CRYSTAL AND MOLECULAR STRUCTURE OF BIS(TRIPHENYLBENZYLPHOSPHONIUM) TETRABROMOCADMATE

Abstract

The molecular and crystal structure of bis(triphenylbenzylphosphonium)tetrabromocadmate has been determined by x-ray diffractometer data. Crystals are triclinic, space-group Pl with two formula units in a unit-cell of dimensions a = 12.506(6), b = 10.471(5), c = 18.396(13) Å, α = 93.07(4)°, β = 105.75(5)°, γ = 92.58(4)°. The structure was solved by direct and Fourier methods and refined by least-squares techniques to R = 0.061 for 3723 independent observed reflections. The structure consists of tetrabromocadmate (II) anions and triphenylbenzylphosphonium cations, both with a quasi-perfect tetrahedral symmetry around the cadmium and phosphorus atoms. The most significant average bond distances are: Cd-Br, 2.588(2) Å, Psbnd]C (Phen), 1.794(5) Å and Psbnd]CH₂, 1.806(6) Å. The Psbnd]C (Phen) bonds are in slightly distorted staggered conformation (gauche-, gauche +, and trans) in respect of the C (Phen)-CH₂ bonds of the benzyl residues. The interatomic distances between the ions correspond to the usual Van der Waals distances.