Synthesis and crystal structure of lithium tetrametaphosphimate tetrahydrate Li4(PO2NH)4 • 4H2O

Single crystals of Li-4(PO2NH)(4) center dot 4 H2O were obtained by dissolving LiOH and H-4(PO2NH)(4) center dot 2 H2O in water and subsequent precipitation with acewne and ethanol followed by slow evaporation of the solvents. The structure of Li-4(PO2NH)(4) center dot 4 H2O was solved by single-crystal X-ray methods (PI (No. 2), a 489.2(2), b = 853.2(2). c = 880.5(2) pm, alpha = 101.71(3), beta = 102.39(3), gamma = 94.88(3)degrees: Z = 1). The structure is composed of LiO4 tetrahedra and (PO2NH)(4)(4-) ions. The P4N4 rings of the anions exhibit a slightly distorted chair-1 conformation, which is supported by I R data and has been described by torsion angles, displacement asymmetry parameters and puckering parameters. Via Li+ ions and hydrogen bonds, the tetrametaphosphimate anions are connected forming a three-dimensional network.