The Seven-Component Assembly of the Bowl-Shaped Cages Cp*₇Rh₇(CN)₁₂²⁺and Cp*₇Rh₃Ir₄(CN)₁₂²⁺

Abstract

A novel bowl-shaped cyanometalate cage [Cp*7Rh7(CN)12]2+ (3) forms via the reaction between MeCN solutions of Et4N[Cp*Rh(CN)3] and [Cp*Rh(NCMe)3](PF6)2; this seven-component condensation proceeds in 89% yield. 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopic measurements as well as a single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies show that 3 features a C3v Rh7(CN)9 cage, which can be described as a fragment of a Rh8(CN)12 box.