A Nanoscopic Molecular Cadmium Phosphonate Wrapped in a Hydrocarbon Sheath

Abstract

The molecular cadmium phosphonate [(MeCd)10{(thf)Cd}4Cd6(μ4-O)2(μ3-OH)2(tBuPO3)12] (see picture) is unlike all other such Cd compounds, which are polymeric or layered structures. It contains a 68-atom inorganic hollow skeleton made up of twenty cadmium (green), twelve phosphorus (purple), and thirty-six oxygen atoms (red), held together internally by pairs of oxo and hydroxo groups.