[K2(Bi@Pd12@Bi20)]4-: An Endohedral Inorganic Fullerene with Spherical Aromaticity.

Inorganic fullerene clusters have attracted widespread attention due to their highly symmetrical geometric structures and intrinsic electronic properties. However, cage-like clusters composed of heavy metal elements with high symmetry are rarely reported, and their synthesis is also highly challenging. In this study, we present the synthesis of a [K2(Bi@Pd12@Bi20)]4- cluster that incorporates a {Bi20} cage with pseudo-Ih symmetry, making it the largest main group metal cluster compound composed of the bismuth element to date. Magnetic characterization and theoretical calculations suggest that the spin state of the overall cluster is a quartet. Quantum chemical calculations reveal that the [Bi20]3- cluster has a similar electronic configuration to C606- and the [Bi@Pd12@Bi20]6- cluster exhibits a unique open-shell aromatic character.

Bicyclol mitigates lipopolysaccharide-induced acute lung injury through myeloid differentiation factor 88 inhibition.

Acute lung injury (ALI) remains a significant clinical challenge due to the absence of effective treatment alternatives. This study presents a new method that employs a screening platform focusing on MyD88 affinity, anti-inflammatory properties, and toxicity. This platform was used to evaluate a 300-compound library known for its anti-inflammatory potential. Among the screened compounds, Bicyclol emerged as a standout, exhibiting MyD88 binding and a significant reduction in LPS-stimulated pro-inflammatory factors production in mouse primary peritoneal macrophages. By targeting MyD88, Bicyclol disrupts the MyD88/TLR4 complex and MyD88 polymer formation, thereby mitigating the MAPKs and NF-κB signaling pathways. In vivo experiments further confirmed Bicyclol's efficacy, demonstrating alleviated ALI symptoms, decreased inflammatory cytokines level, and reduced inflammatory cells presence in lung tissues. These findings were associated with a decrease in mortality in LPS-challenged mice. Overall, Bicyclol represents a promising treatment option for ALI by specifically targeting MyD88 and limiting inflammatory responses.

Hypericin Alleviates Chronic Kidney Disease-induced Left Ventricular Hypertrophy by Regulation of FGF23-FGFR4 Signaling Pathway.

ABSTRACT: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a significant global health threat that imposes a substantial burden on both individuals and societies. CKD frequently correlates with cardiovascular events, particularly left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH), which contributes to the high mortality rate associated with CKD. Fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23), a hormone primarily involved in regulating calcium and phosphorus metabolism, has been identified as a major risk factor for LVH in CKD patients. Elevated serum FGF23 levels are known to induce LVH and myocardial fibrosis by activating the fibroblast growth factor receptor 4 (FGFR4) signal pathway. Therefore, targeting FGFR4 and its downstream signaling pathways holds potential as a treatment strategy for cardiac dysfunction in CKD. In our current study, we have discovered that Hypericin, a key component derived from Hypericum perforatum , has the ability to alleviate CKD-related LVH by targeting the FGFR4/phospholipase C gamma 1 (PLCγ1) signaling pathway. Through in vitro experiments using rat cardiac myocyte H9c2 cells, we observed that Hypericin effectively inhibits FGF23-induced hypertrophy and fibrosis by suppressing the FGFR4/PLCγ1/calcineurin/nuclear factor of activated T-cell (NFAT3) signaling pathway. In addition, our in vivo studies using mice on a high-phosphate diet and rat models of 5/6 nephrectomy demonstrated that Hypericin has therapeutic effects against CKD-induced LVH by modulating the FGFR4/PLCγ1/calcineurin/NFAT3 signaling pathway. In conclusion, our research highlights the potential of Hypericin as a candidate for the treatment of CKD-induced cardiomyopathy. By suppressing the FGFR4/PLCγ1 signaling pathway, Hypericin shows promise in attenuating LVH and myocardial fibrosis associated with CKD.

Maximizing Electrostatic Interaction in Ultramicroporous Metal-Organic Frameworks for the One-Step Purification of Acetylene from Ternary Mixture.

