Dynamic Structural Fluxionality in a Planar Tetracoordinate Carbon Cluster Stabilized by Boron Ligands.

The design of boron-based molecular rotors stems from boron-carbon binary clusters containing multiple planar hypercoordinate carbons (phCs, such as CB). However, the design of boron-coordinated phCs is challenging due to boron's tendency to occupy hypercoordinate centers more than carbon. Although this challenge has been addressed, the designed clusters of interest have not exhibited dynamic fluxionality similar to that of the initial CB.

CBe H : Unprecedented 2σ/2π Double Aromaticity and Dynamic Structural Fluxionality in a Planar Tetracoordinate Carbon Cluster.

A 14-electron ternary anionic CBe H cluster containing a planar tetracoordinate carbon (ptC) atom is designed herein. Remarkably, it can be stabilized by only two beryllium atoms with both π-acceptor/σ-donor properties and two hydrogen atoms, which means that the conversion from planar methane (transition state) to ptC species (global minimum) requires the substitution of only two hydrogen atoms. Moreover, two ligand H atoms exhibit alternate rotation, giving rise to interesting dynamic fluxionality in this cluster.

The dodeca-coordinated La©BC molecular wheels: conflicting aromaticity double aromaticity.

The transition-metal centered boron molecular wheels have attracted the attention of chemists. The highest deca-coordination number for central metal atoms was observed in Ta©B and Nb©B molecular wheels. Here, we report a theoretical study of La©BC ( = +1, 0, -1) clusters with the dodeca-coordinated La atom.

Bimetallic metal-organic frameworks-based ratiometric fluorescence sensor for the quantitative detection of thiram in fruits samples.

The identification of residual thiram (Tr) in foods is vital in view of its harmful effects on human health. Herein, a ratiometric fluorescence sensor (I/I) based on rhodamine B/NH-MIL-53(AlFe) was constructed for the detection of Tr. Interestingly, the probe RhB/NH-MIL-53(Bim) assisted by Cu could rapidly and sensitively recognize Tr with a low detection limit of 0.

Y©BC cluster: a boron-carbon molecular wheel with dodeca-coordination number in plane.

Computational evidence is reported for the largest planar molecular wheel of the Y©BC cluster, featuring an yttrium atom enclosed by a highly symmetric BC ring. The BC ring is viable in the -(BCB)- form with double 9/10 aromaticity. The centered yttrium atom is dodeca-coordinated with the peripheral BC ring, which sets a record coordination number for a planar structure in chemistry heretofore.

The unique sandwich KBeBH cluster with a real borozene BH core.

Theoretical evidence is reported for a boron-based KBeBH sandwich cluster, showing a perfectly BH ring, being capped by two tetrahedral KBe ligands. Due to the comfortable charge transfer, the sandwich is viable in [KBe][BH][BeK] ionic complex in nature. The [BH] core with 6π aromaticity vividly imitates the benzene (CH), occurring as a real borozene.

Boron-based ternary RbBeB cluster featuring unique sandwich geometry and a naked hexagonal boron ring.

Computational evidence is reported on a boron-based ternary Rb6Be2B6 cluster as the "Big Mac" sandwich on a subnanoscale with thickness of 0.58 nm. The core hexagonal B6 ring, occurring in the naked form due to double 6π/6σ aromaticity, is capped by two tetrahedral BeRb3 ligands.

The structure and chemical bonding in inverse sandwich BCa and BCa clusters: conflicting aromaticity double aromaticity.

The typical electron-deficiency of the boron element renders fascinating architectures and chemical bonding to boron-based nanoclusters. We theoretically predict two di-Ca-doped boron clusters, B6Ca2 (D2h, 1Ag) and B8Ca2 (D8h, 1A1g), and both adopt interesting inverse sandwich geometries, showing an elongated D2h B6 or perfectly planar D8h B8 ring being sandwiched by two Ca atoms only, respectively. Natural atomic charge analyses indicate that the Ca atoms donate nearly all the 4s electrons to the B6 (or B8) ring, forming [Ca]2+[B6]4-[Ca]2+ and [Ca]2+[B8]4-[Ca]2+ charge transfer complexes.

Competition between quasi-planar and cage-like structures in the B cluster: photoelectron spectroscopy and ab initio calculations.

Size-selected boron clusters have been found to be predominantly planar or quasi-planar (2D) in the small size regime with the appearance of three-dimensional (3D) borospherene cages of larger sizes. A seashell-like B cluster was previously shown to be the smallest borospherene, which competes with a quasi-planar isomer for the global minimum. Here we report a study on the structures and bonding of the B and B clusters using photoelectron spectroscopy (PES) and first-principles calculations and demonstrate the continued competition between the 2D and borospherene structures.

Endohedral Ca@B38: stabilization of a B38(2-) borospherene dianion by metal encapsulation.

