Copper Chalcogenolate Complexes as Precursors to Ternary Nanoclusters: Synthesis and Characterization of [Hg15Cu20S25(nPr3P)18]

Abstract

Phosphane-stabilized copper – mercury – sulfide clusters have been prepared with a powerful strategy for the formation of ternary clusters and colloids. A series of terminal copper – (trimethylsilyl)chalcogenolate complexes 1 have been synthesized and treatment of 1 a with Hg(OAc)2 at low temperatures results in the formation of the polynuclear complex [Hg15Cu20S25(nPr3P)18] in good yield. 1 a, E=S; 1 b, E=Se; 1 c, E=Te.