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Using size-specific infrared spectroscopy and quantum-chemical calculations, structural motifs of interference-free neutral water undecamer (H₂O)₁₁ were characterized, revealing three isomer families and insights into hydrogen-bonding networks essential for understanding solvation processes.

Zinc(I) bimetallic clusters have previously been reported, but they are not stable in air. Here, the authors synthesize octametallic Zinc(I) clusters with multi-centred zinc–zinc bonds and extensive electron delocalization over the cluster, resulting in cubic aromaticity and enhanced stability.

Unlike carbon, boron is unable to form graphene-type structures, although variants with hexagonal holes have been suggested. Here the authors provide experimental evidence for the viability of such atom-thin boron sheets on the basis of a hexagonal vacancy discovered in a 36-atom planar boron cluster.

Main-group analogues to fullerene-C₆₀ have been predicted theoretically many times. Now, B₄₀⁻ has been observed using photoelectron spectroscopy and, with its neutral analogue, B40, confirmed computationally. In contrast to fullerene-C₆₀, the all-boron fullerene (or borospherene) features triangles, hexagons and heptagons, bonded uniformly by delocalized σ and π bonds over the cage surface.

The synthesis and isolation of compounds featuring lanthanide–carbon triple bonds remain challenging. Now a cluster featuring a cerium–carbon triple bond has been stabilized inside a C₈₀ fullerene cage. The solid-state structure of the compound reveals a cerium–carbon bond distance of 1.969(7) Å.

Nitrogen can form a maximum of three shared electron-pair bonds to complete its octet, suggesting the maximum bond order of nitrogen is three. Here, the authors report a joint photoelectron spectroscopy and quantum chemical study, showing a quadruple bond between nitrogen and thorium in thorium nitride.

A new strategy to separate radioactive americium from lanthanides based on complexation with polyoxometalates and ultrafiltration technique is highly efficient and rapid, does not involve any organic components and requires minimal energy input.

While chiral hybrid organic–inorganic perovskites are promising materials for optoelectronic applications, the synthesis of three-dimensional single crystals has proven challenging. Now, a general strategy has been shown to synthesize chiral, three-dimensional perovskites by heterogeneous nucleation. The single-crystalline materials contain no chiral component; their chiroptical activity arises from supercells formed by chiral patterns of the A-site cations.

Single-layered materials such as graphene are well known, but metallic elements tend to favour three-dimensional clusters. Here the authors report the synthesis of rhodium nanosheets—a supported, single-layered metallic material with rare δ-bonding.

The modular synthesis of crowded alkenes is a challenge. Here diaryliodonium salts are used to arylate vinyl boronates, which can then undergo Suzuki-Miyaura coupling with the aryl iodide generated in situ in the first step to yield modular trisubstituted alkenes.

Spectroscopic studies of water clusters provide insight into the hydrogen bond structure of water and ice. The authors measure infrared spectra of neutral water octamers using a threshold photoionization technique based on a tunable vacuum-UV free electron laser, identifying two cubic isomers in addition to those previously observed.

While main group elements possess four valence orbitals that are accessible for bonding, quadruple bonding to main group elements is very rarely observed. Here the authors report that boron is able to form four bonding interactions with iron in the BFe(CO)₃^- anion complex.