The structure of silver(I) iodide and bromide,and the silver(I) solvate in tetrahydrothiophene solution: An X-ray scattering and raman spectroscopic study

Structures of silver(I) iodide and bromide, and the solvated silver(I) ion are determined in tetrahydrothiophene solution with Large Angle X-ray Scattering (LAXS) technique. In a silver(I) perchlorate tetrahydrothiophene solution, silver(I) is solvated by four tetrahydrothiophene molecules in a regular tetrahedron. The main peak in the radial distribution function corresponds to four AgS distances at 2.526(7) Å. An SS distance at 2.65(2) Å in the solvent bulk is also included in the main peak. This shows that an internal structure exists in the tetrahydrothiophene bulk. Silver(I) iodide and bromide are tetrameric complexes with a stella quadrangula configuration, in saturated solution. The distances in the [AgI(SC₄H₈)]₄ complex are AgI 2.799(4); AgAg, 3.072(6) and II, 4.638(19) Å and in the [AgBr(SC₄H₈)]₄ complex they are AgBr, 2.592(3); AgAg, 2.866(5) and BrBr, 4.25(4) Å. The AgI bond distances in the [AgI(SC₄H₈)]₄ complex is shorter in solution than in the solid solvate. This is because bulk tetrahydrothiophene is a markedly weaker donor than free tetrahydrothiophene due to the sulfursulfur interactions in the bulk, shown to be around 2.65 Å. Raman spectroscopic studies on silver(I) and copper(I) iodide and silver(I) chloride tetrahydrothiophene solutions show that the polymetric structures predominate in concentrated solution and that they disintegrate upon dilution.