An Inorganic-Organic Hybrid Composite Featuring Metal-Chalcogenide Clusters

The cluster complex, Re₆( ₃-Se)₈(PEt₃)₅(4-vinylpyridine)(SbF₆)₂ (1), featuring the face-capped octahedral Re₆( ₃-Se)₈²⁺ cluster core and site-differentiating triethylphosphine and 4-vinylpyridine ligands has been synthesized and structurally characterized. The complex crystallized in monoclinic space group P2₁ with a=11.748(1)Å, b=15.1212(2)Å, c=19.941(2)Å, =90°, =94.411(3)°, =90°, V=3531.8(7)ų, Z=2, R1=0.0531, wR2=0.0774. Copolymerization of styrene with 1 via the polymerizable 4-vinylpyridine ligand afforded a novel inorganic-organic hybrid composite of high molecular weight and a low polydispersity index. Structural integrity of the cluster building block is maintained upon hybrid formation.