[Cu12(NPEt3)8]4+ and [Ag12(NPEt3)8]4+: Cubane Structures

Unusual, highly symmetrical cubes are formed by the dodecameric cationic phosphoraneiminato complexes of copper(I ) and silver(I ) M₁₂(NPEt₃)₈]⁴⁺, in which the metal atoms occupy the edges and the N atoms of NPEt ³⁻₃ groups the corners of the cube (see figure). The structures can be understood as molecular sections of the Cu₃N structure, which is inverse to the ReO₃‐type structure.