Decanuclear cages

Two decanuclear cages have been reported using 2,2 -biphenoxide (biphen) as a ligand (Fig. 17). [Mnio04(biphen)4Xi2] (X = Cl, 42 ... 

The capping atoms in the hexa-, octa-, dodeca-, and octadecanuclear structures listed in Table III all have the same disposition i.e., they are attached to a /u,4-oxo group of the central cubane(s) to complete a tetrahedral coordination geometry about this site. This contrasts with the additional metal sites in the decanuclear cages, where they are attached to ixq-oxo groups which have octahedral geometries. 

Other exceptions are the two decanuclear cages [Ni o(OH)4(mhp)io(02CCMe3)6-(sol)2] (sol = MeOH 61 or H2O 62) [54]. The synthesis and stoichiometry of these cages are similar to those for the series of tricapped-trigonal prisms 10, 13-15 (see Section lb), however, pivalate was used in place of less sterically demanding carboxylates and this results in a less regular structure. Any attempt to describe this structure in terms of butterflies or tetrahedra is extremely contrived. 

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