A general methodology is presented for the dispersion of an inorganic compound within an organic polymer host through the use of solubilizing and polymerizable ligands. The dispersion of metal cluster cations 10 angstroms in diameter within a polymer host is achieved by free-radical polymerization of the hexafunctional metal cluster [Mo(6)Cl(8)(NVI)(6)](triflate)(4) with bound polymerizable ligands in N-vinylimidazole (NVI) solutions. Copolymerization of the activated cluster-bound ligands with the surrounding medium probably plays a key role in preventing aggregation and produces near monodisperse molecular clusters within the polymer matrix.

Single crystals of Ca 15 (CBN) 6 (C 2 ) 2 H 2 were obtained either by the reaction of stoichiometric amounts of graphite, hexagonal BN, and CaH 2 with an excess of distilled Ca, or by using graphite, boron powder, Ca 3 N 2 , and CaH 2 with an excess of distilled Ca. Both reactions took place in silicajacketed Ta ampoules at 1400 K. Crystals of the title compound are transparent dark-red and isopointal to Ca 15 (CBN) 6 (C 2 ) 2 O adopting the cubic space group Ia3d (no. 230, Z = 8) with the cell parameter a = 1653.30(17) pm. The vibrational spectra were recorded and are compared with IR and Raman data of isotypic compounds.