Based on extensive global-minimum searches and first-principles electronic structure calculations, we present the viability of an endohedral metalloborospherene Cs Ca@B38 () which contains a Cs B38(2-) () dianion composed of interwoven boron double chains with a σ + π double delocalization bonding pattern, extending the Bn(q) (q = n - 40) borospherene family from n = 39-42 to n = 38. Transition metal endohedral complexes Cs M@B38 (M = Sc, Y, Ti) (, , ) based on Cs B38(2-) () are also predicted.

CBe5Hn((n-4)) (n = 2-5): Hydrogen-Stabilized CBe5 Pentagons Containing Planar or Quasi-Planar Pentacoordinate Carbons.

The diagonal relationship between beryllium and aluminum and the isoelectronic relationship between BeH unit and Al atom were utilized to design a new series ppC- or quasi-ppC-containing species C5v CBe5H5(+), Cs CBe5H4, C2v CBe5H3(-), and C2v CBe5H2(2-) by replacing the Al atoms in previously reported global minima planar pentacoordinate carbon (ppC) species D5h CAl5(+), C2v CAl4Be, C2v CAl3Be2(-), and C2v CAl2Be3(2-) with BeH units. The three-center two-electron (3c-2e) bonds formed between Be and bridging H atoms were crucial for the stabilization of these ppC species. The natural bond orbital (NBO) and adaptive natural density partitioning (AdNDP) analyses revealed that the central ppCs or quasi-ppCs possess the stable eight electron-shell structures.

Endohedral C3 Ca@B39(+) and C2 Ca@B39(+): axially chiral metalloborospherenes based on B39(-).

Using the newly discovered borospherenes C3 B39(-) and C2 B39(-) as molecular devices and based on extensive global-minimum searches and first-principles calculations, we present herein the possibility of the first axially chiral metalloborospherenes C3 Ca@B39(+) (, (1)A) and C2 Ca@B39(+) (, (1)A), which are the global minimum and the second lowest-lying isomer of CaB39(+), respectively. These metalloborospherene species turn out to be charge-transfer complexes Ca(2+)@B39(-) in nature, with the Ca centre on the C3 or C2 molecular axis donating one electron to the B39 cage which behaves like a superhalogen. Molecular orbital analyses indicate that C3/C2 Ca(2+)@B39(-) possess the universal bonding pattern of σ plus π double delocalization, similar to their C3/C2 B39(-) parents.

Cage-Like B41 (+) and B42 (2+) : New Chiral Members of the Borospherene Family.

The newly discovered borospherenes B40 (-/0) and B39 (-) mark the onset of a new class of boron nanostructures. Based on extensive first-principles calculations, we introduce herein two new chiral members to the borospherene family: the cage-like C1 B41 (+) (1) and C2 B42 (2+) (2), both of which are the global minima of the systems with degenerate enantiomers. These chiral borospherene cations are composed of twelve interwoven boron double chains with six hexagonal and heptagonal faces and may be viewed as the cuborenes analogous to cubane (C8 H8 ).

Ribbon aromaticity in double-chain planar B(n)H2(2-) and Li2B(n)H2 nanoribbon clusters up to n = 22: lithiated boron dihydride analogues of polyenes.

We report an extensive density-functional theory and coupled-cluster CCSD(T) study on boron dihydride dianion clusters BnH2(2-) (n = 6-22) and their dilithiated Li2BnH2(0/-) salt complexes. Double-chain (DC) planar nanoribbon structures are confirmed as the global minima for the BnH2(2-) (n = 6-22) clusters. Charging proves to be an effective mechanism to stabilize and extend the DC planar nanostructures, capable of producing elongated boron nanoribbons with variable lengths between 4.

Perfectly planar concentric π-aromatic B18H3-, B18H4, B18H5+, and B18H6(2+) with [10]annulene character.

Based upon extensive density functional theory and wave function theory investigations, we predict the existence of the perfectly planar concentric π-aromatic D(3h) B(18)H(3)(-)(6), D(2h) B(18)H(4)(8), C(2v) B(18)H(5)(+)(10), and D(6h) B(18)H(6)(2+)(12) which are the smallest boron hydride clusters composed of a hybrid of the triangular and hexagonal motifs with a hexagonal hole at the center. These partially hydrogenated B(18) clusters, tentatively referred to as borannulenes in this work, prove to possess [10]annulene character with 10 delocalized π-electrons. Detailed adaptive natural density partitioning (AdNDP) analyses unravel the bonding patterns of the π plus σ doubly aromatic D(3h) B(18)H(3)(-)(6) and C(2v) B(18)H(5)(+)(10) and the π aromatic and σ antiaromatic D(2h) B(18)H(4)(8) and D(6h) B(18)H(6)(2+)(12).

Deciphering the mystery of hexagon holes in an all-boron graphene α-sheet.

Boron could be the next element after carbon capable of forming 2D-materials similar to graphene. Theoretical calculations predict that the most stable planar all-boron structure is the so-called α-sheet. The mysterious structure of the α-sheet with peculiar distribution of filled and empty hexagons is rationalized in terms of chemical bonding.

