Formation and Structural Diversity of Organo-Functionalized Tin-Silver Selenide Clusters

Selective replacement of organosilicon units in the cluster [(PhSi)4S6] with coinage metal complex fragments

Adamantane-type organo-group 14 chalcogenide clusters were shown to possess extreme non-linear optical properties. Reactivity studies of corresponding organosilicon sulfide clusters towards copper and silver complexes indicate a replacement of exactly one of the organosilicon groups with a metal complex fragment to form [(Et₃PAg)₃(PhSi)₃S₆] (1) and [Na₂(thf)_2.33][(Me₃PCu)(PhSi)₃S₆] (2)-in striking contrast to reactions of organotin chalcogenide clusters, which are more significantly and less systematically re-organized. The silicon compounds are thus more suited for controlled modifications of their geometric and electronic structures.

Systematic Access of Ternary Organotetrel-Copper Chalcogenide Clusters by [PhTE3 ]3- Anions (T=Si, Sn; E=S, Se)

Fragmentation reactions of organotetrel chalcogenide heteroadamantane-type clusters [(PhT)4 E6 ] (T/E=Si/S (1); Si/Se; Sn/S, and Sn/Se) by addition of the corresponding sodium chalcogenide gave salts of the general formula Na3 [PhTE3 ], with T/E=Si/S (2); Si/Se (3); Sn/S (A); Sn/Se (4). Reaction of these salts with [Cu(PPh3 )3 Cl] gave a series of organotetrel-copper chalcogenide clusters [(CuPPh3 )6 (PhTE3 )2 ] with T/E=Si/S; (5), Si/Se (6), Sn/S (7) and Sn/Se (8). Compounds 5-8 share a common structural motif with two intact {PhTE3 } units coordinating a Cu6 moiety, which was previously reported with other ligands, and for the Sn and Ge congeners only. If the Sn/Se reaction system was allowed to crystallize more slowly, single crystals of compound [(CuPPh3 )6 (PhSnSe3 )3 Cu3 SnSe] (9) were obtained, which are based on a larger cluster structure. Hence, 9 might form from 8 through incorporation of additional cluster fragments. The experimentally and quantum chemically determined optical properties were compared to related clusters.

Current advances in tin cluster chemistry

This perspective summarizes highlights and most recent advances in tin cluster chemistry, thereby addressing the whole diversity of (mostly) discrete units containing tin atoms. Although being a (semi-)metallic element, tin is in the position to occur both in formally positive or negative oxidation states in these molecules, which causes a broad range of fundamentally different properties of the corresponding compounds. Tin(iv) compounds are not as oxophilic and not as prone to hydrolysis as related Si or Ge compounds, hence allowing for easier handling and potential application. Nevertheless, their reactivity is high due to an overall reduction of bond energies, which makes tin clusters interesting candidates for functional compounds. Beside aspects that point towards bioactivity or even medical applications, materials composed of naked or ligand-protected tin clusters, with or without bridging ligands, show interesting optical, and ion/molecule-trapping properties.

Variations in the Interplay of Intermetallic and Metal Chalcogenide Units in Organotin-Copper Selenide Clusters

We report the formation and structures of two new organotin-copper selenide clusters that were obtained in a two-step procedure. First, [(R¹Sn)₄Se₆] [R¹ = CMe₂CH₂C(O)Me] is reacted with [Cu(PPh₃)₃Cl] and (SiMe₃)₂Se to form a bright-orange powder, the nature of which could not be identified in detail, yet a suspension of it in CH₂Cl₂ reacts with N₂H₄·H₂O to afford single crystals of two cluster compounds, either [(Cu₃Sn){(R²Sn)₂Se₄}₂{(R²Sn₂)Se₃}] (1) or [(N₂H₄)(Cu₄Sn){(R²Sn)₂Se₄}₃] [2; R² = CMe₂CH₂C(NNH₂)Me]. Both are based on an intermetallic Cu_xSn cluster core (x = 3, 4), which is surrounded by organotin selenide units in different fashions. The results foster the assumption of a complex equilibrium to be present in according reaction mixtures.

