title: [Ni5Sb17]4- transition-metal Zintl ion complex: crossing the Zintl border in molecular intermetalloid clusters.
abstract: K3Sb7 and Ni(COD)2 react in the presence of 2,2,2-cryptand in ethylenediamine solutions ( approximately 1:8 Ni/Sb molar ratio) to give dark-brown crystals of the paramagnetic cluster anion [Ni5Sb17]4- as the [K(2,2,2-crypt)]+ salt. The cluster has a Ni(cyclo-Ni4Sb4) ring unit that sits inside a Sb13 bowl. The structure is similar to that of the previously reported [Pd7As16]4- ion containing a Pd(cyclo-Pd4As4) ring unit that sits inside a Pd2As12 bowl. Density functional theory and bond valence analyses suggest delocalized charge distributions and intermetallic-like properties.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA.
authors.forename: Melanie J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Moses
authors.forename: James C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Fettinger
authors.forename: Bryan W
authors.initials: BW
authors.lastname: Eichhorn