Realization of an Al≡Al Triple Bond in the Gas‐Phase Na3Al2− Cluster via Double Electronic Transmutation
Abstract
The discovery of homodinuclear multiple bonds composed of Group 13 elements represents one of the most challenging frontiers in modern chemistry. A classical triple bond such as N≡N and HC≡CH contains one σ bond and two π bonds constructed from the p orbitals perpendicular to the σ bond. However, the traditional textbook triple bond between two Al atoms has remained elusive. Here we report an Al≡Al triple bond in the designer Na3Al2− cluster predicted in silico, which was subsequently generated by pulsed arc discharge followed by mass spectrometry and photoelectron spectroscopy characterizations. Being effectively Al2− due to the electron donation from Na, the Al atoms in Na3Al2− undergo a double electronic transmutation into Group 15 elements, thus the Al2−≡Al2− kernel mimics the P≡P and N≡N molecules. We anticipate this work will stimulate more endeavors in discovering materials using Al2−≡Al2− as a building block in the gas phase and in the solid state.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Pub Defense Publication
- Publication Date
- Sep 21, 2018
- Source ID
- 10.1002/ange.201806917
Entities
People
- Alexander I. Boldyrev
- Chaonan Mu
- Hansgeorg Schnöckel
- Haopeng Wang
- Ivan A. Popov
- Katie A. Lundell
- Kit H Bowen
- Wei Wang
- Xinxing Zhang
Organizations
- Air Force Office of Scientific Research
- Johns Hopkins University
- Karlsruhe Institute of Technology
- Los Alamos National Laboratory
- Nankai University
- National Science Foundation
- Utah State University