Inorganic Chemistry, Vol.42, No.24, 7731-7733, 2003
Preparation and precise structural determination of a second Ga-84 cluster compound. A first hint for cluster doping and its fundamental consequences in the field of chemistry and physics of nanoscaled metalloid cluster material
The Ga84R204- [R = N(SiMe3)(2)] species, which represents the largest metalloid cluster entity structurally characterized so far, has been electronically and topologically modified: Via changing the redox potential of the reaction solution, crystals different from those containing the Ga84R204- anion can be isolated, featuring similar Ga84R203- entities. An accurate crystal structure analysis via synchrotron radiation is presented, which might be the first step toward an understanding of the metallic conductivity and superconductivity of the Ga84R204- cluster compound, physical properties which are singular in the field of metalloid clusters so far.