Preparation, crystal structure, and infrared characterization of the first thiocyanato-oxy-antimonate(III) [(CH3)4N]2[Sb6O4(NCS)12]

The salt [(CH3)4N]2[Sb6O4(NCS)12] is the first identified thiocyanato-oxy-antimonate(III) complex. Reported are details of the synthesis, relevant infrared data and its x-ray structure. The compound crystallizes in the triclinic space group P1 with Z = 2 (C10H12N7O2S6Sb3) and unit cell dimensions a = 11.314(6), b = 12.846(3), c = 8.679(2) A; α = 91.93(3)°, β = 90.31(3)° and γ = 99.13(3)°. It contains centrosymmetric [Sb6O4(NCS)12]2− anions packed with isolated tetramethyl-ammonium cations. The fundamental structural element of the anion is provided by the fusion of three SbOSbO rings forming a zig-zag portion of a ribbon, only slightly pleated. Peculiar is the unequivalence of the six thioc…