SYNTHESIS, CHARACTERIZATION AND ELECTROCHEMICAL-BEHAVIOR OF THE [FE4AU(CO)16]N- (N = 1,2,3) CLUSTERS - X-RAY STRUCTURE OF [NME3CH2PH]2[FE4AU(CO)16]CL

The new green [Fe4Au(CO)16]- cluster anion, isolated from the reaction of [Fe3(CO)11]2- with [AuCl4]- salts, displays a bow-tie metal struct ure similar to that of the [Fe4M(CO)16]2- (M = Pd, Pt) dianions; its c hemical and electrochemical reduction sequentially affords the corresp onding [Fe4Au(CO)16]2- and [Fe4Au(CO)16]3- anions, the former of which may be considered as a formal d9 gold(II) complex of the [Fe2(CO)8]2- ligand.