Higher Nuclearity Group 14 Metalloid Clusters: [Sn9{Sn(NRR')}6]

A perfect tin! Two 15-nuclear tin metalloid clusters [Sn15Z6] (Z=N(2,6-iPr2C6H3)(SiMe2X); X=Me, Ph), having an unprecedented body-centered metal core (see picture; only N atoms of the amide ligands shown), were prepared by reduction of the appropriate amidotin(II) chloride with KC8 or Li[BHsBu3]. Mössbauer spectra showed two distinct quadrupole-splitting sites in the ratio of 1.5:1 for the Sn9 atoms and the six amido-bound tin atoms.