The characterisation and X-ray crystal structure of pentabromodiselenium hexafluoroarsenate, Se2Br5AsF6; some thermodynamic considerations and the nonexistence of Se2I5AsF6

Abstract

The crystal structure of Se2Br5AsF6 was determined by low-temperature X-ray diffraction methods. Single crystals of Se2Br5AsF6 are rhombohedral, space group R3 with a = 13.367(4) Å, c = 19.000(6) Å, V = 2940 Å3, and Z = 9. The structure was refined to final agreement indices of R = 0.087, Rw = 0.093 for 604 observed (I > 3σ(I)) reflections and 71 parameters. The structure consists of essentially discrete Se2Br5+ cations and AsF6− anions with some cation–anion interaction. The Se2Br5+ cation, of essentially C2h symmetry contains two trans SeBr2 units, linked by a bridging bromine atom. The two terminal selenium–bromine bond distances are 2.291(7) and 2.268(6) Å, of bond order 1, and the angle between them is 100.0(3)°. The bridging bromine atom lies at the inversion centre of the Se2Br5+ cation, with an Se—Br distance of 2.582(3) Å, corresponding to a bond order of about 0.5. The two angles between the bridging Se—Br and terminal Se—Br bonds are 97.4(1)° and 98.9(2)°. Se2Br5AsF6 decomposes slowly at room temperature and rapidly at 100 °C leading to the formation of SeBr3AsF6, SeBr4, and elemental selenium. It reacts with Br2 to give SeBr3AsF6 and SeBr4. Se2Br5AsF6 is prepared by the reaction of Se4(AsF6)2 and the appropriate quantity of Br2. The analogous reaction with I2 leads to I2SeSeSeSeI2(AsF6)2 and not Se2I5AsF6. These differences have been accounted for on the basis of estimates of the appropriate bond and crystal lattice energies. The 77Se nmr of SeBr3+ and Se2Br5+ in SO2 solution, and the Raman spectrum of SeBr4 are reported.