Main group-transition metal cluster stability

Despite its unsaturated nature, benzene with its sweet aroma, isolated by Michael Faraday in 1825 [1], demonstrates low chemical reactivity. This feature gave rise to the entire class of unsaturated organic substances called aromatic compounds. Thus, the aromaticity and low reactivity were connected from the very beginning. The aromaticity and reactivity in organic chemistry is thoroughly reviewed in the book by Matito et al. [2]. The concepts of aromaticity and antiaromaticity have been recendy extended into main group and transition metal clusters [3-10], The current chapter will discuss relationship among aromaticity, stability, and reactivity in clusters. 

The versatility of transition-metal-ligand combinations in stabilizing localized, partially localized and delocalized cluster bonding is evident in the three examples discussed to this point. But we still have no analog of a late metal-carbonyl cluster that follows the main-group counting paradigm for an octahedral shape. Centered zirconium chloride clusters provide an example of an octahedral cluster with seven... 

HVC s are formed mainly by the early transition elements, especially those in groups 6 and 7. Their stabilities are markedly "row-sensitive," with the light metals showing in general very little tendency to form clusters or multiple M-M bonds in higher oxidation states. 

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