With more than 20 contributions from leading research groups, this book provides essential information for chemists and materials scientists working with molecular clusters.
It treats both homonuclear and heteronuclear clusters, including:
the theory and concepts in main-group cluster chemistry,
* novel boranes and heteroboranes,
* silicon/germanium/tin clusters,
* alkali metal suboxides,
* clusters in alloys with mercury,
* chalkogen clusters
* and numerous other compound classes.
The whole is illustrated by examples of the great potential for technical applications such as
electron storage, cancer therapy and in optoelectronic devices.
Its systematic coverage of all relevant main group elements makes this the prime reference source in the field.


Table of Contents:
Preface.

List of Contributors.

1. Theory and Concepts in Main-Group Cluster Chemistry (R. King & P. Schleyer).

2.1 Homonuclear Boron Clusters (H. Nöth).

2.2 Boron Clusters in Medical Applications (D. Gabel & Y. Endo).

2.3 Clusters of the Heavier Group 13 Elements (G. Schnöckel, et al.).

2.4 Discret and Extended Metal Clusters in Alloys with Mercury and Other Group 12 Elements (H. Deiseroth).

2.5 Molecular Cages and Clusters of the Heavier Group 14 Elements (E= Si, Ge, Sn or Pb) of Formula E_nR_m (n > m) (N. Wiberg & P. Power).

2.6 Homoatomic Cages and Clusters of the Heavier Group 15 Elements: Neutral Species and Cations (I. Krossing).

2.7 Cages and Clusters of the Chaicogens (W. Sheldrick).

3.1 Alkali and Alkaline Earth Metal Suboxides and Subnitrides (A. Simon).

3.2 Carboranes: From Small Organoboranes to Clusters (A. Berndt, et al.).

3.3 Heteropolyboranes With the Heavier Group 14 Elements (L. Wesemann & N. Hosmane).

3.4 Borane Clusters with Group 15 and Group 16 Heteroatoms: Survey of Compounds and Structures (P. Paetzold).

3.5 Heteropolyalanes, -gallanes, -indanes and -thallanes (W. Uhl and H. Roesky).

3.6 Cluster Growing Through Ionic Aggregation: Synthesis and Structural Principles of Main Group Metal—Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Arsenic Rich Clusters (M. Driess, et al.).

Index.