Synthesis of heteroatomic Zintl anions in liquid ammonia – the new highly charged [Sn4Bi4]4− and fully ordered [Sn2Bi2]2−

Abstract

The new Zintl anion [Sn4Bi4](4-), synthesized by dissolving CsSnBi in liquid ammonia, forms a monocapped nortricyclane-like cage. Its electron localization function (ELF) analysis shows evidence for 3-centre bonding. The analogous reaction with KSnBi results in a crystallographically fully ordered tetrahedral [Sn2Bi2](2-) ion.