Stable, Soluble Beryllium Aluminum Citrate Complexes Inspired by the Emerald Mineral Structure

A gem of a structure: A mixed‐metal species with a structure very similar to the beryl structure found in nature is the 1:1:2 title complex (see structure). Its core structure contains a ring of alternating Al and Be atoms bridged by the aliphatic hydroxy group of the citric acid. A 1:1:1 complex isolated from phosphate buffer has a larger cluster structure consisting of six Al–Be–citrate species linked by bridging phosphate groups.