Oligonuclear Molecular Models of Intermetallic Phases: A Case Study on [Pd2Zn6Ga2(Cp*)5(CH3)3]

The synthesis, characterization, and theoretical investigation by means of quantum‐chemical calculations of an oligonuclear metal‐rich compound are presented. The reaction of homoleptic dinuclear palladium compound [Pd₂(μ‐GaCp*)₃(GaCp*)₂] with ZnMe₂ resulted in the formation of unprecedented ternary Pd/Ga/Zn compound [Pd₂Zn₆Ga₂(Cp*)₅(CH₃)₃] ( 1 ), which was analyzed by ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy, MS, elemental analysis, and single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction. Compound 1 consisted of two C_s‐symmetric molecular isomers, as revealed by NMR spectroscopy, at which distinct site‐preferences related to the Ga and Zn positions were observed by quantum‐chemical calculations. Structural characterization of compound 1 showed significantly different coordination environments for both palladium centers. Whilst one Pd atom sat in the central of a bi‐capped trigonal prism, thereby resulting in a formal 18‐valence electron fragment, {Pd(ZnMe)₂(ZnCp*)₄(GaMe)}, the other Pd atom occupied one capping unit, thereby resulting in a highly unsaturated 12‐valence electron fragment, {Pd(GaCp*)}. The bonding situation, as determined by atoms‐in‐molecules analysis (AIM), NBO partial charges, and molecular orbital (MO) analysis, pointed out that significant Pd? Pd interactions had a large stake in the stabilization of this unusual molecule. The characterization and quantum‐chemical calculations of compound 1 revealed distinct similarities to related M/Zn/Ga Hume–Rothery intermetallic solid‐state compounds, such as Ga/Zn‐exchange reactions, the site‐preferences of the Zn/Ga positions, and direct M? M bonding, which contributes to the overall stability of the metal‐rich compound.