Alkali Metals and Structure of [MX6]4- Ions : Octahedral Structure of A2MX4 and AMX3 Type Complexes

Chemistry Department, Patna University, Patna-800 005
Manuscript received 11 May 1992, revised 6 September 1993, accepted 14 October 1993

The complexes of the types A₂MX₄ and AMX₃ (where A = alkali metals; M = Be, Mg and 3d-transition metals; X = F and Cl) have tetragonal and distorted octahedral structures respectively. Varied distortion from regular octahedral geometry is due to the covalent bonding between A-X. The species LMX₆]^4- acts as ligand where the donating sites are halogen atoms and forms complexes with alkali metals. The structures have been substantiated by ir spectra and crystals structure data.