The Heteroleptic Cluster Cation [(W6I8)I3(CH3CN)3]+

Abstract

The iodide-rich compound [(W6I8)I3(CH3CN)3]I9 was synthesized solvothermally from W6I22 and I2 in acetonitrile. The refined crystal structure reveals the presence of the novel heteroleptic cluster cation [(W6I8)I3(CH3CN)3]+ containing the [W6I8]4+ cluster with an octahedral tungsten cluster core, coordinated by three apical iodido and three acetonitrile ligands via cluster vertices. The iodide-rich starting material W6I22 with the addition of I2, produces the heptaiodide ion (I7)– that is present in the structure of [(W6I8)I3(CH3CN)3](I7)·I2. The novelty of this compound is based on the cationic nature of the [(W6I8)I3(CH3CN)3]+ cluster after anionic [(W6I8)I6]2– clusters and their ligand (L) substituted derivatives [(W6I8)L6]2– have been widely reported for their versatile photophysical properties.