One-pot synthesis of unusual gold(I) cluster [Au 7 (Ph 3 P) 7 @C] 2+ in the presence of the macropolyhedral octadecahydro-eicosaborate anion [B 20 H 18 ] 2–

The reaction between [Au(Ph3P)Cl] and [B20H18]2– in DMF gave unprecedented heptanuclear cationic cluster [Au7(Ph3P)7@C]2+ isolated as [Au7(Ph3P)7@C][B20H18][Au(Ph3P)Cl]·0.5DMF in one step. The final compound was studied by 11B NMR and IR spectroscopies, ESI MS, single-crystal and powder X-ray diffractions. No special reagents were used to obtain central carbon atom in the cluster [Au7(Ph3P)7@C]2+.