An unexpected oxidation: NaK(5)Cl(2)(S(2)O(6))(2) revisited

The title compound, NaK(5)Cl(2)(S(2)O(6))(2) [systematic name: sodium penta­potassium dichloride bis­(di­thio­nate)], arose as an unexpected product from an organic synthesis that used di­thio­nite (S(2)O(4) (2−)) ions as a reducing agent to destroy excess permanganate ions. Compared to the previous study [Stanley (1953 ▸). Acta Cryst. 6, 187–196], the present tetra­gonal structure exhibits a root 2a × root 2a × c super-cell due to subtle changes in the orientations of the di­thio­nate anions. The structure can be visualized as a three-dimensional framework of [001] columns of alternating trans-NaO(4)Cl(2) and KO(4)Cl(2) octa­hedra cross-linked by the di­thio­nate ions with the inter­stices occupied by KO(6)Cl(2) polyhedra to generate a densely packed three-dimensional framework. The asymmetric unit comprises two sodium ions (site symmetries 4 and -4, four potassium ions (site symmetries = -4, 4, 1 and 1), three chloride ions (site symmetries = 4, 4 and 2) and two half-di­thio­nate ions (all atoms on general positions). Both di­thio­nate ions are completed by crystallographic inversion symmetry. The crystal chosen for data collection was found to be rotationally twinned by 180° about the [100] axis in reciprocal space with a 0.6298 (13):0.3702 (13) domain ratio.