Neutral metal−benzene complexes, M n (benzene) m (M = Sc to Cu), are produced for all of the 3d transition metals in the gas phase by using the laser vaporization method. These species are characterized by mass spectrometry, photoionization spectroscopy, and chemical probe experiments. Depending on the metal, there are two types of structures for M n (benzene) m :  multiple-decker sandwich structures and metal clusters fully covered with benzene molecules (rice-ball structures). The former sandwich structure is characteristic of the complexes for early transition metals (Sc−V), whereas the latter is formed for late transition metals (Fe−Ni). Electronic structures of M1(benzene) x (x = 1, 2) complexes are investigated through systematic measurements of ionization energies (E i's).

Metal-encapsulated silicon cage clusters are a new class of clusters and are opening up new avenues for silicon-based nanoscale materials. We present experimental evidence for a highly stable cluster corresponding to M@Si16 (M = Sc, Ti, and V). Mass spectrometry and anion photoelectron spectroscopy show that the cluster features an electronically closed TiSi16 neutral core which undergoes a change in the number of valence electrons involving (i) substitution of neighboring metals with Sc and V, or (ii) addition of a halogen atom to the TiSi16 anion, and that VSi16F is predicted to form an ionically bound superatom complex.

A molecular beam of multilayer vanadium-benzene organometallic complexes Vn(C6H6)m was produced by a laser vaporization synthesis method. The magnetic moments of the complexes were measured by a molecular beam magnetic deflection technique, and were found to increase with the number of vanadium atoms in the cluster, showing that the unpaired electrons, which occupy the nonbonding dsigma orbitals localized on the metal atoms, couple ferromagnetically. These sandwich species represent a new class of one-dimensional molecular magnets in which the transition metal atoms are formally zerovalent.