Synthesis of inorganic fullerene-like molecules

Junfeng Bai; Alexander V Virovets; Manfred Scheer

doi:10.1126/science.1081119

Synthesis of inorganic fullerene-like molecules

Science. 2003 May 2;300(5620):781-3. doi: 10.1126/science.1081119.

Authors

Junfeng Bai¹, Alexander V Virovets, Manfred Scheer

Affiliation

¹ Coordination Chemistry Institute & the State Key Laboratory of Coordination Chemistry, Nanjing University, 210093 Nanjing, People's Republic of China.

PMID: 12730597
DOI: 10.1126/science.1081119

Abstract

The reaction of [Cp*Fe(eta5-P5)] with Cu(I)Cl in solvent mixtures of CH2Cl2/CH3CN leads to the formation of entirely inorganic fullerene-like molecules of the formula [[Cp*Fe(eta5:eta1:eta1:eta1:eta1:eta1-P5)]12[CuCl]10[Cu2Cl3]5[Cu(CH3CN)2]5] (1) possessing 90 inorganic core atoms. This compound represents a structural motif similar to that of C60: cyclo-P5 rings of [Cp*Fe(eta5-P5)] molecules are surrounded by six-membered P4Cu2 rings that result from the coordination of each of the phosphorus lone pairs to CuCl metal centers, which are further coordinated by P atoms of other cyclo-P5 rings. Thus, five- and six-membered rings alternate in a manner comparable to that observed in the fullerene molecules. The so-formed half shells are joined by [Cu2Cl3]- as well as by [Cu(CH3CN)2]+ units. The spherical body has an inside diameter of 1.25 nanometers and an outside diameter of 2.13 nanometers, which is about three times as large as that of C60.