A Five-Membered Ru5 Ring in a Hexagonal La14 Cage: The La14Cl20Ru5 Structure

The title compound features a five-membered Ru(5) ring embedded in a La(14) hexagonal wheel-like cage, an incommensurate combination of the two building units. A formal electron partition of (La(3+))(14)(Cl(-))(20)(Ru(5))(22-) results in a (Ru(5))(22-) ring isoelectronic to (Cd(5))(2-). However, computational studies show that there is significant electron back-donation from the Ru(5) ring to the La(14) wheel. This interaction strongly stabilizes the Ru(5) ring. The resistivity and magnetic susceptibility of the compound have also been investigated.