Bis{[phthalocyaninato(2–)]arsenic(III)} tetradecaiodotetraarsenic(III)

Crystals of the novel title arsenic(III) phthalocyanine complex, [As(C₃₂H₁₆N₈)]₂[As₄I₁₄] or [(AsPc)⁺]₂·[As₄I₁₄]²⁻, where Pc is phthalocyaninate(2−), have been obtained by the reaction of pure powdered As with phthalo­nitrile under a stream of iodine vapour at 493 K. The crystals are built up of separate but interacting [AsPc]⁺ cations and [As₄I₁₂]²⁻ anions. The As atom of the [AsPc]⁺ unit is bonded to the four iso­indole N atoms of the Pc macrocycle and lies 0.743 (2) Å out of the plane defined by these four N atoms. The anionic part of the complex consists of AsI₃ and [AsI₄]⁻ units joined together into an [As₄I₁₄]²⁻ anion. The arrangement of the oppositely charged moieties, [AsPc]⁺ and [As₄I₁₄]²⁻, in the crystal is determined mainly by ionic attraction and by donor–acceptor interactions between the [AsPc]⁺ and [As₄I₁₄]²⁻ ions.