Metal‐Xenon Complexes

Long after the first isolation of a xenon compound in 1962 the first compounds with metal‐xenon bonds are prepared. The metal atoms are so far Au and Hg. The most stable metal xenon compounds decompose under loss of xenon slightly above room temperature. They can only exist if solvents and counter ions are weaker bases than atomic xenon. Solvents and counter ions used so far are HF, (SbF₆)^—, and (Sb₂F₁₁)^—.