A structural study of sodium dithionite and its ephemeral dihydrate: A new conformation for the dithionite ion

Raman spectroscopy on solid anhydrous sodium dithionite reveals that it exists in at least two forms in the solid state. MAS²³Na NMR spectra and X-ray powder diffraction patterns of the solids indicate that sodium ions are in different environments in each form of the material. The results suggest that the dithionite anion is conformationally different in each lattice. A single crystal X-ray diffraction study of the recrystallized form of anhydrous sodium dithionite reveals an anion with C₂ geometry and a 16° O-S-S-O torsional angle; nearly eclipsed. (Crystal Data for recrystallized Na₂S₂O₄ area=6.539(1) Å,b=6.552(1) Å,c=6.578(1) Å,V=240.0(1) ų,=121.61(1)°, space group=P2/c,Z=2). Raman spectra of sodium dithionite dihydrate reveal that the dithionite ion is in a different conformation than in either of the anhydrous materials. A single crystal X-ray diffraction study of Na₂S₂O₄·2H₂O reveals a dithionite anion with a substantially shorter S-S bond length than in the anhydrous structure and an O-S-S-O torsional angle of 56°; approximately gauche. (Crystal Data for Na₂S₂O₄·2H₂O area=8.134(1) Å,b=5.756(2) Å,c=14.528(5) Å,V=653.3(3) ų,=106.20(2)°, space group=P2₁/n,Z=4). The structure of the dithionite anion is found to depend critically upon the nature of its external environment.