Facile synthesis of a hexanuclear zinc-acetato-trimethylsilylphosphinidene cluster: a single-source precursor to Zn3P2 nanoparticles

The selective synthesis of the zinc-acetato-phosphinidene cluster [Zn6(μ3-PSiMe3)4(OAc)4(NC5H5)5] 1 is presented. The cluster serves as a stable, single-source precursor to yield soluble zinc phosphide nanoparticles via P–Si bond activation and AcOSiMe3 elimination when heated in oleylamine or other donor solvents.