A Cationic Metal Glue Strategy for Expanding Paramagnetic Hetero-Multinuclear Metal-Oxo Clusters within Polyoxometalate Ligands

Precise structural design of large hetero-multinuclear metal-oxo clusters is crucial for controlling their large spin ground states and multielectron redox properties for application as a single-molecule magnet (SMM), molecular magnetic refrigeration, and efficient redox catalyst. However, it is difficult to synthesize large hetero-multinuclear metal oxo clusters as designed because the final structures are unpredictable when employing conventional one-step condensation reaction of metal cations and ligands. Herein, we report a “cationic metal glue strategy” for increasing the size and nuclearity of hetero-multinuclear metal-oxo clusters by using lacunary-type anionic molecular metal oxides (polyoxometalates, POMs) as rigid multidentate ligands. The employed method enabled the synthesis of {(FeMn₄)Mn₂Ln₂(FeMn₄)} oxo clusters (Ln=Gd, Tb, Dy, and Lu), which are the largest among previously reported paramagnetic hetero-multinuclear metal-oxo clusters in POMs and showed unique SMM properties. These clusters were synthesized by conjugating {FeMn₄} oxo clusters with Mn and Ln cations as glues in a predictable way, indicating that the “cationic metal glue strategy” would be a powerful tool to construct desired large hetero-multinuclear metal clusters precisely and effectively.     

New Polyoxometalates Containing Hybrid Polymers and Their Potential for Nano‐Patterning

Two new polyoxometalate (POM)‐based hybrid monomers (Bu₄N)₅(H)[P₂V₃W₁₅O₅₉{(OCH₂)₃CNHCO(CH₃)C?CH₂}] ( 2 ) and (S(CH₃)₂C₆H₄OCOC(CH₃)=CH₂)₆[PVMo₁₀O₄₀] ( 5 ) were developed by grafting polymerizable organic units covalently or electrostatically onto Wells–Dawson and Keggin‐type clusters and were characterized by analytical and spectroscopic techniques including ESI‐MS and/or single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction analyses. Radical initiated polymerization of 2 and 5 with organic monomers (methacryloyloxy)phenyldimethylsulfonium triflate (MAPDST) and/or methylmethacrylate (MMA) yielded a new series of POM/polymer hybrids that were characterized by ¹H, ³¹P NMR and IR spectroscopic techniques, gel‐permeation chromatography as well as thermal analyses. Preliminary tests were conducted on these POM/polymer hybrids to evaluate their properties as photoresists using electron beam (E‐beam)/extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithographic techniques. It was observed that the POM/polymer hybrid of 2 with MAPDST exhibited improved sensitivity under EUV lithographic conditions in comparison to the MAPDST homopolymer resist possibly due to the efficient photon harvesting by the POM clusters from the EUV source.     

Linking metal–organic cages pairwise as a design approach for assembling multivariate crystalline materials

Using metal–organic cages (MOCs) as preformed supermolecular building-blocks (SBBs) is a powerful strategy to design functional metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) with control over the pore architecture and connectivity. However, introducing chemical complexity into the network via this route is limited as most methodologies focus on only one type of MOC as the building-block. Herein we present the pairwise linking of MOCs as a design approach to introduce defined chemical complexity into porous materials. Our methodology exploits preferential Rh-aniline coordination and stoichiometric control to rationally link Cu₄L₄ and Rh₄L₄ MOCs into chemically complex, yet extremely well-defined crystalline solids. This strategy is expected to open up significant new possibilities to design bespoke multi-functional materials with atomistic control over the location and ordering of chemical functionalities.

A new strategy to design atomically precise multivariate metal–organic frameworks is presented. This is achieved by linking two preformed metal–organic cages via a precisely tuned Rh–aniline interaction.     

Stepwise assembly and reversible structural transformation of ligated titanium coated bismuth-oxo cores: shell morphology engineering for enhanced chemical fixation of CO2

