| In an effort to further the understanding of molecular solid-state construction several alkali-metal phosphides have been synthesized and analyzed by X-ray crystallography. Varying the alkali metals and exploiting the tendencies of certain organic solvents to coordinate and co-crystallize has afforded structural information about steric variables. Of interest are salts of the formula MP(H)(R) (M = Li, Na, K, Rb, Cs; R = 2,6-dimesitylphenyl, 2,4,6-tris-tert-butyl-phenyl). The enormous steric contribution of the aryl groups, as well as the possibility of multiple metal-arene interactions, has afforded diverse architectures, while providing fundamental insight into crystal lattice formation. |
