Characterization of the tetrahedral Au 20 structure in the gas-phase remains as a major landmark in gold cluster chemistry, where further efforts to stabilize this bare 20-electron superatom in solution, to extend and understand its chemistry have failed so far. Here, we account for the structural, electronic and bonding properties of [M 16 Ni 24 (CO) 40 ] 4-(M = Cu, Ag, Au) observed in solution for gold and silver. Our results show a direct electronic relationship with Au 20 , owing that such species share a common tetrahedral [M 16 ] 4central core with a 1S 2 1P 6 1D 10 2S 2 jellium configuration. In the case of Au 20 , the [Au 16 ] 4core is capped by four Au + ions, whereas in [M 16 Ni 24 (CO) 40 ] 4it is capped by four Ni 6 (CO) 10 units. In both cases, the capping entities are full part of the superatom entity where appears that the free (uncapped) [M 16 ] 4species requires to be capped for further stabilization. It follows that the Ni 6 (CO) 10 units in [M 16 Ni 24 (CO) 40 ] 4should not be considered as external ligands as their bonding with the [M 16 ] 4core is mainly associated with a delocalization of the 20 jellium electrons onto the Ni atoms. Thus, the [M 16 Ni 24 (CO) 40 ] 4species can be seen as the solution version of tetrahedral M 20 clusters, encouraging experimental efforts to further develop the chemistry of such complexes as M(111) finite surface section structures, with M=Ag and Au and, and particularly promising with M=Cu. Furthermore, optical properties were simulated to assist future experimental characterization. Relevant computed data for [M 16 ] 4and [M 20 ] clusters (M=Cu, Ag, Au) of jellium configuration 1S 2 1P 6 1D 10 2S 2 , and Kohn-Sham jellium orbitals of [Au ] 4and [Au 20 ]. Major electronic absorption for [M 16 Ni 24 (CO) 40 ] 4-(M = Cu, Ag, Au) computed at the PBE and BP86 levels. This material is available free of charge via the Internet at http://pubs.acs.org.