Developing efficient adsorbents for acetylene purification from multicomponent mixtures is of critical significance in the chemical industry, but the trade-off between regenerability and selectivity significantly restricts practical industrial applications. Here, we report ultramicroporous metal-organic frameworks with acetylene-affinity channels to enhance electrostatic interaction between C2H2 and frameworks for the efficient one-step purification of C2H2 from C2H2/CO2/C2H4 mixtures, in which the electrostatic interaction led to high regenerability. The obtained SNNU-277 exhibits significantly higher adsorption capacity for C2H2 than that for both C2H4 and CO2 at 298 K and 0.1 bar, while an ultrahigh selectivity of C2H2/C2H4 (100.6 at 298 K) and C2H2/CO2 (32.8 at 298 K) were achieved at 1 bar. Breakthrough experiments validated that SNNU-277 can efficiently separate C2H2 from C2H2/C2H4/CO2 mixtures. CO2 and C2H4 broke through the adsorption column at 4 and 14.8 min g-1, whereas C2H2 was detected until 177.6 min g-1 at 298 K. Theoretical calculations suggest that the framework is electrostatically compatible with C2H2 and electrostatically repels C2H4 and CO2 in the mixed components. This work highlights the importance of rational pore engineering for maximizing the electrostatic effect with the preferentially absorbed guest molecule for efficient multicomponent separation.

Pore Environmental Modification by Alkoxy Groups in Pore-Space-Partitioned Metal-Organic Frameworks to Achieve Gas Uptake-Selectivity Balance.

Due to the trade-off barrier between high storage capacity and high selectivity, the controllable and systematic design of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) aiming at performance optimization is still challenging. Herein, considering the effectiveness of alkoxy group functionalization and a pore-space partition strategy, a series of rigid Mg-pacs-MOFs (SNNU-10-n, n = 1-6) with flexible side chains are built for the first time, realizing systematic pore environmental modification. The steric hindrance effects, electron-donating ability, and the flexibility of alkoxy groups are considered as key factors, which lead to a regular change of gas adsorption capacity and selectivity. Notably, methoxy-modified SNNU-10-1 with moderately high storage capacities of C2H2 (139.4 cm3 g-1), C2H4 (100.4 cm3 g-1), CO2 (105.0 cm3 g-1), and high selectivity values for equimolar C2H2/CH4 (431.8), C2H4/CH4 (164.2), and CO2/CH4 (16.1) mixture separation at 273 K and 100 kPa achieves an ideal gas uptake-selectivity balance. Breakthrough experiments verified that it could effectively separate the above-mentioned mixtures under ambient conditions, and GCMC simulation provides a deep understanding of methoxy group functionalization. Undoubtedly, this work not only realizes controllable regulation of gas adsorption behavior but also proves the validity of improving selectivity by alkoxy groups in those platforms with high gas-uptake potential to overcome the trade-off barrier.

Substituent Engineering in Pore-Space-Partitioned Metal-Organic Frameworks for CO2 Selective Adsorption and Fixation.

Comprehensive understanding of substituent groups located on the pore surface of metal-organic frameworks (which we call substituent engineering herein) can help to promote gas adsorption and catalytic performance through ligand functionalization. In this work, pore-space-partitioned metal-organic frameworks (PSP MOFs) were selected as a platform to evaluate the effect of organic functional groups on CO2 adsorption, separation, and catalytic conversion. Twelve partitioned acs metal-organic frameworks (pacs-MOFs, named SNNU-25-Rn here) containing different functional groups were synthesized, which can be classified into electron-donor groups (-OH, -NH2, -CH3, and -OCH3) and electron-acceptor groups (-NO2, -F, -Cl, and -Br). The experimental results showed that SNNU-25-Rn with electron donors usually perform better than those with electron acceptors for the comprehensive utilization of CO2. The CO2 uptake of the 12 SNNU-25-Rn MOFs ranged from 30.9 to 183.6 cm3 g-1 at 273 K and 1 bar, depending on the organic functional groups. In particular, SNNU-25-OH showed the highest CO2 adsorption, SNNU-25-CH3 had the highest IAST of CO2/CH4 (36.1), and SNNU-25-(OH)2 showed the best catalytic activity for the CO2 cycloaddition reaction. The -OH functionalized MOFs with excellent performance may be attributed to the Lewis acid-base and hydrogen-bonding interactions between -OH groups and the CO2 molecules. This work modulated the effect of the microenvironment of MOFs on CO2 adsorption, separation, and catalysis in terms of substituents, providing valuable information for the precise design of porous MOFs with a comprehensive utilization of CO2.

