Heterometallic Clusters [CuSn3S9]5− and [Cu6Sn6S20]10−: Solvothermal Synthesis and Characterization of 4f–3d Thiostannates

Two types of 4f–3d thiostannates with general formula [Hen]₂[Ln(en)₄(CuSn₃S₉)] ? 0.5 en ( Ln1 ; Ln=La, 1 ; Ce, 2 ) and [Hen]₄[Ln(en)₄]₂[Cu₆Sn₆S₂₀] ? 3 en ( Ln2 ; Ln=Nd, 3 ; Gd, 4 ; Er, 5 ) were prepared by reactions of Ln₂O₃, Cu, Sn, and S in ethylenediamine (en) under solvothermal conditions between 160 and 190 °C. However, reactions performed in the range from 120 to 140 °C resulted in crystallization of [Sn₂S₆]^4? compounds and CuS powder. In 1 and 2 , three SnS₄ tetrahedra and one CuS₃ triangle are joined by sharing sulfur atoms to form a novel [CuSn₃S₉]^5? cluster that coordinates to the Ln³⁺ ion of [Ln(en)₄]³⁺ (Ln=La, Ce) as a monodentate ligand. The [CuSn₃S₉]^5? unit is the first thio‐based heterometallic adamantane‐like cluster coordinating to a lanthanide center. In 3 – 5 , six SnS₄ tetrahedra and six CuS₃ triangles are connected by sharing common sulfur atoms to form the ternary [Cu₆Sn₆S₂₀]^10? cluster, in which a Cu₆ core is enclosed by two Sn₃S₁₀ fragments. The topological structure of the novel Cu₆ core can be regarded as two Cu₄ tetrahedra joined by a common edge. The Ln³⁺ ions in Ln1 and Ln2 are in nine‐ and eightfold coordination, respectively, which leads to the formation of the [CuSn₃S₉]^5? and [Cu₆Sn₆S₂₀]^10? clusters under identical synthetic conditions. The syntheses of Ln1 and Ln2 show the influence of the lanthanide contraction on the quaternary Ln/Cu/Sn/S system in ethylenediamine. Compounds 1 – 5 exhibit bandgaps in the range of 2.09–2.48 eV depending on the two different types of clusters in the compounds. Compounds 1 , 3 , and 4 lost their organic components in the temperature range of 110–350 °C by multistep processes.     

Hydrolysis of antimony(III) fluoride complexes

Vibrational and ¹⁷O NMR spectroscopy in combination with quantum chemical calculations are used to investigate the hydrolysis of antimony(III) fluoride complexes. A hydrolytic decomposition of SbF₃ and [SbF₄]^? is accompanied by oligomerization with the formation of edge-and corner-connected dimers ([Sb₂O₂F₄]^2?, [Sb₂OF₈]^4?) and trimers ([Sb₃O₃F₆]^3?, [Sb₃OF₉]^2?) with bridging oxygen atoms. The hydrolysis of [SbF₄]^? is also characterized by the presence in the solution of a discrete cation of [SbF₅]^2? which is least hydrolized. Only a partial isomorphic substitution of fluoride ion by hydroxide one is possible, which is reflected in the composition of K₂Sb(OH)_xF_5?x (x = 0.3) crystals isolated from the fluoride aqueous solution.     

Atom Exchange Versus Reconstruction: (GexAs4−x)x− (x=2, 3) as Building Blocks for the Supertetrahedral Zintl Cluster [Au6(Ge3As)(Ge2As2)3]3−