[{(PhSn)3SnS6}{(MCp)3S4}] (M = W, Mo): Minimal Molecular Models of the Covalent Attachment of Metal Chalcogenide Clusters on Doped Transition Metal Dichalcogenide Layers

With the aim to mimic the yet unknown covalent deposition of metal chalcogenide clusters on transition metal dichalcogenide (TMDC) MoS₂ or WS₂ layers, and thereby explore the interaction between the two systems and potential consequences on physical properties of the TMDC material, we synthesized heterobimetallic model systems. The heterocubane-type cluster [(SnCl₃)(WCp)₃S₄] (1), the organotin-sulfidomolybdate cluster [{(PhSn)₃SnS₆}{(MoCp)₃S₄}] (2), and the corresponding tungstate [(PhSn)₃SnS₆{(WCp)₃S₄}] (3) were obtained in ligand exchange reactions from [(PhSn)₄S₆] and [M(CO)₃CpCl]. Indeed, the {M₃S₄} cages in 1-3 resemble a section of the respective TMDC monolayers, altogether representing minimal molecular model systems for the adsorption of organotin sulfide clusters on MoS₂ or WS₂. The interaction between the {(MCp)₃S₄} and {(PhSn)₃SnS₆} subunits is characterized by multicenter bonding, rendering the respective Sn atom as Sn(II), hence driving the clusters into a mixed-valence Sn(IV)/Sn(II) situation, and the M atoms as M(IV) upon an in situ redox process. The attachment is thus weaker than via regular covalent M-S bonds, but definitely stronger than via van der Waals interactions that have been characteristic for all known interactions of clusters on TMDC surfaces so far. Computational analyses of an extended model mimicking the electronic situation in the cluster prove the analogy to a covalent attachment on TMDCs.

Recent advances in the self-assembly of polynuclear metal–selenium and –tellurium compounds from 14–16 reagents

The use of reagents containing bonds between group 14 elements and Se or Te for the self-assembly of polynuclear metal–chalcogen compounds is covered. Background material is briefly reviewed and examples from the literature are highlighted from the period 2007–2017. Emphasis is placed on the different classes of 14–16 precursors and their application in the targeted synthesis of metal–chalcogen compounds. The unique properties arising from the combination of specific 14–16 precursors, metal atoms, and ancillary ligands are also described. Selected examples are chosen to underline the progress in (i) controlled synthesis of heterometallic (ternary) chalcogen clusters, (ii) chalcogen clusters with organic functionalized surfaces, and (iii) crystalline open-framework metal chalcogenides.

Organotin Selenide Clusters and Hybrid Capsules

Several compounds with unique structural motifs that have already been known from organotin sulfide chemistry, but remained unprecedented in organotin selenide chemistry so far, have been synthesized. The reaction of [(R¹ Sn)₄ Se₆ ] (R¹ =CMe₂ CH₂ C(O)Me) with N₂ H₄ ⋅H₂ O/(SiMe₃ )₂ Se and PhN₂ H₃ /(SiMe₃ )₂ Se led to the formation of [{(R² Sn)₂ SnSe₄ }₂ (μ-Se)₂ ] (1; R² =CMe₂ CH₂ C(Me)NNH₂ ) and [{(R³ Sn)₂ SnSe₄ }₂ (μ-Se)₂ ] (2; R³ =CMe₂ CH₂ C(Me)NNPhH)). The addition of ortho-phthalaldehyde to [(R² Sn)₄ Se₆ ] yielded a cluster with intramolecular bridging of the organic groups, namely, [(R⁴ Sn₂ )₂ Se₆ ] (3; R⁴ =(CMe₂ CH₂ C(Me)NNCH)₂ C₆ H₄ ). The introduction of organic ligands with longer chains finally allowed the isolation of inorganic-organic capsules of the type [(μ-R)₃ (Sn₃ Se₄ )₂ ]X₂ , with R=(CMe₂ CH₂ C(Me)NNHC(O))₂ (CH₂ )₄ and X=[SnC₃ ], Cl (4 a, b) or R=CMe₂ CH₂ C(Me)NNH)₂ and X=[SnCl₃ ] (5). The capsules enclose solvent molecules and/or anions as guests. All compounds were characterized by means of single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies, NMR spectroscopy, and mass spectrometry.