THE ROLE OF SUBSTITUENTS ON CONFIGURATIONAL ISOMERISM AND GEOMETRY OFADAMANTANE-LIKE [(MU-ER)(6)(MX)(4)](2-) (E = CHALCOGEN, X = HALOGEN) - STRUCTURES OF (ME4N)(2)[(MU-SPH)(6)(ZNX)(4)] (X = CL, BR, I)

The structures of (Me4N)(2)[mu-SPh)(6)(ZnX)(4)] . xMeCN (X = Cl,x = 2 (1); Br, x = 2 (2); I, x = 1.25 (3)) have been determined by single cr ystal X-ray diffraction techniques. This is the first time a complete family of adamantanoid tetrahalo-anions [(mu(-SPh)(6)(MX)(4)](2-) has been characterized structurally. In each anion the configuration (axia l or equatorial) of the phenyl groups in the four six-membered rings i s [aae, aae, aee, aee], corresponding to isomer III. The (mu-S)(6)Zn-4 cage is distorted in each case, but there is little systematic effect on dimensions of the cage as the terminal halogen is varied. Such dif ferences as exist may result from a difference between the space group when X = I and that when X = Cl or Br. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.