The Zintl anion (Ge₂As₂)^2? represents an isostructural and isoelectronic binary counterpart of yellow arsenic, yet without being studied with the same intensity so far. Upon introducing [(PPh₃)AuMe] into the 1,2‐diaminoethane (en) solution of (Ge₂As₂)^2?, the heterometallic cluster anion [Au₆(Ge₃As)(Ge₂As₂)₃]^3? is obtained as its salt [K(crypt‐222)]₃[Au₆(Ge₃As)(Ge₂As₂)₃]?en?2 tol ( 1 ). The anion represents a rare example of a superpolyhedral Zintl cluster, and it comprises the largest number of Au atoms relative to main group (semi)metal atoms in such clusters. The overall supertetrahedral structure is based on a (non‐bonding) octahedron of six Au atoms that is face‐capped by four (Ge_xAs_4?x)^x? (x=2, 3) units. The Au atoms bind to four main group atoms in a rectangular manner, and this way hold the four units together to form this unprecedented architecture. The presence of one (Ge₃As)^3? unit besides three (Ge₂As₂)^2? units as a consequence of an exchange reaction in solution was verified by detailed quantum chemical (DFT) calculations, which ruled out all other compositions besides [Au₆(Ge₃As)(Ge₂As₂)₃]^3?. Reactions of the heavier homologues (Tt₂Pn₂)^2? (Tt=Sn, Pb; Pn=Sb, Bi) did not yield clusters corresponding to that in 1 , but dimers of ternary nine‐vertex clusters, {[AuTt₅Pn₃]₂}^4? (in 2 – 4 ; Tt/Pn=Sn/Sb, Sn/Bi, Pb/Sb), since the underlying pseudo‐tetrahedral units comprising heavier atoms do not tend to undergo the said exchange reactions as readily as (Ge₂As₂)^2?, according to the DFT calculations.     

The Rb7Bi3−3xSb3xCl16 Family: A Fully Inorganic Solid Solution with Room‐Temperature Luminescent Members

Low‐dimensional ns²‐metal halide compounds have received immense attention for applications in solid‐state lighting, optical thermometry and thermography, and scintillation. However, these are based primarily on the combination of organic cations with toxic Pb²⁺ or unstable Sn²⁺, and a stable inorganic luminescent material has yet to be found. Here, the zero‐dimensional Rb₇Sb₃Cl₁₆ phase, comprised of isolated [SbCl₆]^3? octahedra and edge‐sharing [Sb₂Cl₁₀]^4? dimers, shows room‐temperature photoluminescence (RT PL) centered at 560 nm with a quantum yield of 3.8±0.2 % at 296 K (99.4 % at 77 K). The temperature‐dependent PL lifetime rivals that of previous low‐dimensional materials with a specific temperature sensitivity above 0.06 K^?1 at RT, making it an excellent thermometric material. Utilizing both DFT and chemical substitution with Bi³⁺ in the Rb₇Bi_3?3xSb_3xCl₁₆ (x≤1) family, we present the edge‐shared [Sb₂Cl₁₀]^4? dimer as a design principle for Sb‐based luminescent materials.     

Molecular building blocks for solid‐state chalcogenides: solvothermal synthesis of [Mn(en)3]Te4 and [Fe(en)3]2(Sb2Se5)

Two new molecular metal chalcogenides, tris­(ethyl­enedi­amine‐N,N′)­manganese(II) tetratelluride, [Mn(C₂H₈N₂)₃]Te₄, (I), and bis­[tris­(ethyl­enedi­amine‐N,N′)­iron(II)] penta­seleno­diantimonate(III), [Fe(C₂H₈N₂)₃]₂(Sb₂Se₅), (II), containing the isolated molecular building blocks Te₄^2? and Sb₂Se₅^4?, have been synthesized by solvothermal reactions in an ethyl­enedi­amine solution at 433 K. The anion Te₄^2? in (I) is a zigzag oligometric chain with Te—Te bond lengths in the range 2.709–2.751 Å. There is a very short contact [3.329 (1) Å] between a pair of neighboring Te₄^2? anions. In (II), each Sb atom is surrounded by three Se atoms to give a tripodal coordination. One of the three independent Se atoms is a μ₂‐bridging ligand between two Sb atoms; the other two are terminal.     

