[Ge8(Mo(CO)3)2]4−: an unprecedented 20-electron empty ten-vertex Zintl cluster

Abstract

The unprecedented ten-vertex Zintl anion with the two vertices occupied by transition metal fragments, [Ge₈(Mo(CO)₃)₂]⁴⁻, has been synthesized and structurally characterized, representing the first example of 20-electron empty ten-vertex Zintl clusters. The two less cluster-bonding electrons result in a markedly distorted bicapped square antiprismatic structure featuring the up-expanded and down-compressed squares.