Synthesis and Reactivity of an Anti-van't Hoff/Le Bel Compound with a Planar Tetracoordinate Silicon(II) Atom

Diverse Functionality of Molecular Germanium: Emerging Opportunities as Catalysts

Fundamental research on germanium as the central element in compounds for bond activation chemistry and catalysis has achieved significant feats over the last two decades. Designing strategies for small molecule activations and the ultimate catalysts established capitalize on the orbital modalities of germanium, apparently imitating the transition-metal frontier orbitals. There is a growing body of examples in contemporary research implicating the tunability of the frontier orbitals through avant-garde approaches such as geometric constrained empowered reactivity, bimetallic orbital complementarity, cooperative reactivity, etc. The goal of this Perspective is to provide readers with an overview of the emerging opportunities in the field of germanium-based catalysis by perceiving the underlying key principles. This will help to convert the discrete set of findings into a more systematic vision for catalyst designs. Critical exposition on the germanium's frontier orbitals participations evokes the key challenges involved in innovative catalyst designs, wherein viewpoints are provided. We close by addressing the forward-looking directions for germanium-based catalytic manifold development. We hope that this Perspective will be motivational for applied research on germanium as a constituent of pragmatic catalysts.

Heavier tetrylene- and tetrylyne-transition metal chemistry: it's no carbon copy

Since the late 19th century, heavier tetrylene- and tetrylyne-transition metal chemistry has formed an important cornerstone in both main-group and organometallic chemistry alike. Driven by the success of carbene systems, significant efforts have gone towards the thorough understanding of the heavier group 14 derivatives, with examples now known from across the d-block. This now leads towards applications in cooperative bond activation, and moves ultimately towards well-defined catalytic systems. This review aims to summarise this vast field, from initial discoveries of tetrylene and tetrylyne complexes, to the most recent developments in reactivity and catalysis, as a platform to the future of this exciting, blossoming field.

Tetra-Amido Macrocyclic Ligand (TAML) at Silicon(IV): A Structurally Constrained, Water-Soluble Silicon Lewis Superacid

Tetracoordinate silicon species are typically tetrahedral, weak Lewis acids, and often sensitive to moisture. In this study, we present a tetra-amido macrocyclic ligand (TAML)-substituted Si(IV), isolated as its bis(pyridine) adduct. Due to structural constraint toward anti van't-Hof/Le Bel geometry, this compound exhibits Lewis superacidity and effectively catalyzes the hydroboration of pyridine. Kinetic and computational analyses of the catalytic cycle reveal that TAML-Si(IV) acts as a hydride transfer agent, and the hydrido silicate key intermediate is isolated. Notably, the Lewis acid is highly soluble (5 g/L) and long-term stable in water. Unlike previously described silicon-H2O adducts, the bound water becomes substantially acidified, reaching the Bro̷nsted superacidity range. A comparison of water affinity versus pKa lowering confirms our previous theory of the strength and the effect of Lewis acids. Overall, the compound's unlimited water compatibility and its mechanistically understood catalytic efficiency mark significant progress in applying structural constraint strategies for p-block element-based catalysis, while the acidification touches critical aspects of zeolite and silica surface chemistry.

Polydentate Amidinato-Silylenes, -Germylenes and -Stannylenes

This review article focuses on amidinatotetrylenes that potentially can (or have already shown to) behave as bi- or tridentate ligands because they contain at least one amidinatotetrylene moiety (silylene, germylene or stannylene) and one (or more) additional coordinable fragment(s). Currently, they are being widely used as ligands in coordination chemistry, small molecule activation and catalysis. This review classifies those that have been isolated as transition metal-free compounds into five families that differ in the position(s) of the donor group(s) (D) on the amidinatotetrylene moiety, namely: ED{R1NC(R2)NR1}, EX{DNC(R2)NR1}, EX{R1NC(D)NR1}, EX{DNC(R2)ND} and E{R1NC(R2)ND}2 (E=Si, Ge or Sn). Those that do not exist as transition metal-free compounds but have been observed as ligands in transition metal complexes are cyclometallated and ring-opened amidinatotetrylene ligands. This article presents schematic descriptions of their structures, the approaches used for their syntheses and a quick overview of their involvement (as ligands) in transition metal-catalysed reactions. The literature is covered up to the end of 2023.

