The triangular clusters [Zn3Cp*3](+) and [Zn2CuCp*3] were obtained by addition of the in situ generated, electrophilic, and isolobal species [ZnCp*](+) and [CuCp*] to Carmona's compound, [Cp*Zn-ZnCp*], without splitting the ZnZn bond. The choice of non-coordinating fluoroaromatic solvents was crucial. The bonding situations of the all-hydrocarbon-ligand-protected clusters were investigated by quantum chemical calculations revealing a high degree of σ-aromaticity similar to the triatomic hydrogen ion [H3](+). The new species serve as molecular building units of Cu(n)Zn(m) nanobrass clusters as indicated by LIFDI mass spectrometry.

The first example of ligand protected Cu-Zn clusters is described. Reaction of [CpCu(CN(t)Bu)] with [Zn2Cp*2] yields [(CuCN(t)Bu)4(ZnCp*)4] (1a) and [(CuCN(t)Bu)4(ZnCp*)3(ZnCp)] (1b). According to DFT calculations, the [Cu4Zn4] unit fulfils the unified superatom model for cluster valence shell closing.

Zn-Cp* bond cleavage reactions leading to novel monovalent cationic zinc species are presented (Cp* = pentamethylcyclopentadienyl). The treatment of [Zn2Cp*2] with two equiv. of [H(Et2O)2][BAr4(F)] (BAr4(F) = B{C6H3(CF3)2}4) yields the triple-decker complex [Cp*3Zn4(Et2O)2][BAr4(F)] (1) via protolytic removal of a Cp* ligand as Cp*H, whereas the reaction with an equimolar amount of [FeCp2][BAr4(F)] (Cp = cyclopentadienyl) results in the formation of [Cp*Zn2(Et2O)3][BAr4(F)] (2) under oxidative cleavage of a Cp* ring giving decamethylfulvalene, (Cp*)2, and [FeCp2] as by-products. The molecular structures of compounds 1 and 2 are established by single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies. A new synthetic pathway for the formation of [Zn2Cp*2] based on the reductive elimination of Cp*H from in situ formed Cp*ZnH is presented.

The isoelectronic M7 clusters [Cu3Zn4](Cp*)5 and {[Cu2Zn5](Cp*)5}+ were isolated as unique species pushing the boundaries of the Wade–Mingos rules.

The bottom-up synthesis of organometallic zinc clusters is described. The cation {[Zn10](Cp*)6 Me}(+) (1) is obtained by reacting [Zn2 Cp*2] with [FeCp2][BAr4 (F)] in the presence of ZnMe2. In the presence of suitable ligands, the high reactivity of 1 enables the controlled abstraction of single Zn units, providing access to the lower-nuclearity clusters {[Zn9 ](Cp*)6} (2) and {[Zn8 ](Cp*)5 ((t) BuNC)3}(+) (3). According to DFT calculations, 1 and 2 can be described as closed-shell species that are electron-deficient in terms of the Wade-Mingos rules because the apical ZnCp* units that constitute the cluster cage do not have three, but only one, frontier orbitals available for cluster bonding. Zinc behaves flexibly in building the skeletal metal-metal bonds, sometimes providing one major frontier orbital (like Group 11 metals) and sometimes providing three frontier orbitals (like Group 13 elements).

The synthesis and characterization of the cationic mixed metal Ga/Zn cluster [Zn2(GaCp*)6](2+) (1) is presented. The reaction of [Zn2Cp*2] with [Ga2Cp*][BAr4(F)] leads to the formation of the novel complex being the first example of a [Zn2](2+) core exclusively ligated by metalloid group-13 organyl-ligands. Compound 1 exhibits two different coordination modes: In the solid state, two of the six GaCp* ligands occupy bridging positions, whereas VT (1)H NMR indicates the coexistence of a second isomer in solution featuring six terminal GaCp* ligands. Quantum chemical calculations have been carried out to assign the gallium and zinc positions; the bonding situation in 1 is characterized and the importance of dispersion forces is discussed.

The synthesis and characterisation of the solvent-stabilized salt [Zn2(THF)6](2+)[BAr4(F)]2(-) (1) is presented, which features the dizinc dication [Zn2](2+) as an analogue of the calomel dication [Hg2](2+). The labile tetrahydrofuran (THF) solvate molecules of 1 can be readily substituted by other ligands. Reaction with the strong donor ligand PMe3 (Me = CH3) leads to the Zn(ii) complex [Zn(PMe3)4](2+)[BAr4(F)]2(-) by disproportionation, while the π-acceptor-ligand phenylisocyanide (PhNC) gives the substitution product [Zn2(PhNC)6](2+)[BAr4(F)]2(-) (2) with an intact Zn-Zn bond.

A well-controlled three-step green synthetic method allows the synthesis of composite materials based on the highly stable chromium(III) terephthalate MIL-101(Cr) with gold nanoparticles (NPs) and polyoxometalates (POMs) inside its mesopores. First, the POM was included within the MIL-101(Cr) cavities through the direct synthesis of MIL-101(Cr) in the presence of the preformed H 3 PMo 12 O 40 POM. Then, the incorporated POM was reduced in situ with H 2 . Finally, an in-situ soft reduction of HAuCl 4 by the reduced POM led to the formation of Au NPs and oxidized POM within the MIL-101(Cr) structure