Bis(acetonitrile‐κN)bis[hydridotris(3,5‐dimethylpyrazol‐1‐yl‐κN2)borato]di‐μ3‐sulfido‐tetra‐μ2‐sulfido‐di‐μ2‐thiocyanato‐κ2N:S;κ2S:N‐tetracopper(I)ditungsten(VI)

Reactions of (Et₄N)[Tp*WS₃] [Tp* is hydridotris(3,5‐dimethylpyrazol‐1‐yl)borate] with CuSCN in MeCN in the presence of melamine afforded the title neutral dimeric cluster [Cu₄W₂(C₁₅H₂₂BN₆)₂(NCS)₂S₆(C₂H₃N)₂] or [Tp*W(μ₂‐S)₂(μ₃‐S)Cu(μ₂‐SCN)(CuMeCN)]₂, which has two butterfly‐shaped [Tp*WS₃Cu₂] cores bridged across a centre of inversion by two (CuSCN)⁻ anions. The S atoms of the bridging thiocyanate ligands interact with the H atoms of the methyl groups of the Tp* units of a neighbouring dimer to form a C—H...S hydrogen‐bonded chain. The N atoms of the thiocyanate anions interact with the H atoms of the methyl groups of the Tp* units of neighbouring chains, affording a two‐dimensional hydrogen‐bonded network.     

Bis(hinokitiolato)copper(II): modification (III)

Bis(hinokitiolato)copper(II), Cu(hino)₂, exhibits both antibacterial and antiviral properties, and has been previously shown to exist in two modifications. A third modification has now been confirmed, namely tetrakis(μ₂‐3‐isopropyl‐7‐oxocyclohepta‐1,3,5‐trien‐1‐olato)bis(3‐isopropyl‐7‐oxocyclohepta‐1,3,5‐trien‐1‐olato)tricopper(II)–bis(μ₂‐3‐isopropyl‐7‐oxocyclohepta‐1,3,5‐trien‐1‐olato)bis[(3‐isopropyl‐7‐oxocyclohepta‐1,3,5‐trien‐1‐olato)copper(II)] (1/1), [Cu(C₁₀H₁₁O₂)₂]₃·[Cu(C₁₀H₁₁O₂)₂]₂, where 3‐isopropyl‐7‐oxocyclohepta‐1,3,5‐trien‐1‐olate is the systematic name for the hinokitiolate anion. This new modification is composed of discrete [cis‐Cu(hino)₂]₂[trans‐Cu(hino)₂] trimers and [cis‐Cu(hino)₂]₂ dimers. The Cu atoms are bridged by μ₂‐O atoms from the hinokitiolate ligands to give distorted square‐pyramidal and distorted octahedral Cu^II coordination environments. Hence, the Cu^II environments are CuO₅/CuO₆/CuO₅ for the trimer and CuO₅/CuO₅ for the dimer. Each trimer and dimer has crystallographically imposed inversion symmetry. The trimer has never been observed before, the dimer has been seen only once before, and the combination of the two together in the same lattice is unprecedented. The CuO₅ cores exhibit four strong basal Cu—O bonds [1.915 (2)–1.931 (2) Å] and one weak apical Cu—O bond [2.652 (2)–2.658 (2) Å]. The CuO₆ core exhibits four strong equatorial Cu—O bonds [1.922 (2)–1.929 (2) Å] and two very weak axial Cu—O bonds [2.911 (3) Å]. The bite angles for the chelating hinokitiolate ligands range from 83.13 (11) to 83.90 (10)°.     

High Nuclearity Antimonato‐Polyoxovanadate Cluster {V15Sb6O42} as a Synthon for the Solvothermal in situ Generation of α‐ and β‐{V14Sb8O42} Isomers

New heteroatom polyoxovanadates (POVs) were synthesized by applying a water‐soluble high‐nuclearity cluster as new synthon. The [V₁₅Sb₆O₄₂]^6? cluster shell exhibiting D₃ symmetry was in situ transformed into completely different cluster shells, namely, the α‐[V₁₄Sb₈O₄₂]^4? isomer with D_2d and the β‐[V₁₄Sb₈O₄₂]^4? isomer with D_2h symmetry. The solvothermal reaction of {Ni(en)₃}₃[V₁₅Sb₆O₄₂(H₂O)_x] ? 15 H₂O (x=0 or 1; en=ethylenediamine) in water led to the crystallization of [{Ni(en)₂}₂V₁₄Sb₈O₄₂] ? 5.5 H₂O containing the β‐isomer. The addition of [Ni(phen)₃](ClO₄)₂ ? 0.5 H₂O (phen=1,10‐phenanthroline) to the reaction slurry gave the new compound {Ni(phen)₃}₂[V₁₄Sb₈O₄₂] ? phen ? 12 H₂O with the α‐isomer. Both transformation reactions are complex due the change of symmetry, the chemical composition, and rearrangement of the VO₅ square pyramids and Sb₂O₅ handle‐like moieties.     

