Abstract
AMI molecular orbital calculations with full geometry optimisation of 4/6, 5/5 and 4/5/6 isomers of E20 (E=Si, Ge) show a clear preference of germanium to be accommodated in four membered rings and to achieve coordination numbers greater than 3 (V A). as a consequence, unlike C20 or Si20, the dodecahedral form of Ge20 was not localised on the potential surface, instead an opened structure derived from an octagermaprismane (IV B) can be predicted. Notable kinetic stabilisation in the (SiR)20 systems is suggested by the HOMO-LUMO differences.