Ligated aluminum cluster anions, LAl ( = 1-14, L = N[Si(Me)]).

A wide range of low oxidation state aluminum-containing cluster anions, LAln- (n = 1-14, L = N[Si(Me)3]2), were produced via reactions between aluminum cluster anions and hexamethyldisilazane (HMDS). These clusters were identified by mass spectrometry, with a few of them (n = 4, 6, and 7) further characterized by a synergy of anion photoelectron spectroscopy and density functional theory (DFT) based calculations. As compared to a previously reported method which reacts anionic aluminum hydrides with ligands, the direct reactions between aluminum cluster anions and ligands promise a more general synthetic scheme for preparing low oxidation state, ligated aluminum clusters over a large size range.

Low oxidation state aluminum-containing cluster anions: LAlH and LAl (n = 2-4, L = N[Si(Me)]).

Several low oxidation state aluminum-containing cluster anions, LAlH and LAl (n = 2-4, L = N[Si(Me)]), were produced via reactions between aluminum hydride cluster anions, AlH, and hexamethyldisilazane (HMDS). These clusters were characterized by mass spectrometry, anion photoelectron spectroscopy, and density functional theory (DFT) based calculations. Agreement between the experimental and theoretical vertical detachment energies (VDEs) and adiabatic detachment energies (ADEs) validated the computed geometrical structures.