A polar copper-boron one-electron σ-bond

J Am Chem Soc. 2013 Mar 13;135(10):3792-5. doi: 10.1021/ja4006578. Epub 2013 Mar 4.

Abstract

Virtually all chemical bonds consist of one or several pairs of electrons shared by two atoms. Examples of σ-bonds made of a single electron delocalized over two neighboring atoms were until recently found only in gas-phase cations such as H2(+) and Li2(+) and in highly unstable species generated in solid matrices. Only in the past decade was bona fide one-electron bonding observed for molecules in fluid solution. Here we report the isolation and structural characterization of a thermally stable compound featuring a Cu-B one-electron bond, as well as its oxidized (nonbonded) and reduced (two-electrons-bonded) congeners. This triad provides an excellent opportunity to study the degree of σ-bonding in a metalloboratrane as a function of electron count.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Boron / chemistry*
  • Copper / chemistry*
  • Electrons*
  • Models, Molecular
  • Molecular Structure
  • Organometallic Compounds / chemistry*
  • Oxidation-Reduction
  • Quantum Theory

Substances

  • Organometallic Compounds
  • Copper
  • Boron