INTERCALATION OF LARGE CLUSTER CATIONS IN TAS2

Optimum conditions for the formation of stable dispersions of NaxTaS2 in N-methylformamide-water mixtures have been determined. Under approp riate conditions, the addition of large guest cations to these dispers ions results in instantaneous flocculation and the formation of ordere d intercalation compounds. The method has been used to prepare interca lation compounds with cobaltocenium cations, Al and Ga polyoxycations, and a large iron-sulfur cluster cation. Powder X-ray diffraction data from oriented films of the samples were used to obtain one-dimensiona l projections of the electron density perpendicular to the layers. The se electron-density maps provided information on the orientation of th e guest species in the interlamellar space.