Perspective: Exchange reactions in thiolate-protected metal clusters

Thiolate-protected metal clusters can exchange ligands or metal atoms with othersubstances such as coexisting ligands, complexes, and metal clusters in solution. Usingthese reactions, it is possible to synthesize metal clusters with newphysical and chemicalproperties. Although the occurrence of such reactionswas recognized nearly 20 years ago, their details were not well understood. In recentyears, techniques for the precise synthesis of metal clusters and their characterizationhave progressed considerably and, as a result, details of these reactionshave been clarified. In this perspective, we focus on the most-studied thiolate-protectedgold clustersand provide a summary of recent findings as well as future expectations concerning theexchangereactions of these clusters