“Zeoball” [Sn36Ge24Se132]24–: A Molecular Anion with Zeolite-Related Composition and Spherical Shape

Ionothermal reactions of [Ge4Se10]4– with SnCl4·5H2O yielded [BMMIm]24[Sn36Ge24Se132] (ZBT-1) and [BMIm]24[Sn32.5Ge27.5Se132] [ZBT-2; B­(M)­MIm = 1-butyl-(2,)­3-(di)­methylimidazolium]. These contain the largest known discrete polyanion consisting only of main-group elements. In spite of a zeolite-related composition, the 192-atom “zeoball” anion adopts a spherical shape, which has been unprecedented in the chemistry of zeolites and their homologues and relatives. Preliminary studies indicated that ZBT-1 traps I2 molecules and induces heterolytic I–I bond cleavage.