BMSCs overexpressed ISL1 reduces the apoptosis of islet cells through ANLN carrying exosome, INHBA, and caffeine.

Early apoptosis of grafted islets is one of the main factors affecting the efficacy of islet transplantation. The combined transplantation of islet cells and bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) can significantly improve the survival rate of grafted islets. Transcription factor insulin gene enhancer binding protein 1 (ISL1) is shown to promote the angiogenesis of grafted islets and the paracrine function of mesenchymal stem cells during the co-transplantation, yet the regulatory mechanism remains unclear. By using ISL1-overexpressing BMSCs and the subtherapeutic doses of islets for co-transplantation, we managed to reduce the apoptosis and improve the survival rate of the grafts. Our metabolomics and proteomics data suggested that ISL1 upregulates aniline (ANLN) and Inhibin beta A chain (INHBA), and stimulated the release of caffeine in the BMSCs. We then demonstrated that the upregulation of ANLN and INHBA was achieved by the binding of ISL1 to the promoter regions of the two genes. In addition, ISL1 could also promote BMSCs to release exosomes with high expression of ANLN, secrete INHBA and caffeine, and reduce streptozocin (STZ)-induced islets apoptosis. Thus, our study provides mechanical insight into the islet/BMSCs co-transplantation and paves the foundation for using conditioned medium to mimic the ISL1-overexpressing BMSCs co-transplantation.

De-Linker-Enabled Exceptional Volumetric Acetylene Storage Capacity and Benchmark C2 H2 /C2 H4 and C2 H2 /CO2 Separations in Metal-Organic Frameworks.

An ideal adsorbent for separation requires optimizing both storage capacity and selectivity, but maximizing both or achieving a desired balance remain challenging. Herein, a de-linker strategy is proposed to address this issue for metal-organic frameworks (MOFs). Broadly speaking, the de-linker idea targets a class of materials that may be viewed as being intermediate between zeolites and MOFs. Its feasibility is shown here by a series of ultra-microporous MOFs (SNNU-98-M, M=Mn, Co, Ni, Zn). SNNU-98 exhibit high volumetric C2 H2 uptake capacity under low and ambient pressures (175.3 cm3 cm-3 @ 0.1 bar, 222.9 cm3 cm-3 @ 1 bar, 298 K), as well as extraordinary selectivity (2405.7 for C2 H2 /C2 H4 , 22.7 for C2 H2 /CO2 ). Remarkably, SNNU-98-Mn can efficiently separate C2 H2 from C2 H2 /CO2 and C2 H2 /C2 H4 mixtures with a benchmark C2 H2 /C2 H4 (1/99) breakthrough time of 2325 min g-1 , and produce 99.9999 % C2 H4 with a productivity up to 64.6 mmol g-1 , surpassing values of reported MOF adsorbents.

Missing Link in the Growth of Lead-Based Zintl Clusters: Isolation of the Dimeric Plumbaspherene [Cu4Pb22]4.

We report here the structure of an endohedral plumbaspherene, [Cu4Pb22]4-, the gold analogue of which was previously postulated to be a "missing link" in the growth of larger clusters containing three and four icosahedral subunits. The cluster contains two [Cu2Pb11]2- subunits linked through a Cu2Pb4 trigonal antiprism. Density functional theory reveals that the striking ability of mixed Pb/coinage metal Zintl clusters to oligomerize and, in the case of Au, to act as a site of nucleation for additional metal atoms, is a direct consequence of their nd10(n + 1)s0 configuration, which generates both a low-lying (n + 1)s-based LUMO and also a high-lying Pb-centered HOMO. Cluster growth and nucleation is then driven by this amphoteric character, allowing the clusters to form donor-acceptor interactions between adjacent icosahedral units or to additional metal atoms.

Bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells improve rat islet graft revascularization by upregulating ISL1.

