CR6TE8(PET3)6 AND A MOLECULE-BASED SYNTHESIS OF CR3TE4

The molecular cluster compound Cr6Te8(PEt3)6 (1) is formed by the reac tion of TePEt3 with either (Et3P)2Cr(allyl)2 or Cr(2,4-dimethylpentadi enyl)2. This compound can be converted to the extended inorganic solid state compound Cr3Te4 by simple thermolysis. We have determined the s tructure of the title compound crystallographically (monoclinic; a = 1 3.076(5) angstrom, b = 21.194(7) angstrom, c = 23.694(7) angstrom, bet a = 105.21(5)degrees, V = 6276(10) angstrom3, Z = 4). The molecule is formed by a Cr6 octahedron, a Te8 cube, and a (PEt3)6 octahedron, all of which are concentric. We compare and contrast the structure and pro perties of the cluster with those of related solid-state compounds.