This important breakthrough in this field was achieved by Prof. Benny Gerber, Saerree K. and Louis P. Fiedler Professor of Chemistry, and his associates at the Hebrew University Institute of Chemistry. Gerber predicted, on the basis of theoretical calculations, the existence of a new chemical “family” made up of noble gas atoms and hydrocarbons.
Operating on the basis of Prof. Gerber’s theories, leading scientists in Finland (Prof. Markku Rasanen and coworkers) and in Moscow (Prof. Vladimir Feldman and others) succeeded in producing the new compounds in their laboratories. The process by which these compounds were obtained was relatively much easier than in previous attempts, without having to resort to the techniques used in the past involving undesirable, extremely reactive materials.
From a HUJ press release.