Bridging the gap between coordination and cluster compounds: unusual bonding modes for zinc.
Inner virtue: The reaction of [Mo(0)(GaCp*)(6)] with ZnMe(2) yields the novel multinuclear zinc system [MoZn(12)Me(9)Cp*(3)] which geometrically resembles a classical Wade-Mingos cluster (with an interstitial molybdenum atom, see picture). In reality, its electronic structure features little direct Zn-Zn bonding, relying instead on Mo-Zn three-center, two-electron bonds spanning the body diagonals of the approximately icosahedral framework.
School of Chemistry, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham, NG7 2RD, UK. deborah.kays@nottingham.ac.uk
Deborah L
DL
Kays
Simon
S
Aldridge