Chemistry in Molten Alkali Metal Polyselenophosphate Fluxes. Influence of Flux Composition on Dimensionality. Layers and Chains in APbPSe(4), A(4)Pb(PSe(4))(2) (A = Rb, Cs), and K(4)Eu(PSe(4))(2).

The reaction of Pb and Eu with a molten mixture of A(2)Se/P(2)Se(5)/Se produced the quaternary compounds APbPSe(4), A(4)Pb(PSe(4))(2) (A = Rb,Cs), and K(4)Eu(PSe(4))(2). The red crystals of APbPSe(4) are stable in air and water. The orange crystals of A(4)Pb(PSe(4))(2) and K(4)Eu(PSe(4))(2) disintegrate in water and over a long exposure to air. CsPbPSe(4) crystallizes in the orthorhombic space group Pnma (No. 62) with a = 18.607(4) Å, b = 7.096(4) Å, c = 6.612(4) Å, and Z = 4. Rb(4)Pb(PSe(4))(2) crystallizes in the orthorhombic space group Ibam (No. 72) with a = 19.134(9) Å, b = 9.369(3) Å, c = 10.488(3) Å, and Z = 4. The isomorphous K(4)Eu(PSe(4))(2) has a = 19.020(4) Å, b = 9.131(1) Å, c = 10.198(2) Å, and Z = 4. The APbPSe(4) have a layered structure with [PbPSe(4)](n)()(n)()(-) layers separated by A(+) ions. The coordination geometry around Pb is trigonal prismatic. The layers are composed of chains of edge sharing trigonal prisms running along the b-direction. [PSe(4)](3)(-) tetrahedra link these chains along the c-direction by sharing edges and corners with the trigonal prisms. A(4)M(PSe(4))(2) (M = Pb, Eu) has an one-dimensional structure in which [M(PSe(4))(2)](n)()(n)()(-) chains are separated by A(+) ions. The coordination geometry around M is a distorted dodecahedron. Two [PSe(4)](3)(-) ligands bridge two adjacent metal atoms, using three selenium atoms each, forming in this way a chain along the c-direction. The solid state optical absorption spectra of the compounds are reported. All compounds melt congruently in the 597-620 degrees C region.