The crystal structure and chemistry of the "red salt" α-trisilver-amidoselenate, Ag3NSeO3

Abstract

The crystal structure of the α-modification of the "red salt" of trisilver amidoselenate, Ag3NSeO3 has been determined from MoKα X-ray diffraction data, and refined to R = 3.19% from 337 unique absorption-corrected observed reflections. The structure is rhombohedral, R3c (No. 161), with (hexagonal) a = 8.462(4), c = 11.372(6) Å. The formula unit has point symmetry 3 (C3), with Se and N on the threefold axis, each approximately tetrahedrally coordinated; Se by three oxygen atoms (at 1.651(8) Å and N (at 1.70(2) Å, and N by Se and three silver atoms (at 2.164(8) Å. The bond of 1.70(2) Å between Se and N is particularly short. The Ag3NSeO3 structural unit bridges to three adjacent units via short Ag … O contacts of 2.23(1) Å to form a three-dimensional network. Keywords: trisilver amidoselenate, selenium–nitrogen bond, X-ray structure.