Small gold clusters with diameters less than or equal to 2 nm (below approximately 200 atoms) possess geometric and electronic structures different from bulk gold. When these gold clusters are protected by ligands, these clusters can be treated as chemical compounds. This review focuses on gold clusters protected by chalcogenate (thiolate, selenolate, or tellurolate) ligands and describes the methods by which these clusters are synthesized as well as their geometric/electronic structures and physical and chemical properties. Recent findings regarding ligand exchange reactions, which may be used to impart functionality to these compounds, are also described.

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