The direct reactions
of homometallic [Ni
6
(CO)
12
]
2–
and [Pt
6
(CO)
12
]
2–
Chini
carbonyl clusters result in heterometallic Ni–Pt Chini-type
clusters of the general formula [Pt
6–
x
Ni
x
(CO)
12
]
2–
(
x
= 0–6). Their molecular structures have
been determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction (SC-XRD), showing
a common octahedral (staggered,
D
3
d
) structure analogous to that of [Ni
6
(CO)
12
]
2–
, whereas [Pt
6
(CO)
12
]
2–
displays a trigonal-prismatic (eclipsed,
D
3
h
) structure. This structural
change after replacing one single Pt with Ni may be classified as
an alloying effect, and it has been theoretically investigated by
DFT methods. Spectroscopic (IR and
195
Pt and
13
C NMR) and ESI-MS studies indicate that mixtures of [Pt
6–
x
Ni
x
(CO)
12
]
2–
(
x
= 0–6) clusters are actually
present in solution, whose compositions may be varied in an almost
continuous way. Thus, they may be viewed as random alloy clusters
whose overall compositions depend on the stoichiometry of the reagents.