XB2Bi2 (X = Si, Ge, Sn, Pb): Penta-Atomic Planar Tetracoordinate Si/Ge/Sn/Pb Clusters with 20 Valence Electrons

Planar tetracoordinate silicon, germanium, tin, and lead (ptSi/Ge/Sn/Pb) species are scarce and exotic. Here, we report a series of penta-atomic ptSi/Ge/Sn/Pb XB2Bi2 (X = Si, Ge, Sn, Pb) clusters with 20 valence electrons (VEs). Ternary XB2Bi2 (X = Si, Ge, Sn, Pb) clusters possess beautiful fan-shaped structures, with a Bi-B-B-Bi chain surrounding the central X core. The unbiased density functional theory (DFT) searches and high-level CCSD(T) calculations reveal that these ptSi/Ge/Sn/Pb species are the global minima on their potential energy surfaces. Born-Oppenheimer molecular dynamics (BOMD) simulations indicate that XB2Bi2 (X = Si, Ge, Sn, Pb) clusters are robust. Bonding analyses indicate that 20 VEs are perfect for the ptX XB2Bi2 (X = Si, Ge, Sn, Pb): two lone pairs of Bi atoms; one 5c-2e π, and three σ bonds (two Bi-X 2c-2e and one B-X-B 3c-2e bonds) between the ligands and X atom; three 2c-2e σ bonds and one delocalized 4c-2e π bond between the ligands. The ptSi/Ge/Sn/Pb XB2Bi2 (X = Si, Ge, Sn, Pb) clusters possess 2π/2σ double aromaticity, according to the (4n + 2) Hückel rule.

Amidinatotetrylenes Donor Functionalized on Both N Atoms: Structures and Coordination Chemistry

E(hmds)(bqfam) (E = Ge (1a), Sn (1b); hmds = N(SiMe3)2, bqfam = N,N'-bis(quinol-8-yl)formamidinate), which are amidinatotetrylenes equipped with quinol-8-yl fragments on the amidinate N atoms, have been synthesized from the formamidine Hbqfam and Ge(hmds)2 or SnCl(hmds). Both 1a and 1b are fluxional in solution at room temperature, as the E atom oscillates from being attached to the two amidinate N atoms to being chelated by an amidinate N atom and its closest quinolyl N atom (both situations are similarly stable according to density functional theory calculations). The hmds group of 1a and 1b is still reactive and the deprotonation of another equivalent of Hbqfam can be achieved, allowing the formation of the homoleptic derivatives E(bqfam)2 (E = Ge, Sn). The reactions of 1a and 1b with [AuCl(tht)] (tht = tetrahydrothiophene), [PdCl2(MeCN)2], [PtCl2(cod)] (cod = cycloocta-1,5-diene), [Ru3(CO)12] and [Co2(CO)8] have been investigated. The gold(I) complexes [AuCl{κE-E(hmds)(bqfam)}] (E = Ge, Sn) have a monodentate κE-tetrylene ligand and display fluxional behavior in solution the same as that of 1a and 1b. However, the palladium(II) and platinum(II) complexes [MCl{κ3E,N,N'-ECl(hmds)(bqfam)}] (M = Pd, Pt; E = Ge, Sn) contain a κ3E,N,N'-chloridotetryl ligand that arises from the insertion of the tetrylene E atom into an M-Cl bond and the coordination of an amidinate N atom and its closest quinolyl N atom to the metal center. Finally, the binuclear ruthenium(0) and cobalt(0) complexes [Ru2{μE-κ3E,N,N'-E(hmds)(bqfam)}(CO)6] and [Co2{μE-κ3E,N,N'-E(hmds)(bqfam)}(μ-CO)(CO)4] (E = Ge, Sn) have a related κ3E,N,N'-tetrylene ligand that bridges two metal atoms through the E atom. For the κ3E,N,N'-metal complexes, the quinolyl fragment not attached to the metal is pendant in all the germanium compounds but, for the tin derivatives, is attached to (in the Pd and Pt complexes) or may interact with (in the Ru2 and Co2 complexes) the tin atom.

