Complete Structural Characterization by Ab Initio X-Ray Powder Diffraction of [{Re(μ-H)(CO)4}n] and [{Re(μ-H)(CO)4}6], Inorganic Analogues of Polyethylene and Cyclohexane

The combination of lattice-constrained molecular mechanics and ab initio X-ray powder diffraction methods has enabled the full characterization of two novel members of the [{ReH(CO)4}n] family (the structure of [Re6(μ-H)6(CO)24] is depicted), thus demonstrating the existence of a unique series of inorganic analogues of (CH2)n, ranging from “ethylene” to “polyethylene”.