Julien Sayettat, Lucy M. Bull, Stéphane Jobic, Jean-Christophe P. Gabriel, Marc Fourmigué, Patrick Batail, Raymond Brec, René-Louis Inglebert and Claude Sourisseau
The behaviour of the KMPS4 (M=Ni, Pd) salts and some solid-solution phases, KNixPd1–xPS4, when dissolved in dimethylformamide (DMF) have been studied. For KNiPS4-DMF the novel re-arranged molecular bowl-like [Ni3P3S12]3– trianion can be formed from solutions that have been heated at 323 K for 2 days and K+ exchanged by larger organic cations such as PPh4+ (tetraphenylphosphonium), TMA+ (tetramethylammonium), TEA+ (tetraethylammonium), and MEM+ (methylethylmorpholinium). This remarkable dispersion/auto-fragmentation/re-arrangement sequence extends the concept of mere excision in solution of monomeric molecular motifs from low-dimensional inorganic solids. Investigations by electrospray mass spectrometry (ESMS), 31P solution-state NMR and optical microscopy under polarized light of KNiPS4 in DMF have shown that chains of[MPS4]– exist intact in freshly prepared solutions. These solutions show transient birefringence under stress. ESMS and NMR studies of KNiPS4 solutions show that the [NiPS4]– chains are quickly broken down at ambient temperature and that cyclic [Ni3P3S12]3– trianions are formed. By contrast, the [PdPS4]– chain remains intact at temperatures up to 323 K. This behavioural difference can be understood in terms of the Ni-S and Pd-S bond strengths. ESMS spectra of aged KNixPd1–xPS4/DMF solutions indicate that mixed metal trianions are formed, such as [Ni2PdS12]3–, [NiPd2P3S12]3– and [Ni3P3S12]3–, but no [Pd3P3S12]3– species have yet been observed.