STABLE CLUSTERS IN THE CONDENSED STATE AND SOME POSSIBILITIES FOR GAS-PHASE CLUSTERS

The classical naked cluster ions of the post-transition elements that are stable in solid compounds and their lower charged analogues observ ed in mixed metal beams reflect the reduced number of good bonding orb itals. New cluster ions of indium that are hypoelectronic (fewer than 2n+2 skeletal bonding electrons) because of distortions or the bonding of heterometal atoms within the clusters are described. A large famil y of new, orbital-rich clusters of the group III and IV transition met als sheathed by halide are all centered by a wide variety of heteroato ms. Factors in their stability, possible analogous naked cluster targe ts, and some calculations are considered.