Herein, we report the stepwise assembly and reversible transformation of atomically precise ligated titanium coated bismuth-oxide core nanostructures. The soluble and stable Bi₃₈O₄₅@Ti₆-oxo clusters with weakly coordinated surface salicylate ligands were first prepared as precursors. Owing to the high surface reactivity of the Bi₃₈O₄₅ inner core, its shell composition and morphology could be systemically modified by assembly with various Ti ions and auxiliary ligands (L), especially those with different flexibility, bridging ability and steric hindrance. As a result, a series of new core–shell Bi₃₈O_44/45@Ti_xL-oxo (x = 14, 16, 18 or 20) clusters containing gradually increasing shell Ti atoms were successfully synthesized. Among them, the Bi₃₈Ti₂₀-oxo cluster is the largest one in the family of heterometallic Bi/Ti-oxo clusters to date. In addition, the sensitized titanium outer shell can effectively improve the photocurrent response under visible light irradiation. More remarkably, the obtained core–shell Bi₃₈O_44/45@Ti_xL-oxo clusters can serve as stable and efficient catalysts for CO₂ cycloaddition with epoxides under ambient conditions, whose activity was significantly influenced by the outer ligated titanium shell structure. This work provides a new insight into the construction of atomically precise heterometallic core–shell nanostructures and also an interesting shell engineering strategy for tuning their physicochemical properties.

Core–shell Bi₃₈O_44/45@Ti_xL-oxo clusters were prepared by the stepwise assembly from soluble Bi₃₈O₄₅@Ti₆ precursors to show modifiable shell and reversible structure transformation, which further changed their chemical fixation activities of CO₂.     

Synthesis, structure, and magnetic properties of heterometallic trinuclear complexes {MII��LnIII��MII} (MII = Ni, Cu; LnIII = La, Pr, Sm, Eu, Gd)

Trinuclear heterometallic complexes containing the {M₂Ln(Piv)₆(NO₃)} (M^II = Ni, Cu; Ln^III = Nd, Pr, Sm, Eu, Gd; Piv^? is the anion of pivalic acid) and {Cu₂Ln(Piv)₈)]^? (Ln^III = Eu, Gd) metal cores were synthesized, their structures and magnetic properties were studied. For the most compounds, it was shown that their magnetic properties can be interpreted taking no interaction of the 3d-metal ions and a lanthanide into account. Ferromagnetic exchange interactions were found to exist between the unpaired electrons of the paramagnetic centers in the exchange clusters of the gadolinium-containing heterometallic complexes {M-Gd-M} (M = Ni or Cu).     

Synthesis of hydrosilylboronates via the monoborylation of a dihydrosilane Si–H bond and their application for the generation of dialkylhydrosilyl anions

The synthesis of a series of hydrosilylboronates via the selective iridium- or nickel-catalyzed monoborylation of dihydrosilane Si–H bonds is described. The synthesized silylboronates, which bear a single Si–H bond, can be used as novel silicon nucleophiles in the presence of transition-metal catalysts or bases. The first ²⁹Si{¹H} NMR spectroscopic evidence for the formation of (t-Bu)₂HSiLi, generated by the reaction of (t-Bu)₂HSi–B(pin) with MeLi, is reported as the first example of a dialkylhydorosilyl lithium species.

Monoborylation of a dihydrosilane Si–H bond can be achieved in the presence of iridium- or nickel-based catalysts, yielding novel hydrosilylboronates that bear a hydrogen atom at the silicon center.     

Isolation of a planar 1,2-dilithio-disilene and its conversion to a Si–B hybrid 2π-electron system and a planar tetraboryldisilene

Lithium reagents have long played important roles in synthetic chemistry. However, unsaturated organosilicon lithium reagents are few in number. Herein, we describe the first isolation of a 1,2-dilithiodisilene: [(boryl)SiLi]₂ (2) was prepared in 73% yield by the reduction of (boryl)tribromosilane (1, boryl = (HCArN)₂B, Ar = 2,6-iPr₂C₆H₃) with lithium in Et₂O. The salt elimination reaction of 2 with dihaloboranes RBX₂ afforded disilaborirenes [(boryl)Si]₂BR (3a–c), whereas the reaction with two equivalents of B-bromocatecholborane ((cat)BBr) yielded the first tetraboryldisilene [(boryl)(cat)BSi]₂ (4). X-ray diffraction analysis and density functional theory calculations indicated that the disilene 2 and tetraboryldisilene 4 feature an almost planar geometry and disilaborirenes 3a–c are aromatic with a silicon–boron hybrid 2π-electron delocalized structure. The results indicate that 1,2-dilithiodisilene 2 is a powerful synthetic reagent for the construction of novel silicon multiply bonded species with unique electronic structures and that the boryl substituents have significant electronic effects on the structure of silicon multiple bonding.

Dianionic disilyne: reduction of boryltribromosilane yielded the 1,2-dilithio-disilene 2, which is a powerful transfer reagent for the synthesis of a novel 2π aromatic system and the first tetraboryldisilene.     

