Organic-inorganic hybrid materials starting from the novel nanoscaled bismuth oxido methacrylate cluster [Bi38O45(OMc)(24)(DMSO)(9)]center dot 2DMSO center dot 7H(2)O

The reaction of the basic bismuth nitrate [Bi6O4(OH)(4)](NO3)(6)center dot H2O with sodium methacrylate in DMSO gave [Bi38O45(OMc)(24)(DMSO)(9)]center dot 2DMSO center dot 7H(2)O (OMc = O2CC3H5), which is highly soluble in organic solvents. By copolymerization of the bismuth oxido cluster with methyl methacrylate transparent, radiopaque organic-inorganic hybrid materials were obtained.