Abstract
The synthesis and structures of the five new compounds [Na-4(P2Se6)(H2O)(6)], [M-4(P2Se6)(H2O)(4)] (M = K, Rb, Cs) and [(NH4)(4)(P2Se6)(H2O)(2)] are reported. The salts were obtained from reactions of metal carbonates with P4Se10 in water and in ambient atmosphere. During the heterogeneous reactions, the selenophosphate salts, CO2 and elemental selenium is formed together with the [P2O6](4-) ion and most likely other phosphate/selenophosphate derivatives. The ethane-like [P2Se6](4-) anion was characterized in solution by P-31 NMR spectroscopy showing an ABX pattern.