystals were obtained from the reaction of Sr metal, graphite, and elemental N2 , generated by decomposition of Sr(N3 )2 , in a sealed Ni ampoule with the aid of an alkali metal flux. The structure of this compound was analysed via single-crystal X-ray diffraction and the identity of the [C2 N]3- anion was confirmed by Raman spectroscopy and further investigated by quantum-chemical methods. Computed interatomic distances within the [C2 N]3- anion strikingly match the obtained experimental data.