Unusual syntheses, structures, and electronic properties of compounds containing ternary, T3-type supertetrahedral M/Sn/S anions [M5Sn(mu3-S)4(SnS4)4](10- (M = Zn, Co)

A recently discovered series of quaternary compounds of the general type K(m)(ROH)(n)()]M(x)Sn(y)()Se(z)] (R = H, Me), containing ternary anions with SnSe(4)](4-)-coordinated transition metal centers (M = Co, Mn, Zn, Cd, Hg) has now been extended by the synthesis and characterization of the two ortho-thiostannate-coordinated species, Na(10)(H(2)O)(32)]M(5)Sn(mu(3)-S)(4)(SnS(4))(4)].2H(2)O (M = Zn (1), Co (2)). The central structural motifs of compounds 1 and 2 are highly charged M(5)Sn(mu(3)-S)(4)(SnS(4))(4)](10-) anions, being the first T3-type supertetrahedral ternary anions reported to date. The exposure of single crystals of 2 to a dynamic vacuum for several hours resulted in the reversible formation of a partially dehydrated, but still monocrystalline material of the composition Na(10)(H(2)O)(6)]Co(5)Sn(mu(3)-S)(4)(SnS(4))(4)] (3). The loss of 28 of the 34 water molecules only slightly affects the internal structure of the ternary anion in 3 and leads to a significant compacting of the crystal structure with closer linkage of the Co(5)Sn(5)S(20)](10-) cluster units via the Na(+) cations. Magnetic measurements on 3 show that the ground state of the Co/Sn/S cluster is S = 1/2, indicating a significant antiferromagnetic coupling between the Co centers, which has also been rationalized by DFT investigations of the electronic situation in the ternary subunits of 1-3.