Polyoxometalates as chemically and structurally versatile components in self-assembled materials

Polyoxometalates (POMs) are anionic molecular metal oxides with expansive diversity in terms of their composition, structure, nuclearity and charge. Within this vast collection of compounds are dominant structural motifs (POM platforms), that are amenable to significant chemical tuning with minimal perturbation of the inorganic oxide molecular structure. Consequently, this enables the systematic investigation of these compounds as inorganic additives within materials whereby structure and charge can be tuned independently i.e. [PW₁₂O₄₀]³⁻vs. [SiW₁₂O₄₀]⁴⁻ while also investigating the impact of varying the charge balancing cations on self-assembly. The rich surface chemistry of POMs also supports their functionalisation by organic components to yield so-called inorganic–organic hybrids which will be the key focus of this perspective. We will introduce the modifications possible for each POM platform, as well as discussing the range of nanoparticles, microparticles and surfaces that have been developed using both surfactant and polymer building blocks. We will also illustrate important examples of POM-hybrids alongside their potential utility in applications such as imaging, therapeutic delivery and energy storage.

Polyoxometalates are anionic molecular metal oxides with diversity in composition, structure, nuclearity and charge. Their adaptable chemistry leads to potential for self-assembly with other building blocks into a variety of hybrid structures.     

Synthesis of Boron–Nitrogen–Phosphorus Compounds from N-Silylphosphoranimines

Two modes of reactivity of N-silylphosphoranimines have been utilized to prepare the title compounds containing either B–N=P or Si–N=P–N–B linkages. First, silicon-nitrogen bond cleavage reactions of the N-silylphosphoranimines, Me₃SiN=PMe(R)OCH₂CF₃ (1: R=Me, 2: R=Ph), with various chloroboranes gave the new N-borylphosphoranimines, Ph(Me₂N)B–N=PMe₂OCH₂CF₃ (2) and [(Me₃Si)₂N](Cl)B–N=PMe₂OCH₂CF₃ (10). In other cases, however, the expected B–N=P products were unstable and cyclic phosphazenes [Me(R)P=N]_3,4 were obtained. Second, deprotonation-substitution reactions of the aminophosphoranimines, Me₃SiN=P(R)Me–N(R)H, were used to prepare a series of novel (borylamino)-phosphoranimines, Me₃SiN=P(R)(Me)–N(R)–B(NMe₂)₂ (18: R=Me, R=t-Bu; 19: R=R=Me; 20: R=Ph, R=t-Bu; 21: R=Ph, R=Me) and Me₃SiN=PMe₂–N(t-Bu)–B(Ph)X (22: X=NMe₂, 23: X=OCH₂CF₃). All of the new boron–nitrogen–phosphorus products were fully characterized by multinuclear NMR (¹H, ¹³C, and ³¹P) spectroscopy and elemental analysis.     

Carbon–chalcogen bond formation initiated by [Al(NONDipp)(E)]− anions containing Al–E{16} (E{16} = S,Se) multiple bonds

Multiply-bonded main group metal compounds are of interest as a new class of reactive species able to activate and functionalize a wide range of substrates. The aluminium sulfido compound K[Al(NON^Dipp)(S)] (NON^Dipp = [O(SiMe₂NDipp)₂]²⁻, Dipp = 2,6-ⁱPr₂C₆H₃), completing the series of [Al(NON^Dipp)(E)]⁻ anions containing Al–E{16} multiple bonds (E{16} = O, S, Se, Te), was accessed via desulfurisation of K[Al(NON^Dipp)(S₄)] using triphenylphosphane. The crystal structure showed a tetrameric aggregate joined by multiple K⋯S and K⋯π(arene) interactions that were disrupted by the addition of 2.2.2-cryptand to form the separated ion pair, [K(2.2.2-crypt)][Al(NON^Dipp)(S)]. Analysis of the anion using density functional theory (DFT) confirmed multiple-bond character in the Al–S group. The reaction of the sulfido and selenido anions K[Al(NON^Dipp)(E)] (E = S, Se) with CO₂ afforded K[Al(NON^Dipp)(κ²E,O-EC{O}O)] containing the thio- and seleno-carbonate groups respectively, consistent with a [2 + 2]-cycloaddition reaction and C–E bond formation. An analogous cycloaddition reaction took place with benzophenone affording compounds containing the diphenylsulfido- and diphenylselenido-methanolate ligands, [κ²E,O-EC{O}Ph₂]²⁻. In contrast, when K[Al(NON^Dipp)(E)] (E = S, Se) was reacted with benzaldehyde, two equivalents of substrate were incorporated into the product accompanied by formation of a second C–E bond and complete cleavage of the Al–E{16} bonds. The products contained the hitherto unknown κ²O,O-thio- and κ²O,O-seleno-bis(phenylmethanolate) ligands, which were exclusively isolated as the cis-stereoisomers. The mechanisms of these cycloaddition reactions were investigated using DFT methods.

