This project in the Inorganic, Bioinorganic and Organometallic Chemistry Program is concerned with the chemistry of the so-called post transition elements, which include selenium, tellurium, arsenic and tin. Anionic clusters of these elements, i.e. clusters of atoms with negative charges, have been known for some time, but little is known about the chemistry of these clusters. The focus of the project is the reactions of these clusters with transition metals, such as chromium and niobium, to form a variety of unusual new mixed-element clusters. The new species are of interest because they are soluble precursors of new materials, and because they pose interesting challenges to existing bonding theories. The reactions of post transition element cluster anions, such as the triselenide, the tetratelluride and the nonastannide ions, with transition metal complexes will be investigated. The goal is to prepare new cluster anions containing both transition and main group elements. Strategies will be developed for stabilizing the cluster anions in solution, such as the introduction of carbon as a heterovertex atom. For the preparation of the target clusters the reactions of main group anionic clusters with transition metal halides and with a variety of organometallic compounds will be investigated.
