“Reverse” engineering: Toward 0-D cadmium halide clusters

Crystal structures having distinct structural motifs (0-D, 1-D, 2-D), are reported—the results of reactions of ortho-substituted phenylamines with cadmium halide salts. The aim of the study was to control the size and dimensionality of Cd(II) halide assemblies by changing the steric demands of the ortho substituents. The ultimate goal of the research is to synthesize cadmium halide clusters using rational and predictable methods. To this end, the synthesis and crystal structure of a new Cd3Cl126−cluster are also reported.