Revascularization of the islet transplant is a crucial step that defines the success rate of patient recovery. Bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) have been reported to promote revascularization; however, the underlying cellular mechanism remains unclear. Moreover, our liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry results showed that BMSCs could promote the expression of insulin gene enhancer binding protein-1 (ISL1) in islets. ISL1 is involved in islets proliferation and plays a potential regulatory role in the revascularization of islets. This study identifies the ISL1 protein as a potential modulator in BMSCs-mediated revascularization of islet grafts. We demonstrated that the survival rate and insulin secretion of islets were increased in the presence of BMSCs, indicating that BMSCs promote islet revascularization in a coculture system and rat diabetes model. Interestingly, we also observed that the presence of BMSCs led to an increase in ISL1 and vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA) expression in both islets and the INS-1 rat insulinoma cell line. In silico protein structure modeling indicated that ISL1 is a transcription factor that has four binding sites with VEGFA mRNA. Further results showed that overexpression of ISL1 increased both the abundance of VEGFA transcripts and protein accumulation, while inhibition of ISL1 decreased the abundance of VEGFA. Using a ChIP-qPCR assay, we demonstrated that direct molecular interactions between ISL1 and VEGFA occur in INS-1 cells. Together, these findings reveal that BMSCs promote the expression of ISL1 in islets and lead to an increase in VEGFA in islet grafts. Hence, ISL1 is a potential target to induce early revascularization in islet transplantation.

Synthesis and Characterization of Ternary Clusters Containing the [As16]10- Anion, [MM'As16]4- (M = Nb or Ta; M' = Cu or Ag).

The [Nb@As8]3- anion was first isolated from solution in 1986, and a number of isostructural [M@Pn8]n- clusters (M = Nb, Cr, or Mo; Pn = As or Sb; n = 2 or 3) have since been reported. We show here how anions of this class can be used as synthetic precursors that, in combination with sources of low-valent late transition metals (Cu and Ag), generate ternary polyarsenide cluster anions with unprecedented structural motifs. Chain type [MM'As16]4- (M = Nb or Ta; M' = Cu or Ag) units are found in compounds 2-5. These clusters contain a nortricyclane-like As7 cage and a [M@As8] crown, linked by a single As atom, and represent a fusion of two quite distinct branches of polyarsenide chemistry. Our analysis of the electronic structure confirms that the cluster retains many of the features of the component units. Electrospray ionization mass spectrometry reveals a series of smaller component ions containing 8-12 As atoms, the density functional theory-computed structures of which can be understood in terms of the pseudoelement concept. This work not only presents a new type of coordination mode for As clusters but also offers a point of entry for the rational design of multinary arsenic-based materials.

Pore-Window Partitions in Metal-Organic Frameworks for Highly Efficient Reversed Ethylene/Ethane Separations.

The development of paraffin-selective adsorbents is desirable but extremely challenging because adsorbents usually prefer olefin over paraffin. Herein, a new pore-window-partition strategy is proposed for the rational design of highly efficient paraffin-preferred metal-organic framework (MOF) adsorbents. The power of this strategy is demonstrated by stepwise installations of linear bidentate N-donor linkers into a prototype MOF (SNNU-201) to produce a series of partitional MOF adsorbents (SNNU-202-204). With continuous pore-window partitions from SNNU-201 to SNNU-204, the isosteric heat of adsorption can be tuned from -34.4 to -19.4 kJ mol-1 for ethylene and from -25.5 to -20.7 kJ mol-1 for ethane. Accordingly, partitional MOFs exhibit much higher ethane adsorption capacities, especially for SNNU-204 (104.6 cm3 g-1), representing nearly 4 times as much ethane as the prototypical counterpart (SNNU-201; 27.5 cm3 g-1) under ambient conditions. The C2H6/C2H4 ideal adsorbed solution theory selectivity, dynamic breakthrough experiments, and theoretical simulations further indicate that pore-window partition is a promising and universal strategy for the exploration of highly efficient paraffin-selective MOF adsorbents.

Precise Introduction of Single Vanadium Site into Indium-Organic Framework for CO2 Capture and Photocatalytic Fixation.

