Anionic or neutral? the charge of Ni 8 cubes in metal-organic framework compounds.

The cubic SBU Ni 8 X 6 L 6 (X = OH - /H 2 O, L = ligand) is of great interest due to its stability and potential applications when integrated in MOFs. Here, we investigate by detailed DRIFTS measurements and exchange reactions whether it is found to be neutral in MOFs, as previously assumed in the literature, or whether it can show anionic character, as observed in complexes.