“Zeoball” [Sn₃₆Ge₂₄Se₁₃₂]^24–: A Molecular Anion with Zeolite-Related Composition and Spherical Shape

Abstract

Ionothermal reactions of [Ge(4)Se(10)](4-) with SnCl(4)·5H(2)O yielded [BMMIm](24)[Sn(36)Ge(24)Se(132)] (ZBT-1) and [BMIm](24)[Sn(32.5)Ge(27.5)Se(132)] [ZBT-2; B(M)MIm = 1-butyl-(2,)3-(di)methylimidazolium]. These contain the largest known discrete polyanion consisting only of main-group elements. In spite of a zeolite-related composition, the 192-atom "zeoball" anion adopts a spherical shape, which has been unprecedented in the chemistry of zeolites and their homologues and relatives. Preliminary studies indicated that ZBT-1 traps I(2) molecules and induces heterolytic I-I bond cleavage.