THE CRYSTAL-STRUCTURE OF SNP

The crystal structure of SnP can be described with a trigonal unit cell of dimensions a = 4.3922(7) and c = 6.040(3) Å and spacegroup P3m1, Z = 2. The structure is layered and similar to the C6 structure from which it can be formally derived by substitution of the octahedrally coordinated atoms with atom pairs. The tin atoms form a hexagonal packing. The phosphorus atoms are situated as P2 pairs filling octahedra in every second tin layer. The closest SnSn distance is 3.482(2) Å. The distances between the atoms of the P2 pairs are 2.2 Å, and the closest SnP distances are 2.62-2.67 Å. © 1990.