Synthesis and Crystal Structure of Phosphorus(V) Nitride α‐P₃N₅

A varied chemistry of ternary and higher phosphorus(v) nitrides has developed during the last few years. However, the crystal structure of the binary nitride P3N5 has proved elusive until now. The network structure built up by PN4 tetrahedra (depicted' on the right) resembles that of SiO2 and Si3N4. Surprisingly, in α-P3N5 the PN4 tetrahedra are also connected through edge-sharing.