Recently, we expanded the organometallic chemistry of octahedral rhenium chalcogenide clusters through the synthesis and study of some Re₆ cluster complexes containing σ-bound phenylacetylide. The complexes prepared include [Re₆Se₈(PEt₃)₅(C≡CPh)](SbF₆) and cis- and trans-[Re₆Se₈(PEt₃)₄(C≡CPh)₂]. The nature of the cluster-acetylide bond was then interrogated by examining the reactivity of [Re₆Se₈(PEt₃)₅(C≡CPh)](SbF₆) with activated alkenes and various electrophilic reagents. We are now in the process of expanding upon the chemistry of these complexes, by synthesizing [Re₆Se₈]²⁺ clusters containing para-substituted phenylacetylide ligands. We are interested in using these clusters for electrochemical and photophysical studies, and this presentation will specifically focus on the synthesis and full characterization of the following series of complexes: [Re₆Se₈(PEt₃)₅(C≡C-C₆H₄-X)](SbF₆) (where X = -NO₂, -C(O)OMe, -CH₃, and -OCH₃).

Katherine Helmink

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