Reaction of Al–E (E = S, Se) multiple bonds with C O functionalities generates new C–E bonds.     

Variable control of the electronic states of a silver nanocluster via protonation/deprotonation of polyoxometalate ligands

The properties of metal nanoclusters depend on both their structures and electronic states. However, in contrast to the significant advances achieved in the synthesis of structurally well-defined metal nanoclusters, systematic control of their electronic states is still challenging. In particular, stimuli-responsive and reversible control of the electronic states of metal nanoclusters is attractive from the viewpoint of their practical applications. Recently, we developed a synthesis method for atomically precise Ag nanoclusters using polyoxometalates (POMs) as inorganic ligands. Herein, we exploited the acid/base nature of POMs to reversibly change the electronic states of an atomically precise {Ag₂₇} nanocluster via protonation/deprotonation of the surrounding POM ligands. We succeeded in systematically controlling the electronic states of the {Ag₂₇} nanocluster by adding an acid or a base (0–6 equivalents), which was accompanied by drastic changes in the ultraviolet-visible absorption spectra of the nanocluster solutions. These results demonstrate the great potential of Ag nanoclusters for unprecedented applications in various fields such as sensing, biolabeling, electronics, and catalysis.

The electronic states of Ag nanoclusters were reversibly controlled driven by protonation/deprotonation of polyoxometalate ligands.     

Giant Hollow Heterometallic Polyoxoniobates with Sodalite‐Type Lanthanide–Tungsten–Oxide Cages: Discrete Nanoclusters and Extended Frameworks

The first series of niobium–tungsten–lanthanide (Nb‐W‐Ln) heterometallic polyoxometalates {Ln₁₂W₁₂O₃₆(H₂O)₂₄(Nb₆O₁₉)₁₂} (Ln=Y, La, Sm, Eu, Yb) have been obtained, which are comprised of giant cluster‐in‐cluster‐like ({Ln₁₂W₁₂}‐in‐{Nb₇₂}) structures built from 12 hexaniobate {Nb₆O₁₉} clusters gathered together by a rare 24‐nuclearity sodalite‐type heterometal–oxide cage {Ln₁₂W₁₂O₃₆(H₂O)₂₄}. The Nb‐W‐Ln clusters present the largest multi‐metal polyoxoniobates and a series of rare high‐nuclearity 4d‐5d‐4f multicomponent clusters. Furthermore, the giant Nb‐W‐Ln clusters may be isolated as discrete inorganic alkali salts and can be used as building blocks to form high‐dimensional inorganic–organic hybrid frameworks.     

Coexistence of magnetic and electric orderings in a divalent Cr2+-based multiaxial molecular ferroelectric

Multiferroic materials have attracted great interest because of their underlying new science and promising applications in data storage and mutual control devices. However, they are still very rare and highly imperative to be developed. Here, we report an organic–inorganic hybrid perovskite trimethylchloromethylammonium chromium chloride (TMCM–CrCl₃), showing the coexistence of magnetic and electric orderings. It displays a paraelectric–ferroelectric phase transition at 397 K with an Aizu notation of 6/mFm, and spin-canted antiferromagnetic ordering with a Néel temperature of 4.8 K. The ferroelectricity originates from the orientational ordering of TMCM cations, and the magnetism is from the [CrCl₃]⁻ framework. Remarkably, TMCM–CrCl₃ is the first experimentally confirmed divalent Cr²⁺-based multiferroic material as far as we know. A new category of hybrid multiferroic materials is pointed out in this work, and more Cr²⁺-based multiferroic materials will be expectedly developed in the future.

An organic–inorganic hybrid perovskite Trimethylchloromethylammonium chromium(ii) chloride (TMCM–CrCl₃) can simultaneously show excellent ferroelectricity and antiferromagnetism, which is the first experimentally confirmed Cr²⁺-based multiferroic material.     

