The formation of ReS(2) inorganic fullerene-like structures containing Re(4) parallelogram units and metal-metal bonds.

The encapsulation of ReO(x) within ReS(2) inorganic fullerene-like cages is described for the first time. The encapsulate was prepared by the sulfidization of both hand-milled and ball-milled samples of ReO(2); partial conversion of the oxide to the sulfide was achieved with the degree of sulfidization depending on the exposure to the sulfidizing agent, H(2)S.