oa Cluster Compounds of the Platinum Metals

In recent years metal cluster compounds with large numbers of metal atoms in the molecule have been prepared and characterised. The intermediate role of such clusters between monometal co-ordination compounds and metal surfaces is apparent, and is of great importance in studies of surface reactions for use in catalytic and other industrial processes. Investigation of the modification of the behaviour of carbon monoxide and simple organic ligands on co-ordination to such “metal fragments” is consequently one of the most rapidly expanding areas of chemical research.