Copper(I) hexafluoroantimonate – an example of a compound with CuI in a solely fluorine environment

Yellow–orange single crystals of CuSbF6, were prepared by reacting Cu wire (∼10 mmol) with SbF5 (∼3 mmol) in liquid anhydrous hydrogen fluoride (aHF) and by reduction of Cu(SbF6)2 with Cu metal in aHF. CuSbF6 crystallizes rhombohedral at 296 K with the LiSbF6 structure type, with a = 530.4(4) pm, c = 1453(1) pm and Z = 3, space group R 3 ¯ (no. 148). The structure is dominated by isolated layers of regular [SbF6]− octahedra and Cu+ cations. empt to prepare CuF by reaction between CuSbF6 and CsF in aHF at ∼190 K failed. Instead of CuF, a mixture of Cu and CuF2 was obtained.