Synthesis of Nanocrystalline Gd₂O₂NCN from a Versatile Single‐source Precursor

Nanocrystalline Gd 2 O 2 NCN ( P 3 m 1, crystallite size 30–40 nm) was synthesized upon ammonolysis of bis[ [(N ‐carboxymethyl,N‐carboxy‐κO‐methyl)amino‐κN]‐ethyl]‐glycinato(3‐)‐κN,κO]gadolinium(III) (diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid gadolinium(III) dihydrogen salt or gadopentetic acid, Gd‐H 2 DTPA hereafter) at 900 °C. The conversion of Gd‐H 2 DTPA into Gd 2 O 2 NCN takes place in several steps, probably via transient formation of...