The DMSO Solvated octahedro-[W6Cl]Cl Cluster Molecule

Octahedro-hexatungsten octadecachloride, W₆Cl₁₈, is soluble in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO). Brownish black crystals of W₆Cl₁₈(DMSO)₄ are formed from the brown solution by evaporation of DMSO under dynamic vacuum. The compound crystallizes monoclinically in the space group P2₁/n (no. 14) with a = 10.420 Å, b = 9.271 Å, c = 20.828 Å, β = 91.10° and Z = 2. The crystal structure is formed by isolated cluster molecules [W₆Cl]Cl of the hexameric tungsten trichloride and DMSO molecules. It is the first hierarchical variant of the tetragonal BaAl₄ type of structure where all atoms of the intermetallic phase are substituted by neutral molecules. The mean bond lengths are d(W–W) = 2.878 Å, d(W–Clⁱ) = 2.391 Å and d(W–Cl^a) = 2.447 Å. They will be discussed in relation to analogous clusters. The two crystallographically independent DMSO molecules (d(S–O) = 1.53–1.55 Å, d(S–C) = 1.65–1.78 Å) form a 3 D net of condensed < 4⁸6⁴ > dodecahedra which envelopes the clusters.