Synthese und Strukturen von [Cu8As3(AsSiMe3)2(dppb)4]+‐[Cu{As2(SiMe3)2}{As4(SiMe3)4}]‐, [Cu8As3(AsSiMe3)2(dppb)4]+‐[Cu{As(SiMe3)2}2]‐ und [Cu10(Sb3)2(SbSiMe3)2(dppm)6]

The reaction of CuCl, LiAs(SiMe₃)₂ and dppb (Bis(diphenylphosphino)butane) leads to the formation of ionic cluster complexes. Depending on the reaction conditions one can isolate [Cu₈As₃(AsSiMe₃)₂(dppb)₄]⁺[Cu{As₂(SiMe₃)₂}{As₄(SiMe₃)₄}]^‐ ( 1 ) and [Cu₈As₃(AsSiMe₃)₂(dppb)₄]⁺[Cu{As(SiMe₃)₂}₂]^‐ ( 2 ). The same reaction of CuCl, dppm (Bis(diphenylphosphino)methane) and LiSb(SiMe₃)₂ leads to the neutral cluster complex [Cu₁₀(Sb₃)₂(SbSiMe₃)₂(dppm)₆] ( 3 ). The structures of 1‐3 have been solved by X‐ray single crystal analyses.     

Phosphaniminato-Komplexe des Antimons. Die Kristallstrukturen von [Sb2Cl5(NPMe3)2][SbCl6] · CH3CN und [SbCl(NPPh3)]2[SbCl6]2 · 6 CH3CN

Phosphorane Iminato Complexes of Antimony. The Crystal Structures of [Sb₂Cl₅(NPMe₃)₂][SbCl₆] · CH₃CN and [SbCl(NPPh₃)]₂[SbCl₆]₂ · 6 CH₃CN The title compounds are formed by reaction of antimony pentachloride in acetonitrile solution with the phosphorane iminato complexes SbCl₂(NPMe₃) and SbCl₂(NPPh₃), respectively, which themselves are synthesized by reaction of antimony trichloride with Me₃SiNPR₃ (R = Me, Ph). The complexionic compounds are characterized by ¹²¹Sb Mössbauer spectroscopy and by crystal structure determinations. [Sb₂Cl₅(NPMe₃)₂][SbCl₆] · CH₃CN: Space group P4₁, Z = 4, 3 698 observed unique reflections, R = 0.022. Lattice dimensions at ?60°C: a = b = 1 056.0(1), c = 2 709.6(2) pm. The structure consists of SbCl₆^? ions and cations [Sb₂Cl₅(NPMe₃)₂(CH₃CN)]⁺, in which one Sb^III atom and one Sb^V atom are bridged by the N atoms of the phosphorane iminato ligands. [SbCl(NPPh₃)]₂[SbCl₆]₂ · 6 CH₃CN: Space group P1 , Z = 2, 5 958 observed unique reflections, R = 0.033. Lattice dimensions at ?60°C: a = 989.4(11), b = 1 273(1), c = 1 396(1) pm, α = 78.33(7), β = 77.27(8)°, γ = 86.62(8)°. The structure consists of SbCl₆^? ions and centrosymmetric cations [SbCl(NPPh₃)(CH₃CN)₂]₂²⁺, in which the antimony atoms are bridged by the N atoms of the phosphorane iminato ligands.     

