Oxidation of Ruthenium and Iridium Metal by XeF2 and Crystal Structure Determination of [Xe2F3][RuF6]·XeF2 and [Xe2F3][MF6] (M = Ru, Ir).

Salts containing [Xe2F3]+ cations and [MF6]- anions (M = Ru, Ir) were synthesized by the oxidation of metal with excess of XeF2 in anhydrous hydrogen fluoride (aHF) as a solvent. Single crystals of [Xe2F3][RuF6]·XeF2, [Xe2F3][RuF6] and [Xe2F3][IrF6] were grown by slow evaporation of the solvent. [Xe2F3][RuF6]·XeF2 crystallizes in a triclinic P-1 space group (a = 8.3362(1) Å, b = 8.8197(2) Å, c = 9.3026(4) Å; α = 68.27(1)°, ß = 63.45(1)°, γ = 82.02°, V = 568.09(9) Å3 (Z = 2)). Discrete [Xe2F3]+, XeF2 and [RuF6]- units are found in the asymmetric unit. [Xe2F3][RuF6] and [Xe2F3][IrF6] compounds are isostructural and crystallize in a monoclinic Cc space group (a = 14.481(3) Å (Ru); 14.544(3) Å (Ir); b = 8.0837(8) Å (Ru), 8.0808(7) Å (Ir), c = 10.952(2) Å (Ru), 11.014(2) Å (Ir); ß = 136.825(6)° (Ru), 139.954(7)°, V = 877.2(3) Å3 (Ru), 883.6(3) Å3 (Ir); Z = 4). The asymmetric unit in the [Xe2F3][MF6] (M = Ru, Ir) consists of one [Xe2F3]+ and one [MF6]- unit.