Free Heteroatomic Cluster Intermetalloids

An analogous germanium compound displaying a metal atom-centered Gci2 cluster has not been reported to date. 

The intermetalloid cluster [Ni3 Gei8] displayed a somewhat similar structure, where a linear trimer of Ni atoms was found to bind to two separated, widely opened Geg clusters [66]. These two Geg units featured the same shape as that of the two Eg subunits found in [Pd2 Eig] . Although the Ge atoms of the two cluster units are not connected, the relative orientation of the atoms of each open face is already staggered, as it is required for an 18-vertices cage [79]. 

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