Comproportionation Synthesis of Copper(I) Alkynyl Complexes Encapsulating Polyoxomolybdate Templates: Bowl-Shaped Cu33 and Peanut-Shaped Cu62 Nanoclusters

Comproportionation reaction of Cu­(II) salt and copper metallic powder in the presence of tert-butylacetylene (tBuCCH) in methanol at room temperature yielded discrete Cu­(I) tert-butylethynide clusters whose identity depended on the particular co-existing anion employed. Introduction of polyoxomolybdate to the reaction system afforded two new core–shell nanoclusters, [Cu33(tBuCC)24(Mo4O16)]·BF4 (3) and [Cu62(tBuCC)34(Mo5O19)2(MoO4)2(OTf)2(OH)4]·(OTf)2 (4). Complexes 3 and 4 represent the first examples of high-nuclearity Cu­(I) clusters that encapsulate polyoxometalate templates, and the latter features the largest Cu­(I) alkynyl cluster known to date. The present study not only demonstrates a new paradigm for the designed synthesis of Cu­(I) alkynyl clusters but also opens the door to understanding Cu­(I) alkynyl structural chemistry.