Crystal structure of O₂PtF₆: A neutron-diffraction study

The structure of O₂PtF₆ has been refined using neutron-diffraction data from a polycrystalline sample. The O-O bond length has not been determined with high precision owing to the probability of dynamic or static disorder of the O₂ groups. O-O distances in the range 0.9 to 1.4 Å are compatible with the data if a suitable model is chosen for the disorder. Thus, although the data are compatible with the probable formulation as O₂⁺PtF₆^-, other formulations cannot be eliminated. All models display interionic distances O⋯F of 2.5 Å or less. These distances are indicative of strong interionic attractions and may be responsible for the stability of the compound. The PtF ₆^- ion is a regular octahedron with a Pt-F bond length of 1.82±0.03 Å.