Electron-counting in intermetallics made easy: the 18-n rule and isolobal bonds across the Os–Al system

Abstract

AbstractElectron count is one of the key factors controlling the formation of complex intermetallic structures. The delocalized nature of bonding in metals, however, has made it difficult to connect these electron counts to the various structural features that make up complex intermetallics. In this article, we illustrate how structural progressions in transition metal-main group intermetallics can in fact be simply understood with the 18-