Recent progress in the chemistry of anionic groups 6-8 carbonyl chalcogenide clusters

► The contrasting synthetic routes, structural features, and versatile reactivities of anionic groups 6-8 carbonyl chalcogenide clusters have been demonstrated. ► The controlled synthesis and structural transformations of anionic groups 6-8 carbonyl chalcogenide clusters with different sizes were accomplished. ► The pronounced electrochemical and magnetic properties were revealed as the size of the clusters increased. ► The facile routes to metal carbonyl cluster-based 1D extended frameworks and their semiconducting behaviors were discovered.