Die Kristallstrukturen von (DDI)2[Sb2F6O] und (DDI)2[Sb3F7O2] (DDI = 1, 3‐Diisopropyl‐4, 5‐dimethylimidazolium) — Ein Beitrag zur Hydrolyse von SbF3 [1]

The Crystal Structures of (DDI)₂[Sb₂F₆O] and (DDI)₂[Sb₃F₇O₂] (DDI = 1,3‐Diisopropyl‐4,5‐dimethylimidazolium) — a Contribution to the Hydrolysis of SbF₃ [1] The salts (DDI)₂[Sb₂F₆O] ( 2 ) and (DDI)₂[Sb₃F₇O₂] ( 3 ), (DDI = 1,3‐diisopropyl‐4,5‐dimethylimidazolium) are obtained by hydrolysis of C₁₁H₂₀N₂SbF₃ ( 1 ). The anion [Sb₂F₆O]^2? consists of two SbF₂ fragments linked by a symmetrical oxygen bridge and two unsymmetrical fluorine bridges to form a distored ψ‐octahedral coordination sphere at the antimony atoms. In [Sb₃F₇O₂]^2?, two SbF₂ units are linked by a symmetrical fluorine bridge, while the third antimony atom is connected with each SbF₂ fragment by a symmetrical oxygen and an unsymmetrical fluorine bridge. The antimony atoms adopt the centres of strongly distored ψ‐polyhedra.     

BiZn Bond Formation in Liquid Ammonia Solution: [BiZnBi]4−, a Linear Polyanion that is Iso(valence)‐electronic to CO2

Reactions of the zinc(I) complex [Zn₂(Mesnacnac)₂] (Mesnacnac=[(2,4,6‐Me₃C₆H₂)NC(Me)]₂CH) with solid K₃Bi₂ dissolved in liquid ammonia yield crystals of the compound K₄[ZnBi₂]?(NH₃)₁₂ ( 1 ), which contains the molecular, linear heteroatomic [Bi? Zn? Bi]^4? polyanion ( 1 a ). This anion represents the first example of a three‐atomic molecular ion of metal atoms being iso(valence)‐electronic to CO₂ and being synthesized in solution. The analogy of the discrete [Bi? Zn? Bi]^4? anion and the polymeric [(ZnBi_4/2)^4?] unit to monomeric CO₂ and polymeric SiS₂ is rationalized.     

Temperature Influence on the Formation of Selenidoantimonates: Solvothermal Syntheses,Crystal Structures and Thermal Properties of [Ni(dien)2]2Sb2Se6, [Mn(dien)2]2(SbSe4)(Cl), [Co(dien)2]2(SbSe4)(Br), and [Co(dien)2]3(SbSe4)2

New selenidoantimonats [Ni(dien)₂]₂Sb₂Se₆ ( 1 ), [Mn(dien)₂]₂(SbSe₄)(Cl) ( 2 ), [Co(dien)₂]₂(SbSe₄)(Br) ( 3 ), and [Co(dien)₂]₃(SbSe₄)₂ ( 4 ) (dien = diethylenetriamine) were solvothermally synthesized in dien solvent at 180 °C. The crystal structure of 1 consists of two octahedral [Ni(dien)₂]²⁺ cations and a mixed‐valent [Sb₂Se₆]^4? anion. The isolated [Sb₂Se₆]^4? anion is formed by a Sb^IIISe₃ trigonal pyramid and a Sb^VSe₄ tetrahedron sharing a common corner. 2 and 3 are composed of octahedral [M(dien)₂]²⁺ cations, tetrahedral [SbSe₄]^3? anions and halide ions forming an extended network through hydrogen‐bonding interactions. In 4 the [Co(1)(dien)₂]²⁺, [Co(2)(dien)₂]²⁺ and [SbSe₄]^3? ions form layered structures via N–H···Se hydrogen bonds. The [Co(3)(dien)₂]²⁺ ion is located between the layers, and interacts with the layers by N–H···Se bonds. The synthesis and solid state structural studies on the title compounds show that the higher reaction temperature is helpful for the formation of selenidoantimonate(V) compounds in the synthesis of selenidoantimonate from the M²⁺/Sb/Se/dien system. 1 – 4 start to decompose at temperature about 210 °C in N₂ atmosphere. They lose dien ligands at a wide temperature range of 210–450 °C with multisteps for 1 – 3 and a single step for 4 .     

