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The design of metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) that incorporate more than one metal cluster constituent is a challenging task. Conventional one‐pot reaction protocols require judicious selection of ligand and metal ion precursors, yet remain unpredictable. Stable, preformed nanoclusters, with ligand shells that can undergo additional coordination‐driven reactions, provide a platform for assembling multi‐cluster solids with precision. Herein, a discrete Co6S8(PTA)6 (PTA=1,3,5‐triaza‐7‐phosphaadamantane) superatomic‐metalloligand is assembled into a three‐dimensional (3D) coordination polymer comprising Cu4I4 secondary building units (SBUs). The resulting heterobimetallic framework (1) contains two distinct cluster constituents and bifunctional PTA linkers. Solid‐state diffuse reflectance studies reveal that 1 is an optical semiconductor with a band‐gap of 1.59 eV. Framework‐modified electrodes exhibit reversible redox behavior in the solid state arising from the Co6S8 superatoms, which remain intact during framework synthesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we have developed a method to create Co6Se8 superatoms in which we program the metal-ligand bonds. We exclusively form the Co6Se8 core under simple reaction conditions with a facile separation of products that contain differential substitution of the core. The combination of Co2(CO)8 and PR3 with excess Se gives the differentially and directionally substituted superatoms, Co6Se8(CO)x(PR3)(6-x). The CO groups on the superatom can be exchanged quantitatively with phosphines and isonitriles. Substitution of the CO allows us to manipulate the type and length of chemical bridge between two redox-active superatomic centers in order to modulate intersuperatomic coupling. Linking two superatoms together allows us to form the simplest superatom molecule: a diatomic molecule. We extend the superatom molecule concept to link three superatoms together in a linear arrangement to form acyclic triatomic molecules. These superatom molecules have a rich electrochemical profile and chart a clear path to a whole family of superatom molecules with new and unusual collective properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]