ABSTRACT
The reactivity o f a ligand bonded to a cluster is often different to that of a corre sponding ligand bonded to mononuclear complex. There are several reasons for the difference in reactivity; multicentre bonding o f the ligand and the ability o f the ligand and incoming substrate to approach from different coordination sites being the two most important. This chapter commences with a description o f how cluster catalysis can be assessed. It then goes on to give a number o f examples and mechanisms for various organic transformations that can be achieved using clusters. Some o f these involve stoichiometric reactions although the majority only require catalytic amounts of the cluster to be present. Finally, some methods used to heterogenise clusters by placing them in solid and immiscible liquid supports are described.
