Syntheses and Crystal Structures of a New Niobium Polysulfide K6Nb4S22 and two New Dimorphic Tantalum Polysulfides K6Ta4S22

The new compounds K₆Nb₄S₂₂ and K₆Ta₄S₂₂ ( I ) have been synthesised by the reaction of NbS₂ or Ta metal in a K₂S₃ flux. Using TaS₂ as educt a second modification of K₆Ta₄S₂₂ ( II ) is obtained. K₆Nb₄S₂₂ and K₆Ta₄S₂₂ (form I ) crystallise in the monoclinic space group C2/c with a = 35.634 (2)Å, b = 7.8448 (4)Å, c = 12.1505 (5)Å, β = 100.853 (5)°, V = 3335.8 (3)ų, and Z = 4 for K₆Nb₄S₂₂ and a = 35.563 (7) Å, b = 7.836 (2)Å, c = 12.139 (2)Å, β = 100.56 (3)°, V = 3325.5 (2)ų, and Z = 4 for K₆Ta₄S₂₂ ( I ). The second modification K₆Ta₄S₂₂ (form II ) crystallises in the monoclinic space group P2₁/c with a = 7.5835 (6)Å, b = 8.7115 (5)Å, c = 24.421 (2)Å, β = 98.733 (9)°, V = 1594.6 (2)ų, and Z = 2. The structures consist of [M₄S₂₂]^6— anions composed of two M₂S₁₁ sub‐units which are linked into M₄S₂₂ units via terminal sulfur ligands. The anions are well separated by the K⁺ cations. Differences between the structures of the title compounds and those with the heavier alkali cations Rb⁺ and Cs⁺ are caused by the different arrangement of the [M₄S₂₂]^6— anions around the cations and the different S^2—/S₂^2— binding modes. The thermal behaviour of both modifications was investigated using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). From these investigations there is no hint for a polymorphic transition between the two forms. After heating crystals of form II above the melting point and cooling the melt to room temperature a crystalline powder of form I can be isolated.