Kupferkomplexe des neuen Chelatliganden 1‐Methyl‐2‐(2‐thiophenolato)‐1H‐benzimidazol (mtpb) und dessen Oxidationsprodukten

Copper Complexes of the New Chelate Ligand 1‐Methyl‐2‐(2‐thiophenolato)‐1H‐benzimidazole (mtpb) and of its Oxidation Products Anodic electrolysis of copper in acetonitrile in the presence of Hmtpb leads to formation of yellow [Cu₄(mtbp)₄] which was crystallized as a dichloromethane solvate with two crystallographically independent cluster molecules in the unit cell. The copper(I) atoms exhibit slightly pyramidal S₂N coordination with bridging thiolate sulfur atoms. The two clusters contain the four copper atoms arranged in a more (Cu1‐Cu4) or less (Cu5‐Cu8) distorted bisphenoidal arrangement. Reaction of mtpb^— with Cu(ClO₄)₂ under anoxic conditions also produces [Cu₄(mtpb)₄]. However, the admittance of O₂ in the reaction of mtpb^— with copper(II) acetate in methanol causes oxidation of the sulfur atoms; a square‐pyramidal configurated copper(II) complex [Cu(CH₃CO₂‐κ²O)(L₁‐κN)(L₂‐κN, O)] has been isolated and crystallographically characterized in which L₁ is the neutral sulfinic methyl ester and L₂^— is the sulfonate derived from mtpb^—.     

Containing‐PMBP N2O2‐donors transition metal(II) complexes: Synthesis,crystal structure,Hirshfeld surface analyses and fluorescence properties

Three newly designed containing‐PMBP N₂O₂‐donors complexes, [Co(L¹)(CH₃OH)₂] ( 1 ), [{Zn(L²)(CH₃OH)(H₂O)}₃] ( 2 ) and [Cu₄(L²)₄]?2CHCl₃ ( 3 ), have been synthesized and structurally characterized using elemental analyses, infrared and UV–visible spectroscopies and single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction. X‐ray crystal structure determinations revealed that 1 consists of one Co(II) atom, one completely deprotonated (L¹)^2? unit and two coordinated methanol molecules. Complex 2 consists of three Zn(II) atoms, three completely deprotonated (L²)^2? units, three coordinated methanol molecules and three coordinated water molecules. However, 3 includes four Cu(II) atoms, four completely deprotonated (L²)^2? units and two crystallization chloroform molecules. The Co(II) and Zn(II) atoms in the structures of 1 and 2 adopt slightly distorted octahedral geometries. While, Cu(II) atoms in 3 can be best described as adopting slightly distorted square planar geometries. Complex 2 is a novel structure, and the ratio of H₂L² to Zn(II) atom is 3:3. In addition, two‐, three‐ and three‐dimensional supramolecular structures were constructed for 1 , 2 and 3 . Most importantly, Hirshfeld surface analysis of 1 , 2 and 3 was conducted and fluorescence properties were investigated.     

Synthetic and Structural Studies on Copper 1 H‐[1,10]‐Phenanthrolin‐2‐one Coordination Complexes: Isolation of a Novel Intermediate During 1,10‐Phenanthroline Hydroxylation

The synthesis and crystal structure elucidation of a novel dinuclear heteroleptic copper(II) complex has led to an alternative mechanism in the formation of covalent hydrates. During further studies on the synthesis and properties of [Cu₂(ophen)₂] ( 1 ), a dinuclear complex of copper(I) with 1 H‐[1,10]‐phenanthrolin‐2‐one (Hophen), two intermediates/alternative products 2 and 3 were isolated. The dinuclear, antiferromagnetic complex [Cu₂(ophen)₂(phen)₂] ? (NO₃)₂ ? 9H₂O ( 3 , phen=1,10‐phenanthroline) contains two five‐coordinate copper(II) ions, both with trigonal‐bipyramidal coordination, which are bridged together through deprotonated hydroxyl groups with a Cu? Cu non‐bonding distance of 3.100 Å. Complex [Cu(phen)₂(H₂O)] ? (NO₃)₂ ( 2 ) is a polymorph of a previously reported material. The occurrence of 2 and 3 has led us to propose a variation to the Gillard mechanism for the formation of covalent hydrates in bidentate N‐heterocycles in which the attacking nucleophile may be the deprotonated form of 2 , [Cu(phen)₂(OH)]^?, rather than free OH^?.     