The capture and fixation of CO2 under mild conditions is a cost-effective route to reduce greenhouse gases, but it is challenging because of the low conversion and selectivity issues. Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are promising in the fields of adsorption and catalysis because of their structural tunability and variability. However, the precise structural design of MOFs is always pursued and elusive. In this work, a metal-mixed MOF (SNNU-97-InV) was designed by precisely introducing single vanadium site into the isostructural In-MOF (SNNU-97-In). The single V sites clearly change the interactions between the MOF framework and CO2 molecules, leading to a 71.3% improvement in the CO2 adsorption capacity. At the same time, the enhanced light absorption enables SNNU-97-InV to efficiently convert CO2 into cyclic carbonates (CCs) with epoxides under illumination. Controlled experiments showed that the promoted performance of SNNU-97-InV may be that the V═O site can more easily combine with CO2 and convert them into an intermediate state under illumination, and the possible mechanism was thus speculated.

Cadinane Sesquiterpenoids and Their Glycosides from Alangium chinense That Inhibit Spontaneous Calcium Oscillations.

Nine new cadinane sesquiterpenoids, alanenses A-I (1-9), were isolated from the leaves of Alangium chinense together with three previously reported analogues (10-12). The structures of these molecules were elucidated by interpretation of spectroscopic and spectrometric data. Absolute configurations were established by the comparison of experimental and calculated ECD data, chemical degradation studies for sugar moieties, and a single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. Compounds 1 and 2 were isolated as racemates, and enantiopurification was achieved by chiral HPLC. Compounds 3-5 are glycosylated cadinanes bearing a ß-d-glucose unit, while compounds 6-9 incorporate a hydroxymethyl group in either the free form or additional ring fusion. The structure of compound 11 was originally misassigned and later revised using additional NMR data. The corrected structure is here supported by X-ray single-crystal analysis. Compounds 1 and 2 inhibit spontaneous calcium channel oscillations at low micromolar concentrations.

Amide-Functionalized Metal-Organic Frameworks Coupled with Open Fe/Sc Sites for Efficient Acetylene Purification.

Acetylene (C2H2) purification is of great importance for many chemical synthesis and processes. Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are widely used for gas adsorption and separation due to their variable structure and porosity. However, the exploitation of ideal MOF adsorbents for C2H2 keeps a challenging task. Herein, a combination of open metal sites (OMSs) and Lewis basic sites (LBSs) in robust MOFs is demonstrated to effectively promote the C2H2 purification performance. Accordingly, SNNU-37(Fe/Sc), two isostructural MOFs constituted by [Fe3O(COO)6] or [Sc3O(COO)6] trinuclear clusters and amide-functionalized tricarboxylate linkers, were designed with extra-stable 3,6-connected new architectures. Derived from the coexistence of high-density OMSs and LBSs, the C2H2 adsorption amounts of SNNU-37(Fe/Sc) are much higher than those values for C2H4 and CO2. Theoretical IAST selectivity values of SNNU-37(Fe) are 2.4 for C2H2/C2H4 (50/50, v/v) and 9.9 for C2H2/CO2 (50/50, v/v) at 298 K and 1 bar, indicating an excellent C2H2 separation ability. Experimental breakthrough curves also revealed that SNNU-37(Fe) could effectively separate C2H2/C2H4 and C2H2/CO2 under ambient conditions. GCMC simulations further indicate that open Fe or Sc sites and amide groups mainly contribute to stronger adsorption sites for C2H2 molecules.

Electronic structures and properties of dianionic pentacarbonyls [TM(CO)5]2- (TM = Cr, Mo, W).

Density functional theory (DFT) calculations were employed to study the stabilities, electronic structures, and vibrational and bonding properties of dianionic pentacarbonyls [TM(CO)5]2- (TM = Cr, Mo, W). A D3h symmetry structure with singlet state was found to be the ground state and C-O stretching vibrational frequencies range from 1719 to 1766 cm-1, which are in excellent agreement with the experimental observations. The calculation results on bond dissociation energy for the CO loss revealed their stabilities. By employing energy decomposition analysis (EDA), the bonding nature between TM2- and (CO)5 was disclosed, in which the [TM(d)]2-→(CO)5π backdonations contribute largely to the orbital interactions while σ donation from the lone pair of CO to metal contributes moderately. Compared with those in the isoelectronic neutral hexacarbonyls TM(CO)6, the π backdonations are obviously larger in [TM(CO)5]2- because there are two extra electrons in (n- 1)d AOs of the center transition metal.