Heterobimetallic complexes as oxygen donor bidentate ligands: synthesis of early-late trinuclear complexes

The early-late heterometallic complexes [TiCp^∗((OCH₂)₂Py)(μ-O)M(COD)] (M = Rh, Ir) behave as four-electron donor ligands yielding the polynuclear cationic complexes [TiCp^∗(OCH₂)₂ Py(μ-O){M(COD)}₂]OTf (M = Rh (1), Ir (2)). The molecular structure of complex 1 has been established through an X-ray diffraction study.     

Synthesis, characterization, and catalytic activity of divalent organolanthanide complexes with new tetrahydro-2H-pyranyl-functionlized indenyl ligands

Two series of new divalent organolanthanide complexes with the general formula [η⁵:η¹-{1-R-3-(C₅H₉OCH₂)C₉H₅}]₂Ln^II (R = H, Ln = Yb (3); R = Me₃Si, Ln = Yb (4); R = H, Ln = Eu (5); R = Me₃Si, Ln = Eu (6)) were prepared by reactions of 2 equiv. of 1-R-3-(C₅H₉OCH₂)C₉H₆ (R = H (1), R = Me₃Si (2)) with the lanthanide(III) amides [(Me₃Si)₂N]₃Ln(μ-Cl)Li(THF)₃ (Ln = Yb, Eu) via a one-electron reductive elimination process. Recrystallization of 6 from n-hexane afforded [η⁵:η¹-(C₅H₉OCH₂C₉H₅SiMe₃)]₂Eu^II · (C₆H₁₄)_0.5 (7). All compounds were fully characterized by elemental analyses, and spectroscopic methods. The structures of complexes 4 and 7 were additionally determined by single-crystal X-ray analyses. The catalytic activity of the complexes on methyl methacrylate and ε-caprolactone polymerization was studied, and the temperatures, substituents on the indenyl ring, and solvents effects on the catalytic activity of the complexes were examined.     

Aggregation-induced phosphorescence sensitization in two heptanuclear and decanuclear gold–silver sandwich clusters

The strategy of aggregation-induced emission enhancement (AIEE) has been proven to be efficient in wide areas and has recently been adopted in the field of metal nanoclusters. However, the relationship between atomically precise clusters and AIEE is still unclear. Herein, we have successfully obtained two few-atom heterometallic gold–silver hepta-/decanuclear clusters, denoted Au₆Ag and Au₉Ag, and determined their structures by X-ray diffraction and mass spectrometry. The nature of the Au^I⋯Ag^I interactions thereof is demonstrated through energy decomposition analysis to be far-beyond typical closed-shell metal–metal interaction dominated by dispersion interaction. Furthermore, a positive correlation has been established between the particle size of the nanoaggregates and the photoluminescence quantum yield for Au₆Ag, manifesting AIEE control upon varying the stoichiometric ratio of Au : Ag in atomically-precise clusters.

The strategy of aggregation-induced emission enhancement (AIEE) has been proven to be efficient in wide areas and has recently been adopted in the field of metal nanoclusters.     

Four‐Shell Polyoxometalates Featuring High‐Nuclearity Ln26 Clusters: Structural Transformations of Nanoclusters into Frameworks Triggered by Transition‐Metal Ions

A series of polyoxometalates (POMs) that incorporate the highest‐nuclearity Ln clusters that have been observed in such structures to date (Ln₂₆ , Ln=La and Ce) are described, which exhibit giant multishell configurations (Ln⊂W₆⊂Ln₂₆⊂W₁₀₀). Their structures are remarkably different from known giant POMs that feature multiple Ln ions. In particular, the incorporated Ln–O clusters with a nuclearity of 26 are significantly larger than known high‐nuclearity (≤10) Ln–O clusters in POM chemistry. Furthermore, they also contain the largest number of La and Ce centers for any POM reported to date and represent a new kind of rare giant POMs with more than 100 W atoms. Interestingly, the La₂₆‐containing POM can undergo a single‐crystal to single‐crystal structural transformation in the presence of various transition‐metal ions, such as Cu²⁺, Co²⁺, and Ni²⁺, from an inorganic molecular nanocluster into an inorganic–organic hybrid extended framework that is built from POM building blocks with even higher‐nuclearity La₂₈ clusters bridged by transition‐metal complexes.     

