Unprecedented association of [Mo6Br(i) 7Y(i)Br(a) 6]3- cluster units and [Mo(III)Br6]3- complexes: synthesis, crystal structures, and properties of the double salts Rb3[Mo6Br(i) 7Y(i)Br(a) 6](Rb3[MoBr6])3 (Y=Se, Te).

The double salts Rb(3)[Mo(6)Br(i) (7)Y(i)Br(a) (6)](Rb(3)[MoBr(6)])(3) (Y=Se, Te) result from the partial disproportionation of the Mo(6)Br(12) octahedral-cluster-based bromide, in the presence of corresponding chalcogenides and RbBr salt (crystal data: Rb(12)[MoBr(6)](3)[Mo(6)Br(i) (7)Te(i)Br(a) (6)] (1), Pm$\bar 3$m (No. 221), a=12.1558(2) A, Z=1, R(1)=0.028; wR(2)=0.050; Rb(12)[MoBr(6)](3)[Mo(6)Br(i) (7)Se(i)Br(a) (6)] (2), Pm$\bar 3$m, a=12.144(3) A, Z=1, R(1)=0.028; wR(2)=0.050). The structures of 1 and 2 are built up from [Mo(III)Br(6)](3-) complexes and [Mo(6)Br(i) (7)Y(i)Br(a) (6)](3-) cluster units characterised by a random distribution of seven bromine and one chalcogen ligands on all the eight inner positions that face cap the Mo(6) clusters. Such a distribution implies a static orientational disorder of the [Mo(6)Br(i) (7)Y(i)Br(a) (6)](3-) units around the origin of the unit cell. Close-packed anionic layers based on [Mo(III)Br(6)](3-) complexes and [Mo(6)Br(i) (7)Y(i)Br(a) (6)](3-) cluster units are stacked in the sequence ABC. This arrangement leads to very short Br(a)--Br(a) intercluster unit distances of 3.252 A, much lower than the sum of the van der Waals radii (3.70 A). The trivalent oxidation state of molybdenum in the Mo complexes and 24 valence electrons per Mo(6) cluster have been confirmed by magnetic susceptibility measurements. Salts 1 and 2 constitute the first examples of structurally characterised bromides containing discrete [Mo(III)Br(6)](3-) complexes obtained by means of solid-state synthesis.