Ligand-enforced geometric constraints and associated reactivity in p-block compounds

The geometry at an element centre can generally be predicted based on the number of electron pairs around it using valence shell electron pair repulsion (VSEPR) theory. Strategies to distort p-block compounds away from these predicted geometries have gained considerable interest due to the unique structural outcomes, spectroscopic properties or reactivity patterns engendered by such distortion. This review presents an up-to-date group-wise summary of this exciting and rapidly growing field with a focus on understanding how the ligand employed unlocks structural features, which in turn influences the associated reactivity. Relevant geometrically constrained compounds from groups 13-16 are discussed, along with selected stoichiometric and catalytic reactions. Several areas for advancement in this field are also discussed. Collectively, this review advances the notion of geometric tuning as an important lever, alongside electronic and steric tuning, in controlling bonding and reactivity at p-block centres.

CBe2 H5 - : Unprecedented 2σ/2π Double Aromaticity and Dynamic Structural Fluxionality in a Planar Tetracoordinate Carbon Cluster

A 14-electron ternary anionic CBe2 H5 - 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 electronic structure analysis reveals the flexible bonding positions of ligand H atoms due to C-H localized bonds, highlighting the rotational fluxionality in the cluster, and two CBe2 3c-2e delocalized bonds endow its rare 2σ/2π double aromaticity. Unprecedentedly, the fluxional process exhibits a conversion in the type of bonding (σ bond↔π bond), which is an uncommon fluxional mechanism. The cluster can be seen as an attempt to apply planar hypercoordinate carbon species to molecular motors.

Chemical Bonding and Activity of Atomically Dispersed Silicon in Two- and Three-Dimensional Materials

On the basis of the especially tunable electronic property of Si, several kinds of nanomaterials with atomically dispersed Si were constructed and characterized by extensive first-principles calculations and ab initio molecular dynamics (AIMD) simulations. The new-type Si(X≡Y)n wide-bandgap semiconductors featuring through-space d-π* hyperconjugation exhibit unique properties in photoelectric conversion, photoconductivity, structural mechanics, etc. The SiC8 siligraphene with the planar tetracoordinate Si (ptSi) has a high lithium-storage capacity and comparably facile surface migration behaviors of both Li and Li+, making it a promising anode material for high-performance Li-ion batteries. The atomically dispersed Si sites of 2D monolayer materials, such as ptSi and three- and four-coordinated Si atoms, generally exhibit remarkable catalytic activity toward CO2 activation with different electron mechanisms, resulting in different scaling relations between the activity and the p-band center. The computational findings enrich the understanding of structural and chemical properties of silicon and open up avenues for developing Si-based functional materials.

Geometrically Compelled Silicon(II)/Silicon(IV) Donor-Acceptor Interaction Enables the Enamination of Nitriles

Discovering new bonding scenarios and subsequently exploring the reactivity contribute substantially to advance the main group element chemistry. Herein, we report on the isolation and characterization of an intriguing class of the hydrido-benzosiloles 2-4. These compounds exhibit a side arm of the amidinatosilylenyl group, featuring unidirectional silicon(II)/silicon(IV) donor-acceptor interaction on account of the geometric constraint. Furthermore, the reactions involving 2-4 with nitriles yield the tricyclic compounds that edge-fused of the Si-heteroimidazolidine-CN2 Si2 , silole-C4 Si, and phenyl-C6 -rings (5-13). These compounds are manifesting a unique reaction that the silicon(II)/silicon(IV) interaction enables the enamination of the α-H-bearing nitriles. The reaction mechanism involved in H-shift under oxidative addition at silylene followed by hydrosilylation of a ketenimine intermediate was revealed by density function theory (DFT) calculations.

Planar Hexacoordinate Beryllium: Covalent Bonding Between s-block Metals

Achieving a planar hypercoordinate arrangement of s-block metals through covalent bonding with ligands is challenging due to the strong ionicity involved. Herein, we report the first case of a neutral binary global minimum containing a planar hexacoordinate beryllium atom. The central Be atom is coordinated by six active Be atoms, the latter in turn are enclosed by an equal number of more electronegative chlorine atoms in the periphery, forming a star-like phBe cluster (Be©Be6 Cl6 ). Importantly, the cluster exhibits dynamically stabilized stemming geometrically from the appropriate matching of metal-ligand size and electronically from adherence to the octet rule as well as possessing a 6σ/2π double aromaticity. Remarkably, energy decomposition analysis-natural orbitals for chemical valence (EDA-NOCV) analysis reveals a significant covalent interaction between the ligand and the central metal beryllium atoms, a fact further supported by a large Wiberg bond index. This cluster is a promising synthetic as its excellent electronic, dynamic and thermodynamic stability.

