Synthesis and X-ray crystal structure of the novel high nuclearity rhodium-cluster dianion [Rh14(µ-CO)15(CO)11]2–

Abstract

An X-ray crystallographic study has shown that the novel dianion [Rh₁₄(CO)₂₆]^2–, which has been isolated from the products obtained in the pyrolysis of Na₂[Rh₁₃H₃(CO)₂₄] or of mixtures of Rh₄(CO)₁₂ and NaOH in propan-2-ol at reflux, contains a metal atom cluster, with one interstitial metal atom, which can be described as intermediate between a compact close-packed and a body-centred cubic array.