A distorted tetrahedral metal oxide cluster inside an icosahedral carbon cage. Synthesis, isolation, and structural characterization of Sc4(mu3-O)2@Ih-C80.
The remarkably large cluster Sc4(mu3-O)2 has been obtained trapped inside an Ih-C80 cage by conducting the vaporization of graphite rods doped with copper(II) nitrate and scandium(III) oxide in an electric arc under a low pressure helium atmosphere with an added flow of air. The product has been isolated by chromatography and identified by high-resolution mass spectrometry. The structure of Sc4(mu3-O)2@Ih-C80 has been determined by X-ray crystallography on a crystal of Sc4(mu3-O)2@Ih-C80.NiII(OEP).2(C6H6). The Sc4(mu3-O)2 unit consists of a distorted tetrahedron of scandium atoms with oxygen atoms bridging two of its faces. The Sc-Sc distances range from 2.946(7) to 3.379(7) A.
Stevenson
Steven
S
Department of Chemistry, University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, Mississippi 39406, USA. steven.stevenson@usm.edu
Mackey
Mary A
MA
Stuart
Melissa A
MA
Phillips
J Paige
JP
Easterling
Michael L
ML
Chancellor
Christopher J
CJ
Olmstead
Marilyn M
MM
Balch
Alan L
AL