Alkali metal-templated assembly of cyanometalate 'boxes' (NEt4)3(M(Cp*Rh(CN)3)4(Mo(CO)3)4) (M = K, Cs). Selective binding of Cs+

A soluble cubic cyanometalate framework that binds metal cations particularly Cs+ has been synthesized. The box-like cages (M(Cp*Rh(CN)3)4(Mo(CO)3)4)(super 3-) result from the reaction of (Cp*Rh(CN)3)(super -) with (eta(super 6)-C(sub 6)H(sub 3)Me(sub 3))Mo(CO)(sub 3) in the presence of K+ and Cs+. They were isolated as their Et4N+ salts with M = K+ and Cs+. Crystallographic analysis reveal that the M8(mu-CN)12 cages have alkali metal cations. They 12 external CO and 4 external C4Me5 ligands.