Synthesis,characterization, and crystal structure of a new truly one-dimensional compound: PV2S10

PV₂S₁₀ was obtained by heating the elements in stoichiometric proportions at 490°C in evacuated Pyrex tubes. The crystal symmetry is monoclinic, space group $\text{P2}{}_1\text{c}$, with the unit cell parameters a = 12.734(8)Å, b = 7.349(7)Å, c = 23.662(4)Å, β = 95°22(1), V = 2205(4)ų, and Z = 8. The structure was solved from 2269 independant reflexions, and anisotropic least squares refinement gave R = 0.036 with 236 variables. The structure can be described as made of V₂S₁₂] units forming endless chains themselves linked, two by two, by PS₄] tetrahedra. In these units each vanadium is surrounded by eight sulfur atoms (mean d_VS = 2.459Å) arranged in a distorted bicapped triangular prism. Two of these prisms shared a rectangular face to form V₂S₁₂] groups, in which intercationic distances implied vanadium-vanadium bonds (mean d_VV = 2.852(2)Å). Between the infinite double chains, only SS weak van der Waals' bonds exist. More than two thirds of the sulfur atoms are present as SS]^?II pairs, (mean d_SS = 2.015Å); the rest are S^?II anions.