Electrochemical synthesis of a new indium telluride containing one-dimensional chains: Structure of [(n-C₄H₉)₄N]₂In₂Te₄

A new indium telluride, [(n-C₄H₉)₄N]₂In₂Te₄, has been synthesized at room temperature by the cathodic dissolution of an In₂Te₅ alloy electrode in an ethylenediamine solution of tetrabutylammonium iodide. The title compound is characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction at - 120°C and crystallizes in the monoclinc space group P2₁/_c (No. 14) with a = 14.86(2), b = 15.740(4), c = 18.262(4) Å, β = 96.48(6)°, V = 4243(3) A³, and Z = 4 with R (R_w) = 0.038 (0.040) for 3409 reflections (1 > 3σ(I)) and 356 variables. The structure consists of one-dimensional (In₂Te₄)^2- chains which run parallel to the crystallographic a axis and are separated by tetrabutylammonium cations. The (In₂Te₄)^2- chains are isotypic to the chains found in the SiS₂ and KFeS₂ structure types.