Solvatothermal Syntheses and Structural Characterizations of Polyoxoalkoxometalates: The Heptanuclear [{Fe(OH)(CH3CN)2} Fe6OCl6{(OCH2)3CCH2OH}4], the Decanuclear [Fe10O2Cl8{(OCH2)3CCH2CH3}6], and the Bimetallic [(VO)2Fe8O2Cl6{(OCH2)3CCH2CH3}6]

Solvatothermal syntheses have been exploited to effect the isolation of three novel polyoxoalkoxometalate clusters, [{Fe(OH)(CH₃CN)₂} Fe₆OCl₆{(OCH₂)₃CCH₂OH}₄] (1), [Fe₁₀O₂Cl₈{(OCH₂)₃CCH₂CH₃}₆] (2), and [(VO)₂Fe₈O₂Cl₆{(OCH₂)₃CCH₂CH₃}₆] (3). The structure of 1 may be described as a hexametalate core {Fe₆OCl₆}¹⁰⁺, consisting of a octahedral arrangement of chloride ligands encasing an octahedron of six Fe(III) sites, with a central oxo group. The remaining four coordination sites at each octahedral iron center are occupied by doubly bridging oxygen donors from the trisalkoxo ligands. One triangular face of this substructure, defined by three oxygen atoms, from three adjacent trisalkoxo ligands, is capped by the {Fe(OH)(CH₃CN)₂}²⁺ subunit. The structure of 2 is based on the decametalate core of edge-sharing octahedra. The eight peripheral Fe(III) sites of the cluster bond to four oxygen donors from the trisalkoxo ligands, a terminal Cl^– ligand, and one of the ⁶-oxo groups. The two central iron sites are linked to four oxygen donors from the trisalkoxo ligands and to both of the ⁶-oxo groups. Cluster 3 is structurally related to 2 with two {FeCl}²⁺ units replaced by {VO}²⁺ groups.     

Synthesis,Spectral Properties,and Crystal Structure of {Methoxo[4-phenylbutane-2,4-dione(p-nitrobenzoyl) hydrazonato(2-)]oxovanadium(V)}

The hydrazino complex {methoxo[4-phenylbutane-2,4-dione(p-nitrobenzoyl)hydrazonato(2-)]oxovanadium(V)}, VO(p-NO₂bhbzac)OCH₃, (1), has been prepared by the direct reaction of bis(benzoylacetonato) oxovanadium(IV), VO(bza)₂, with p-NO₂-C₆H₄C(O)NHNH₂, p-NO₂bh, in CH₃OH. The resulting compound contains benzoylacetone-(p-NO₂)benzoyl hydrazone as tridentate Schiff base-type ligand and OCH₃ group as Lewis base, both ligated to vanadium. The crystals are orthorhombic, with Z = 8, space group Pbca, a = 11.699(5) Å, b = 14.035(5) Å, c = 22.564(5) Å, R1 = 0.0756 and wR2 = 0.1302. The crystal structure demonstrated the square-pyramidal geometry of the VO_oxo(ONO)O coordination sphere with the oxo ligand at the apical position. The electronic absorption spectra revealed a ligand-to-metal charge-transfer (LMCT) band in the near UV region at _max = 23,700 cm^–1 (B = 5640 dm³ mol^–1 cm^–1) in CH₃CN, _max = 23,420 cm^–1 (B = 5550 dm³ mol^–1 cm^–1) in DMSO, and _max near 26,950 (sh) cm^–1 (B = 10,550 dm³ mol^–1 cm^–1) in CH₂Cl₂. The FT-IR spectra of (1) show the characteristic strong (V = O) stretching vibration at 993 cm^–1 and support the view that the oxovanadium complex is pentacoordinated and monomeric.     

Synthesis and characterisation of the ternary intermetalloid clusters {M@[As8(ZnMes)4]}3− (M = Nb,Ta) from binary [M@As8]3− precursors

The development of rational synthetic routes to inorganic arsenide compounds is an important goal because these materials are finding applications in many areas of materials science. In this paper, we show that the binary crown clusters [M@As₈]³⁻ (M = Nb, Ta) can be used as synthetic precursors which, when combined with ZnMes₂, generate ternary intermetalloid clusters with 12-vertex cages, {M@[As₈(ZnMes)₄]}³⁻ (M = Nb, Ta). Structural studies are complemented by mass spectrometry and an analysis of the electronic structure using DFT. The synthesis of these clusters presents new opportunities for the construction of As-based nanomaterials.

Two ternary intermetalloid clusters were constructed through binary intermetalloid clusters with a low valent group 12 metal salt. These clusters represent the first example of the structural transformation for intermetalloid clusters.