Magnetic properties and EPR spectroscopy of molecular metal clusters

The magnetic properties of molecular metal cluster compounds resemble those of small metal particles in the metametallic size regime. Even-electron metal carbonyl clusters with 10 or more metal atoms are paramagnetic, because their frontier orbital separations of less than 1 eV lead to high-spin electronic configurations. The rhodium cluster Rh₁₇S₂(CO)₃₂]^3? gives EPR below 200 K withg=2.04, the first example of this type of paramagnetism in an even-electron carbonyl cluster of this 4d metal. Its spectral parameters are compared with those of osmium carbonyl clusters and some significant differences highlighted. Attempts have also been made to generate radical cations from lower-nuclearity, diamagnetic molecular clusters such as Rh₆(CO)₁₆ by chemical oxidation in sulphuric acid. An EPR active species (g=2.09) believed to be Rh₆(CO)₁₆]⁺ has been obtained.