A two-dimensional polydodecameric water–chloride cluster enfolding (Hg–Cl–Hg)+ concealed cascade cryptate

Abstract

An intriguing phenomenon of a hitherto unknown type of cavity induced “reductive encapsulation” using Hg(II) and a homoditopic octaaza cryptand is described. The crystal structure of the complex offers a new type of grid-like polydodecameric water–chloride cluster, {[(H₂O)₁₂(Cl)]¹⁻}_n, that renders the highest number of water molecules per chloride reported thus far.