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Science 2 May 2003:
Vol. 300. no. 5620, pp. 781 - 783
DOI: 10.1126/science.1081119
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Reports

Synthesis of Inorganic Fullerene-Like Molecules

Junfeng Bai,1 Alexander V. Virovets,2 Manfred Scheer3*

The reaction of [Cp*Fe({eta}5-P5)] with Cu(I)Cl in solvent mixtures of CH2Cl2/CH3CN leads to the formation of entirely inorganic fullerene-like molecules of the formula [{Cp*Fe({eta}5:{eta}1:{eta}1:{eta}1:{eta}1:{eta}1-P5)}12{CuCl}10{Cu2Cl3}5{Cu(CH3CN)2}5] (1) possessing 90 inorganic core atoms. This compound represents a structural motif similar to that of C60: cyclo-P5 rings of [Cp*Fe({eta}5-P5)] molecules are surrounded by six-membered P4Cu2 rings that result from the coordination of each of the phosphorus lone pairs to CuCl metal centers, which are further coordinated by P atoms of other cyclo-P5 rings. Thus, five- and six-membered rings alternate in a manner comparable to that observed in the fullerene molecules. The so-formed half shells are joined by [Cu2Cl3]– as well as by [Cu(CH3CN)2]+ units. The spherical body has an inside diameter of 1.25 nanometers and an outside diameter of 2.13 nanometers, which is about three times as large as that of C60.

1 Coordination Chemistry Institute & the State Key Laboratory of Coordination Chemistry, Nanjing University, 210093 Nanjing, People's Republic of China.
2 Institute of Inorganic Chemistry, Siberian Division of RAS, Acad. Lavrentyev str. 3, Novosibirsk 630090, Russia.
3 Institut für Anorganische Chemie der Universität Karlsruhe, D-76128 Karlsruhe, Germany.

* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: mascheer{at}chemie.uni-karlsruhe.de

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