Synthesis and X-ray structure of the [Ni13Sb2(CO)24]n–(n= 2,3,4) cluster anions containing an icosahedral [Ni11Sb2(CO)18]n– moiety behaving as a distibine ligand and displaying an unexpected electron count

Abstract

The new [Ni₁₃Sb₂(CO)₂₄]^n–(n= 2,3,4) cluster anions have been isolated from the reaction of [Ni₆(CO)₁₂]^2– with SbCl₃: their structures (n= 2,3) have been elucidated by X-ray diffraction studies and consist of Ni-centred Icosahedral [Ni₁₁Sb₂(CO)₁₈]^n– moieties which display an unexpected electron count and formally behave as ‘exotic’ distibine bridging ligands.