Synthesis and reactivity of ferrocenyl functionalized Sn/S cages

Depending on the solvent used, the mono-stannylated FcSnCl(3) (1) reacts with Na(2)S to give ionic [Na(6)(Me(2)CO)(4)(OH(2))(6)] [(FcSn)(3)S(6)](2) (2), with a yet unprecedented thiostannate anion, or the adamantane-type Sn/S-cluster [(FcSn)(4)S(6)] (3). Complex 2 reacts readily with [Ni(acac)(2)], yielding the mixed-metallic complex [{Na(thf)(3.5)}(2){(FcSn)(8)Ni(3)S(16)}]center dot 2THF (4 center dot 2THF); the structures of 1-4 are discussed as well as Mossbauer spectra.