Discrete and polymeric iodoplumbates with Pb3I10 building blocks: [Pb3I10](4-), [Pb7I22](8-), [Pb10I28](8-), (1)(infinity)[Pb3I10](4-) and (2)(infinity)[Pb7I18](4-)

Iodoplumbate complexes were obtained by reaction of PbI2 with sodium iodide in polar organic solvents and precipitation with large cations. With diamm onium cations [R3N(CH2)(n)NR3](2+) a series of polynuclear iodoplumbates co uld be isolated and characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction. Whil e [Bu3N(CH2)(4)NBu3](2)[Pb3I10] 1, [Bu3N(CH2)(4)NBu3](4)[Pb7I22] 2 and [Bu3 N(CH2)(4)NBu3](4)[Pb10I28] 3 contain discrete anions, the iodoplumbates [Me 3N(CH2)(5)NMe3](2)[Pb3I10] 4 and [Pr3N(CH2)(5)NPr3](2)[Pb7I18] 5 consist of one-dimensional and two-dimensional co-ordination polymers, respectively. The [Pb3I10](4-) anion in 1 can be regarded as a building block for the str uctures of 2, 4, 5 and, slightly modified, of 3. In spite of their related structures and similar compositions, these complexes are formed selectively and in good yield under appropriate reaction and crystallization condition s.