Heterometallic cubane-type clusters containing group 13 and 16 elements.

Heterometallic cubane-type clusters were synthesized from the reaction of group 6 and 8 metallaboranes using transition-metal carbonyl compounds. Structural and spectroscopic study revealed the existence of novel "capped-cubane" geometry. In addition, the crystal structure of these clusters distinctly confirms the presence of boride unit as one of the vertices. These clusters possess 60 cluster valence electrons (cve) and six metal--metal bonds. A plausible pathway for the formation of ruthenium-capped cubane has been described. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]