A Bicapped α‐Keggin Unit‐Supported Transition Metal Complex: Hydrothermal Synthesis and Characterization of [Cu(en)2(H2O)]2[Cu(en)2]0.5[Mo8V7O42{Cu(en)2}]

A new metal‐oxo cluster supported transition metal complex, [Cu(en)₂(H₂O)]₂[Cu(en)₂]_0.5[Mo^VI₈V^IV₆V^VO₄₂{Cu(en)₂}], has been synthesized under hydrothermal conditions. Its structure was determined by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction. The compound crystallizes in the triclinic system, space group (No. 2), a = 12.245(5), b = 12.669(5), c = 20.949(8) Å, α = 77.120(13), β = 78.107(17), γ = 65.560(14)°, V = 2860(2) ų, Z = 2. The metal‐oxo cluster contains a novel bicapped a‐Keggin structure unit and a [Cu(en)₂]²⁺ unit covalently bonded to the [Mo₈V₇O₄₂]^7? cluster.     

Step‐by‐Step Synthesis of the Endohedral Stannaspherene [Ir@Sn12]3− via the Capped Cluster Anion [Sn9Ir(cod)]3−

The endohedral stannaspherene cluster anion [Ir@Sn₁₂]^3? was synthesized in two steps. The reaction of K₄Sn₉ with [IrCl(cod)]₂ (cod: 1,5‐cyclooctadienyl) in ethylenediamine (en) solution first yielded the [K(2,2,2‐crypt)]⁺ salt (2,2,2‐crypt: 4,7,13,16,21,24‐hexaoxa‐1,10‐diazabicyclo[8.8.8]hexacosane) of the capped cluster anion [Sn₉Ir(cod)]^3?. Subsequently, crystals of this compound were dissolved in en, followed by the addition of triphenylphosphine or 1,2‐bis(diphenylphosphino)ethane and treatment at elevated temperatures. [Ir@Sn₁₂]^3? was obtained and characterized as the [K(2,2,2‐crypt)]⁺ salt. The isolation of [Sn₉Ir(cod)]^3? as an intermediate product establishes that the formation of the stannaspherene [Ir@Sn₁₂]^3? occurs through the oxidation of [Sn₉Ir(cod)]^3?. Among the structurally characterized tetrel cluster anions, [Ir@Sn₁₂]^3? is a unique example of a stannaspherene, and one of the rare spherical clusters encapsulating a metal atom that is not a member of Group 10. Single‐crystal structure determination shows that the novel Zintl ion cluster has nearly perfect icosahedral I_h point symmetry.     

{μ‐PbSe}: A Heavy CO Homologue as an Unexpected Ligand

Reactions of [K(18‐crown‐6)]₂[Pb₂Se₃] and [K([2.2.2]crypt)]₂[Pb₂Se₃] with [Rh(PPh₃)₃Cl] in en (ethane‐1,2‐diamine) afforded ionic compounds with [Rh₃(PPh₃)₆(μ₃‐Se)₂]^? and [Rh₃(CN)₂(PPh₃)₄(μ₃‐Se)₂(μ‐PbSe)]^3? anions, respectively. The latter contains a PbSe ligand, a rather uncommon homologue of CO that acts as a μ‐bridge between two Rh atoms. Quantum chemical calculations yield a significantly higher bond energy for PbSe than for CO, since the size of the ligand orbitals better matches the comparably rigid Rh‐Se‐Rh angles and the resulting Rh???Rh distance. To rationalize the bent coordination of the ligand, orbitals with significant ligand contributions and their dependence on the bonding angle were investigated in detail.