Analyzing Lanthanide and Actinide Clusters Using Skeletal Numbers

Since the discovery of skeletal numbers of the main group and transition metal elements a few years ago a wide range of their compounds and clusters have been analyzed and categorized. It was found that a good number of mono-skeletal clusters have a tendency of obeying the 8-electron rule in the case of main group elements and 18 -electron rule for the transition metal elements. The concept of analyzing and categorizing chemical clusters has been extended to lanthanides (4f) and actinides(5f) using the recently discovered skeletal numbers. This book presents some of the compounds and clusters of lanthanides and actinides that have been analyzed and categorized for the first time. The similarities and differences will be pointed out.