Synthesis and Crystal Structure of Lead Iodide in the Sodalite Cavities of Zeolite A (LTA)

The positions of $PbI _2$ molecule synthesized into the molecular-dimensioned cavities of $\mid K_6 (Pb _4I_2)(PbI_2) _{0.67}-(H_2O)_2\mid [Si _{12}Al _{12}O _{48}]$-LTA have been determined. A single crystal of $\mid Pb _6\mid [Si _{12}Al _{12}O _{48}]$-LTA, prepared by the dynamic ion-exchange of $\mid Na _{12}\mid [Si _{12}Al _{12}O _{48}]$-LTA with aqueous 0.05 M $Pb _(NO _3)_2$ and washed with deionized water, was placed in a stream of flowing aqueous 0.05 M KI at 294 K for three days. The resulting crystal structure of the product $( \mid K_6 (Pb _4I_2)(PbI_2) _{0.67}(H_2O)_2\mid [Si _{12}Al _{12}O _{48}]$-LTA, a = 12.353(1) $\AA$) was determined at 294 K by single-crystal X-ray diffraction in the space group Pm3 m. It was refined with all measured reflections to the final error index $R_1$ = 0.062 for 623 reflections which $F_o$ > 4$\sigma$($F_o$). 4.67 $Pb ^{2+}$ and six $K^+$ ions per unit cell are found at three crystallographically distinct positions: 3.67 $Pb ^{2+}$ and three $K^+$ ions on the 3-fold axes opposite six-rings in the large cavity, three $K^+$ ions off the plane of the eight-rings, and the remaining one $Pb ^{2+}$ ion lies opposite four-ring in the large cavity. 0.67 $Pb ^{2+}$ ions and 1.34 $I^-$ ions per unit cell are found in the sodalite units, indicating the formation of a $PbI _2$ molecule in 67% of the sodalite units. Each $PbI _2$ (Pb-I = 3.392(7) $\AA$) is held in place by the coordination of its one $Pb ^{2+}$ ion to the zeolite framework (a $Pb ^{2+}$ cation is 0.74 $\AA$ from a six-ring oxygens) and by the coordination of its two $I^-$ ions to $K^+$ ions through six-rings (I-K = 3.63(4) $\AA$). Two additional $I^-$ ions per unit cell are found opposite a four-ring in the large cavity and form $Pb _2K_2I^{5+}$ and $Pb _2K_2I^{3+}$ moieties, respectively, and two water molecules per unit cell are also found on the 3-fold axes in the large cavity.