Crystal structure of [Th(3)(Cp*)(3)(O)(OH)(3)](2)Cl(2)(N(3))(6): a discrete mol-ecular capsule built from multinuclear organothorium cluster cations.

An unusually large and structurally complex charge-neutral polynuclear cluster, hexa-μ(2)-azido-di-μ(3)-chlorido-hexa-μ(2)-hydroxido-di-μ(3)-oxido-hexa-kis-(penta-methyl-cyclo-penta-dien-yl)hexa-thorium-diethyl ether-tetra-hydro-furan (1/0.56/1.44), [Th(3)(C(10)H(15))(6)Cl(3)(N(3))(6)(OH)(6)O(2)]·0.56C(4)H(10)O·1.44C(4)H(8)O or [Th(3)(Cp*)(3)(O)(OH)(3)](2)Cl(2)(N(3))(6)·0.56C(4)H(10)O·1.44C(4)H(8)O (Cp* = [penta-methyl-cyclo-penta-dien-yl])(-), has been crystallized as a mixed tetra-hydro-furan/diethyl ether solvate and structurally characterized. The mol-ecule contains a number of unusual features, the most notable being a finite yet exceptionally long cyclic metal-azido chain. These rare features are the consequence of both sterically protecting Cp* ligands and highly bridging oxide and hydroxide ligands in the same system and illustrate the inter-esting new possibilities that can arise from combining organometallic and solvothermal f-block element chemistry.