title: Solvothermal synthesis and structure of a new selenium-rich selenophosphate K(3)PSe(4).2Se(6).
abstract: The compound K(3)PSe(4).2Se(6) was synthesized at 110 degrees C via solventothermal techniques from binary starting materials and Se in acetonitrile. The compound crystallizes in the space group Fd macro 3 of the cubic system with eight formula units in a cell with a dimension of a = 16.415(2) A at T = 193 K. The structure contains an unusual intermixing of ionic and uncharged species. The selenophosphate tetrahedral trianions PSe(4)(3-) are surrounded by potassium cations; other potassium cations in the structure are coordinated to 12 selenium atoms from four Se(6) rings in a tetrahedral arrangement. There are no short contacts between adjacent selenium rings. Heating the same reaction mixture to 160 degrees C results in the formation of only needles of trigonal selenium.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Lake Forest College, Lake Forest, Illinois 60045, USA.
authors.forename: Christine A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Dickerson
authors.forename: Mary J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Fisher
authors.forename: Richard E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Sykora
authors.forename: Thomas E
authors.initials: TE
authors.lastname: Albrecht-Schmitt
authors.forename: Jason A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Cody