Crystal structure of Cu12P20Br10, a polyphosphide containing a new phosphorus polymer

We report about the crystal structure of Cu12P20Br10, a polyphosphide containing the new polyanionic phosphorus polymer (1)(infinity)[P-20(2-)]. It crystallizes in the triclinic system, space group <P(1)over bar> (No. 2) with a = 9.886(2) Angstrom, b = 13.190(2) degrees, c = 14.763(3) Angstrom, a = 70.83(1)degrees, beta = 82.68(1)degrees, gamma = 80.13(1)degrees, V = 1786.1(6) Angstrom(3) and Z = 2. The phosphorus atoms build up one dimensional negatively charged tubes consisting of condensed 5- and 6-membered rings. They are connected via copper atoms to form double tubes oriented parallel [010] and are embedded between wavy layers of copper and bromine atoms. All copper atoms except those that are linked to negatively charged P-atoms are strongly disordered.