A facile synthesis for BeCl2, BeBr2 and BeI2

Abstract

Here we present a facile synthesis for anhydrous BeCl₂, BeBr₂ and BeI₂ from the elements under mild conditions. While this method delivers pure BeI₂ directly, BeCl₂ and BeBr₂ were further purified by vacuum sublimation. Complete sets of solid state IR and Raman spectroscopic and X-ray powder diffraction data of these beryllium halides were collected including the previously missing IR and Raman spectra of BeBr₂ and BeI₂. All halides were additionally investigated by quantum chemical calculations. This allowed an assignment of the IR and Raman modes, which had never been done before on any beryllium halide and allowed interpretation of the experimental data as well as the differentiation of polymorphs.