A new organic-cation cyclotetraphosphate C10H28N4P4O12 center dot 4H(2)O: Crystal structure, thermal analysis, and vibrational spectra

A new organic-cation phosphate of C10H28N4P4O12. 4H(2)O has been obtained. The crystal structure determination shows that this compound crystallizes i n the triclinic system, space group P-l, with the following unit cell param eters: a = 9.147(3) Angstrom; b = 9.258(3) Angstrom; c = 8.974(3) Angstrom; alpha = 79.92(3)degrees; beta = 117.41(3)degrees; gamma = 116.58(3)degrees . P4O12 cycles, which present the strongest distortion in this kind of mate rials, are connected through O-W-H-O-P hydrogen bonds, so that bidimensiona l layers parallel to the ab plane are formed. These layers are themselves i nterconnected by means N-H-O-P hydrogen bonds originating from the (C10H28N 4)(4+) cations forming a three-dimensional network. The hydrated character of this phosphate is confirmed by the coupled TG-DTA thermal study which sh ows the successive loss of water molecules. The molecular arrangement withi n the structure has been confirmed by the IR spectroscopy. (C) 2001 Academi c Press.