Fluorides and fluoro acids. XIII. The crystal structure of phosphorus pentafluoride

The solid state structure of phosphorus pentafluoride was determined from single-crystal MoKα diffractometer data. The crystal system is hexagonal, the space group P6₃/mmc, and Z = 2. At 109 K the lattice constants are a = 5.563(4) and c = 6.176(5) Å. The molecules have the maximum possible point symmetrie 6 m2 (D_3h) of a trigonal bipyramid. The axial bonds at 1.580(2) Å are significantly longer than the equatorial ones at 1.522(1) Å. Intermolecular interactions are very weak. The crystal structure is isotypic with that of the high-temperature form of SbCl₅.