Solid-State Chemistry with Nonmetal Nitrides

Among the nonmetal nitrides, the polymeric binary compounds BN and Si3N4are of particular interest for the development of materials for high-performance applications. The outstanding features of both substances are their thermal, mechanical, and chemical stability, coupled with their low density. Because of their extremely low reactivity, boron and silicon nitride are hardly ever used as starting materials for the preparation of ternary nitrides, but are used primarily in the manufacture of crucibles or other vessels or as insulation materials. The chemistry of ternary and higher nonmetal nitrides that contain electropositive elements and are thus analogous with the oxo compounds such as borates, silicates, phosphates, or sulfates was neglected for many years. Starting from the recent successful preparation of pure P3N5, a further binary nonmetal nitride which shows similarities with Si3N4 with regard to both its structure and properties, this review deals systematically with the solid-state chemistry of ternary and higher phosphorus(V) nitrides and the relationship between the various types of structure found in this class of substance and the resulting properties and possible applications. From the point of view of preparative solid-state chemistry the syntheses, structures, and properties of the binary nonmetal nitrides BN, Si3N4, and P3N5 will be compared and contrasted. The chemistry of the phosphorus(V) nitrides leads us to expect that other nonmetals such as boron, silicon, sulfur, and carbon will also participate in a rich nitride chemistry, as initial reports indeed indicate

Trisodium Trimetaphosphimate Monohydrate

The trimetaphosphimate anion (PO2NH)33- in trisodium cyclo-tri--imidotriphosphate monohydrate, Na3(PO2NH)3.H2O, exhibits a chair conformation. Two trimetaphosphimate rings are linked to each other by six N-HO hydrogen bonds forming pairs. These units are interconnected by O-HO hydrogen bonds through water molecules forming columns

Tetraammonium Tetrametaphosphimate Tetrahydrate

The tetrametaphosphimate ring in the title compound, (NH4)4+(PO2NH)4-.4H2O exhibits a chair conformation. The tetrametaphosphimate rings are linked by N-HO bonds forming columns along [100]. These columns are interconnected by O-HO and N-HO hydrogen bonds through water molecules and ammonium ions. All H atoms are involved in hydrogen bonding

Triammonium Trimetaphosphimate Monohydrate

Crystals of triammonium cyclo-tri-μ-imido-triphosphate monohydrate, (NH4)3(PO2NH)3.H20, are composed of three ammonium cations, a trimetaphosphimate anion with a chair conformation and a water molecule per asymmetric unit. A three-dimensional network is formed by N--H...O and O--H...O hydrogen bonds