Aggregation of chiral hexanuclear complex-cations into cationic metallosupramolecules with concomitant aggregation of inorganic counter-anions into anionic clusters

A chiral (Au4Co2III)-Co-I hexanuclear complex, [Au4Co2(dppe)(2)(D-pen)(4)] X-2 (X = Cl-, ClO4-), was prepared from a digold( I) metalloligand, [Au-2(dppe)(D-Hpen)(2)], in combination with Co-III. In the crystal, complex-cations and counter-anions of this complex were found to aggregate separately to form big cationic metallosupramolecular octahedrons and amazing adamantane-like anionic clusters, respectively.