Synthesis and solid-state structure of [K3(thf)2{PH(Mes)}3]∞ (Mes = 2,4,6-Me3C6H2): the first potassium phosphanide with a polyhedral arrangement of K and P atoms

Abstract

KPH(Mes) (Mes = 2,4,6-Me₃C₆H₂), prepared from potassium and PH₂(Mes) in refluxing toluene, crystallises from thf–pentane as [K₃(thf)₂{PH(Mes)}₃]_∞ 1, in which the basic structural feature is a chain of tetragonal pyramids of KP₅ units, which share common edges, and two additional K atoms located over two adjacent edges of one trigonal face of the pyramid.