This experiment was performed during an advanced inorganic
chemistry laboratory course by 16 pairs of students: each group
was given instructions to synthesize both the simplest cluster
(2a) and one of the analogues (2b−2e). In this way, each
student performed one synthesis, and within each group of two
students it was always possible to compare the properties of the
analogue with the parent compound 2a. The whole procedure
described can be completed in less than 1 h, except the
weighing of the dry material and calculation of the yield, which
should be performed in the next lab session