Protective Effect of Tuna Bioactive Peptide on Dextran Sulfate Sodium-Induced Colitis in Mice.

Bioactive peptides isolated from marine organisms have shown to have potential anti-inflammatory effects. This study aimed to investigate the intestinal protection effect of low molecular peptides (Mw < 1 kDa) produced through enzymatic hydrolysis of tuna processing waste (tuna bioactive peptides (TBP)) on dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced ulcerative colitis (UC) in BALB/c mice. Here, we randomly divided twenty-four male BALB/c mice into four groups: (i) normal (untreated), (ii) DSS-induced model colitis, (iii) low dose TBP+DSS-treated (200 mg/kg/d), and (iv) high dose TBP+DSS-treated groups (500 mg/kg/d). The results showed that TBP significantly reduced mice weight loss and improved morphological and pathological characteristics of colon tissues. In addition, it increased the activities of antioxidant enzymes (SOD and GSH-Px) and decreased inflammatory factors (LPS, IL-6, and TNF-α) expression. TBP increased the gene expression levels of some tight junction (TJ) proteins. Moreover, TBP increased the short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) levels and the diversity and imbalance of intestinal flora. Therefore, TBP plays some protective roles in the intestinal tract by enhancing antioxidant and anti-inflammatory abilities of the body, improving the intestinal barrier and metabolic abnormalities, and adjusting intestinal flora imbalance.

A Modified Sparrow Search Algorithm with Application in 3d Route Planning for UAV.

The unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) route planning problem mainly centralizes on the process of calculating the best route between the departure point and target point as well as avoiding obstructions on route to avoid collisions within a given flight area. A highly efficient route planning approach is required for this complex high dimensional optimization problem. However, many algorithms are infeasible or have low efficiency, particularly in the complex three-dimensional (3d) flight environment. In this paper, a modified sparrow search algorithm named CASSA has been presented to deal with this problem. Firstly, the 3d task space model and the UAV route planning cost functions are established, and the problem of route planning is transformed into a multi-dimensional function optimization problem. Secondly, the chaotic strategy is introduced to enhance the diversity of the population of the algorithm, and an adaptive inertia weight is used to balance the convergence rate and exploration capabilities of the algorithm. Finally, the Cauchy-Gaussian mutation strategy is adopted to enhance the capability of the algorithm to get rid of stagnation. The results of simulation demonstrate that the routes generated by CASSA are preferable to the sparrow search algorithm (SSA), particle swarm optimization (PSO), artificial bee colony (ABC), and whale optimization algorithm (WOA) under the identical environment, which means that CASSA is more efficient for solving UAV route planning problem when taking all kinds of constraints into consideration.

[Cu4@E18]4- (E = Sn, Pb): Fused Derivatives of Endohedral Stannaspherene and Plumbaspherene.

We report the synthesis of two new cluster anions, [Cu4@E18]4- (E = Sn, Pb), in which a Cu4 subunit is incorporated into a continuous E18 tetrel cage. Both anions are characterized by X-ray crystallography and mass spectrometry, complemented by quantum-chemical calculations that highlight the relationships to known Zintl clusters, including the stannaspherenes and plumbaspherenes [M@Sn12]q- and [M@Pb12]q-, the Matryoshka bronze [Sn@Cu12@Sn20]12-, and also [Pd2@E'18]4- (E' = Ge, Sn).

Spherical Aromaticity of All-Metal [Bi@In8 Bi12 ]3-/5- Clusters.

The chemical bonding of Zintl clusters is still an evolving and hot topic in modern chemistry. In this paper we synthesized a novel [K([2.2.2]crypt)]4 [In8 Bi13 ] complex in a condensed phase. The quantum chemical calculations and X-ray data revealed that the compound consists of the 1:1 mixture of [Bi@In8 Bi12 ]3- and [Bi@In8 Bi12 ]5- clusters. To the date, those clusters are the largest binary clusters composed of In and Bi elements. Herein, we introduce a spherical aromatic description of chemical bonding for such clusters. We show through AdNDP, ELF, and induced magnetic field and quantitative NICS analyzes that both clusters are spherically aromatic which explains their high symmetry, stability, and peculiar magnetic properties. We believe that this work will help researchers in the further development and understanding of chemical bonding in Zintl clusters.