[(Ph)3PBr][Br7], [(Bz)(Ph)3P]2[Br8], [(n-Bu)3MeN]2[Br20], [C4MPyr]2[Br20], and [(Ph)3PCl]2[Cl2I14]: extending the horizon of polyhalides via synthesis in ionic liquids.

The five polyhalides [(Ph)(3)PBr][Br(7)], [(Bz)(Ph)(3)P](2)[Br(8)], [(n-Bu)(3)MeN](2)[Br(20)], [C(4)MPyr](2)[Br(20)] ([C(4)MPyr] = N-butyl-N-methylpyrrolidinium), and [(Ph)(3)PCl](2)[Cl(2)I(14)] were prepared by the reaction of dibromine and iodine monochloride in ionic liquids. The compounds [(Ph)(3)PBr][Br(7)] and [(Bz)(Ph)(3)P](2)[Br(8)] contain discrete pyramidal [Br(7)](-) and Z-shaped [Br(8)](2-) polybromide anions. [(n-Bu)(3)MeN](2)[Br(20)] and [C(4)MPyr](2)[Br(20)] exhibit new infinite two- and three-dimensional polybromide networks and contain the highest percentage of dibromine ever observed in a compound. [(Ph)(3)PCl](2)[Cl(2)I(14)] also consists of a three-dimensional network and is the first example of an infinite polyiodine chloride. All compounds were obtained from ionic liquids as the solvent that, on the one hand, guarantees for a high stability against strongly oxidizing Br(2) and ICl and that, on the other hand, reduces the high volatility of the molecular halogens.