Novel aspects in the coordination chemistry of mixed group 15/16 cage molecules

Cage molecules with mixed group 15 (E = P, As) and group 16 elements (Q = S, Se) are versatile ligands in coordination chemistry. The introduction of solid-state techniques allows one to extend the coordination flexibility of the cage molecules and to realize new coordination modes. The use of P4S3 or As4S3 as building blocks in copper(I) halide networks has initiated a new kind of “soft” solid-state chemistry, in which solutions of binary inorganic cage molecules are transferred into one-, two- or three-dimensional polymers. This strategy has been stimulated by the existence of competitive phosphorus, arsenic and sulfur coordination sites in the cage molecules.