Crystal structure of Cu12P20Br10, a polyphosphide containing a new phosphorus polymer

Abstract

Abstract We report about the crystal structure of Cu12P20Br10, a polyphosphide containing the new polyanionic phosphorus polymer [unk][P20 2−]. It crystallizes in the triclinic system, space group P[unk] (No. 2) with a = 9.886(2) Å, b = 13.190(2) Å, c = 14.763 (3) Å, α = 70.83(1)°, α = 82.68(1)°, γ = 80.13(1)°, V = 1786.1 (6) Å3 and Z = 2. The phosphorus atoms build up one dimensional negatively charged tubes consisting of condensed 5- and 6-membered rings. They are connected via copper atoms to form double tubes oriented parallel [010] and are embedded between wavy layers of copper and bromine atoms. All copper atoms except those that are linked to negatively charged P-atoms are strongly disordered.