New mixed-valent alkali chain sulfido ferrates A1+x[FeS2] (A = K, Rb, Cs; x = 0.333–0.787)

Four new mixed-valent chain alkali metal (A) sulfido ferrates of the general structure family ${A}_{1+x}\left[{\text{Fe}}_{x}^{\text{II}}{\text{Fe}}_{1-x}^{\text{III}}{\text{S}}_{2}\right]$ were synthesized in the form of tiny green-metallic needles from nearly stoichiometric melts reacting elemental potassium with natural pyrite (A = K) or previously prepared Rb2S/Cs2S2 with elemental iron and sulfur (A = Rb/Cs). The crystal structures of the compounds were determined by means of single crystal X-ray diffraction: In the (3+1)D modulated structure of K7.15[FeS2]4 (space group Ccce(00σ3)0s0, a = 1363.87(5), b = 2487.23(13), c = 583.47(3) pm, q = 0,0,0.444, R1 = 0.055/0.148, x = 0.787), a position modulation of the two crystallographically different undulated ${}_{\infty }{}^{1}\left[{\text{FeS}}_{4/2}\right]$ tetrahedra chains and the surrounding K cations is associated with an occupation modulation of one of the three potassium sites. In the case of the new monoclinic rubidium ferrate Rb4[FeS2]3 (x = $\frac{1}{3}$; space group P21/c, a = 1640.49(12), b = 1191.94(9), c = 743.33(6) pm, β = 94.759(4)°, Z = 4, R1 = 0.1184) the undulation of the tetrahedra chain is commensurate, the repetition unit consists of six tetrahedra. In the second new Rb ferrate, Rb7[FeS2]5 (x = 0.4; monoclinic, space group C2/c, K7[FeS2]5-type; a = 2833.9(2), b = 1197.36(9), c = 744.63(6) pm, β = 103.233(4)°, Z = 4, R1 = 0.1474) and its isotypic mixed Rb/Cs-analog Rb3.6Cs3.4[FeS2]5 (a = 2843.57(5), b = 1226.47(2), c = 759.890(10) pm, β = 103.7170(9)°, R1 = 0.0376) the chain buckling leads to a further increased repetition unit of 10 tetrahedra. For all mixed-valent ferrates, the Fe–S bond lengths continuously increase with the amount (x) of Fe(II). The buckling of the chains is controlled through the local coordination of the S atoms by the variable number of A cations of different sizes.