[GeRu6(CO)18HI]: A Germanium‐Centered Ruthenium Carbonyl Cluster with Aromatic Ring Current.

The carbonyl cluster compound [GeRu6(CO)18HI] is unique in regard to its structure and bonding with a GeRu6 cluster core, a planar GeRu4HI unit, extensive multi‐center bonding, and an aromatic ring current similar to benzene (9‐10 nA T−1). The open‐shell cluster core is a Ge‐centered five‐membered Ru4(Ru2) ring with CO ligands and an additional H and I atom, each bridging two Ru atoms on opposite sides of the cluster core. The compound is prepared at 130 °C in a weakly‐coordinating ionic liquid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]