Molecular Cut-Outs of Mo/Zu Hume-Rothery Phases: Synthesis and Structure of [{Mo(CO)4}4(Zn)6(μ-ZnCp*)4]

Zinc in the middle: The reaction of [Mo-(GaCp*)2(CO) 4] and Zn(CH3)2 results in the cluster [{Mo(CO)4}4(Zn)6(μ-ZnCp*) 4] (see picture), the first metalloid cluster with naked zinc atoms as cluster elements. This complex indeed represents a molecular cut-out of a Mo/Zn alloy, which is not only substantiated by similar interatomic distances but by direct comparison of coordination environments of the metal atoms. (Figure Presented). © 2008 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA.