Halide-ion-templated Ag8Cu6 rhombic dodecahedrons: synthesis, structure and reactivity of [Ag8Cu6(C=CtBu)(12)X]BF4 (X = Cl, Br)

Halide-templated tert-butylethynide Ag 14 complexes undergo reversible exchange with copper(i) to afford a series of mixed Ag 14-n Cu n (n = 1-6) species. Up to six silver atoms in the cluster can be replaced with copper(i) to give a core structure featuring a Ag 8 Cu 6 rhombic dodecahedron. These clusters are useful models for investigating the chemical reactivity and photoluminescence of heterometallic d 10 -d 10 systems.