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The next super model: The Au84+ core of Au20(SR)16 can be viewed as two non-conjugate 4 center–2 electron (4c–2e) tetrahedral Au4 superatoms. The four valence electrons are delocalized in each Au4 unit as 4c–2e σ bonds. Chemical bonding analysis confirms that a 2e-superatom network exists in Au20(SR)16 (see picture: Au yellow, SR purple, superatoms tetrahedra/red), this model explains the properties of this species. As a service to our authors and readers, this journal provides supporting information supplied by the authors. Such materials are peer reviewed and may be re-organized for online delivery, but are not copy-edited or typeset. Technical support issues arising from supporting information (other than missing files) should be addressed to the authors. Please note: The publisher is not responsible for the content or functionality of any supporting information supplied by the authors. Any queries (other than missing content) should be directed to the corresponding author for the article.
Cheng et al. (Sun,) studied this question.