Diboriranide σ-Complexes of d- and p-Block Metals

Diboriranides are the smallest conceivable monoanionic aromatic cycles, yet only limited examples have been reported and their reactivity and complexation behavior remain completely unexplored. We report a straightforward synthesis of the first peraryl diboriranide c-(DurB)2 CPh- as its lithium salt in three steps via the corresponding non-classical diborirane from a readily available 1,2-dichlorodiborane(4) (Dur=2,3,5,6-tetramethylphenyl). With the preparation and complete characterization of representative complexes with tin, copper, gold and zinc, we demonstrate the strong preference of the diboriranide for σ-type coordination modes towards main group and transition metal centers under unperturbed retention of the three-membered B2 C-ring's 2e- π-system.

Pyramidanes: newcomers to the anti-van't Hoff-Le Bel family

In this feature article, an overview of the chemistry of pyramidanes, as a novel class of main group element clusters, is given. A general introduction sets the scene, briefly presenting the non-classical pyramidal geometry of tetracoordinate carbon, as opposed to the classical tetrahedral configuration. Pyramidanes, as the simplest organic compounds possessing a pyramidal carbon atom, are then discussed from both computational and experimental viewpoints, to show the theoretical predictions on the stability and thus the feasibility of pyramidanes has finally culminated in the isolation of the first stable representatives of the pyramidane family featuring heavy main group elements at the apex of the square pyramid. Synthetic strategies towards pyramidanes, as well as their peculiar structural features, non-classical bonding situations, and specific reactivity, are presented and discussed in this review.

Ternary XBe4H5- (X = Si, Ge, Sn, Pb) Clusters: Planar Tetracoordinate Si/Ge/Sn/Pb Species with 18 Valence Electrons

As one of the important probes of chemical bonding, planar tetracoordinate carbon (ptC) compounds have been receiving much attention. Compared with ptC clusters, the heavier planar tetracoordinate silicon, germanium, tin, lead (ptSi/Ge/Sn/Pb) systems are scarcer and more exotic. The 18-valence-electron (ve)-counting is one important guide, though not the only rule, for the design of planar tetra-, penta-coordinate carbon and silicon clusters. The 18ve ptSi/Ge system is very scarce and needs to be expanded. Based on the isoelectronic principle and bonding similarity between the Al atom and the BeH unit, inspired by the previously reported ptSi global minimum (GM) SiAl₄^2-, a series of ternary 18 ve XBe4H5^- (X = Si, Ge, Sn, Pb) clusters were predicted with the ptSi/Ge/Sn/Pb centers. Extensive density functional theory (DFT) global minimum searches and high-level CCSD(T) calculations performed herein indicated that these ptSi/Ge/Sn/Pb XBe₄H₅^- (X = Si, Ge, Sn, Pb) clusters were all true GMs on their potential energy surfaces. These GMs of XBe₄H₅^- (X = Si, Ge, Sn, Pb) species possessed the beautiful fan-shaped structures: XBe₄ unit can be stabilized by three peripheries bridging H and two terminal H atoms. It should be noted that XBe₄H₅^- (X = Si, Ge, Sn, Pb) were the first ternary 18 ve ptSi/Ge/Sn/Pb species. The natural bond orbital (NBO), canonical molecular orbitals (CMOs) and adaptive natural densitpartitioning (AdNDP) analyses indicated that 18ve are ideal for these ptX clusters: delocalized one π and three σ bonds for the XBe₄ core, three Be-H-Be 3c-2e and two Be-H σ bonds for the periphery. Additionally, 2π plus 6σ double aromaticity was found to be crucial for the stability of the ptX XBe₄H₅^- (X = Si, Ge, Sn, Pb) clusters. The simulated photoelectron spectra of XBe₄H₅^- (X = Si, Ge, Sn, Pb) clusters will provide theoretical basis for further experimental characterization.