THE CRYSTAL-STRUCTURES OF POTASSIUM, RUBIDIUM, AND CESIUM TRIFLUORORTHOCARBONATE AND A REMARK CONCERNING THE BARIUM-SULFATE TYPE

Crystals of potassium, rubidium, and cesium trifluorortho-carbonate (9a, 9b, and 9c) have been grown by Ostwald ripening in CH3CN applying a COF2 pressure of 3 bar. According to X-ray single-crystal structure analysis, 9a, 9b, and 9c belong to the baryte-structure family with an pseudotetrahedral anion being dynamically disordered at room temperature. All of the title compounds undergo a phase transition into a monoclinic, completely ordered low-temperature form, which has been refined for 9c. The C-O bond seems to be shortened by polar interactions. The results obtained with 9a, 9b, and 9c at room temperature indicate that the type of disorder found in 9 might be generally present in baryte-type compounds.