Fullerene-like Polyoxotitanium Cage with High Solution Stability

We present the formation of the largest titanium–oxo cluster, [Ti42(μ3-O)60(OiPr)42(OH)12)]6–, with the first fullerene-like Ti–O shell structure. The {Ti42O60} core of this compound exemplifies the same icosahedral (I h ) symmetry as C60, the highest possible symmetry for molecules. According to the coordination environments, the Ti centers in this cluster can be arranged into a Platonic {Ti12} icosahedron and an Archimedean {Ti30} icosidodecahedron. The solution stability of this cluster was confirmed by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry. The spherical body of the {Ti42O60} core has an inside diameter of 1.05 nm and an outside diameter of 1.53 nm, which could be directly visualized by high-resolution transmission electron microscopy. Our results demonstrate that titanium oxide can also form fullerene-like shell structures.