On the analogy of B-BO and B-Au chemical bonding in B11O- and B10Au- clusters.

During photoelectron spectroscopy experiments, the spectra of B(11)O(-) and B(10)Au(-) clusters are found to exhibit similar patterns except for a systematic spectral shift of ∼0.5 eV, hinting that they possess similar geometric structures. The electron affinities are measured to be 4.

Tetradecker transition metal complexes containing double planar hexacoordinate carbons and double planar heptacoordinate borons.

A theoretical investigation on tetradecker transition metal complexes of Cp-Fe-CB6-Fe-CB6-Fe-Cp (1) containing double planar hexacoordinate carbons and Cp-Fe-BB7-Fe-BB7-Fe-Cp (2) containing double planar heptcoordinate borons has been performed in this work at density functional theory level. [CpFe]+ monocations prove to effectively stabilize these unusual complexes, which are mainly maintained by effective d-pi coordination interactions between the partially filled Fe 3d orbitals and the delocalized pi molecular orbitals (MOs) of the four planar deckerlike ligands. The results obtained in these model computations expand the domain of ferrocene chemistry and could provide a new approach for synthesizing planar hyper-coordinate carbons and borons in transition metal complexes.

Transition metal-boron complexes BnM: from bowls (n = 8-14) to tires (n = 14).

Transition metal-boron complexes BnM have been predicted at density functional theory level to be molecular bowls (n = 8-14) hosting a transition metal atom (M) inside or molecular tires (n = 14) centered with a transition metal atom. Small Bn clusters prove to be effective inorganic ligands to all the VB-VIIIB transition metal elements in the periodic table. Density functional evidences obtained in this work strongly suggest that bowl-shaped fullerene analogues of Bn units exist in small BnM complexes and the bowl-to-tire structural transition occur to the first-row transition metal complexes BnM (M = Mn, Fe, Co) at n = 14, a size obviously smaller than n = 20 where the 2D-3D structural transition occurs to bare Bn.

(M4H3X)2B2O2: hydrometal complexes (M = Ni, Mg) containing double tetracoordinate planar nonmetal centers (X = C, N).

Geometrical optimizations and electronic structural analyses of the -O(2)B(2)- bridged hydrometal complexes (M(4)H(3)C)(2)B(2)O(2) and (M(4)H(3)N)(2)B(2)O(2)(2+) (M = Ni, Mg) containing double tetracoordinate planar nonmetals (TPN) have been performed using the density functional theory at the B3LYP/6-311+G(d,p) level. Theoretical evidence of the possibility of double TPN centers coexisting in one planar molecule is presented.

M5H5X (M = Ag, Au, Pd, Pt; X = Si, Ge, P, S): hydrometal pentagons with D5h planar pentacoordinate nonmetal centers.

A density functional theory investigation has been presented in this work on M(5)H(5)X hydrometal pentagons (M = Ag, Au, Pd, P) with D(5)(h) planar pentacoordinate nonmetal centers (X = Si, Ge, P, S). The introduction of the nonmetal centers X introduces p aromaticity to M(5)H(5)X complexes. These novel planar complexes are favored in thermodynamics and confirmed to be aromatic in nature.

C2h (BnEmSi)2H2 molecules (E = B, C, Si; n = 3-6; m = 1, 2) containing double planar tetra-, penta-, and hexacoordinate silicons.

A density functional theory investigation on a series of S-shaped or cyclic (BnEmSi)2H2 molecules (E = B, C, Si; n = 3-6; m = 1, 2) containing double planar tetra-, penta-, and hexacoordinate silicons has been presented in this work. Further theoretical evidence is provided to support the previously proposed structural pattern to host planar hypercoordinate silicons in small aromatic molecules.

Carbon boronyls: species with higher viable possibility than boron carbonyls at the density functional theory.

Density functional theory investigations indicate that carbon boronyls (CBO)n (n = 3-7) are considerably more stable in thermodynamics than their boron carbonyl isomers (BCO)n and exhibit aromaticity throughout the whole series. The extra stabilities of (CBO)n originate from their frontier pi molecular orbitals delocalized over the Dnh Cn central rings which are absent in (BCO)n. It is expected that experimental characterization of these (CBO)n species may open a new branch of chemistry on carbon boronyls.

Planar tetra-, penta-, hexa-, hepta-, and octacoordinate silicons: a universal structural pattern.

A universal structural pattern has been presented at density function theory level to incorporate planar tetra-, penta-, hexa-, hepta-, and octacoordinate silicons in C2v B(n)E2Si series (E = CH, BH, or Si; n = 2-5) and D8h B8Si. The equivalence in valence electron counts and one-to-one correspondence of the delocalized pi and sigma valence orbitals with small boron clusters strongly support the optimized structures containing planar coordinate silicons. Planar B(n)E2Si series are predicted to be aromatic in nature, and the vertical detachment energies of their anions are presented to facilitate future photoelectron experiments.