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Title: Realization of an Al≡Al Triple Bond in the Gas-Phase Na3Al2- Cluster via Double Electronic Transmutation

Journal Article · · Angewandte Chemie (International Edition)
ORCiD logo [1]; ORCiD logo [2];  [3];  [4];  [1];  [1];  [5];  [3]; ORCiD logo [4]
  1. Nankai University, Tianjin (China)
  2. Los Alamos National Lab. (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
  3. Utah State Univ., Logan, UT (United States)
  4. Johns Hopkins Univ., Baltimore, MD (United States)
  5. Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (Germany)
+ Show Author Affiliations

We report 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. Lastly, 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.

Research Organization:
Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Laboratory Directed Research and Development (LDRD) Program
Grant/Contract Number:
AC52-06NA25396
OSTI ID:
1481997
Report Number(s):
LA-UR-18-22726
Journal Information:
Angewandte Chemie (International Edition), Vol. 57, Issue 43; ISSN 1433-7851
Publisher:
WileyCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Citation Metrics:
Cited by: 28 works
Citation information provided by
Web of Science

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Cited By (6)

BeBe triple bond in Be 2 X 4 Y 2 clusters (X = Li, Na and Y = Li, Na, K) and a perfect classical BeBe triple bond presented in Be 2 Na 4 K 2 journal January 2019
Quadruple bonding between iron and boron in the BFe(CO)3− complex journal October 2019
On the Possibility of Using the Jellium Model as a Guide To Design Bimetallic Superalkali Cations journal March 2019
Realization of Lewis Basic Sodium Anion in the NaBH 3 − Cluster journal July 2019
Realization of Lewis Basic Sodium Anion in the NaBH 3 − Cluster journal September 2019
All‐Metallic Zn=Zn Double‐π Bonded Octahedral Zn 2 M 4 (M=Li, Na) Clusters with Negative Oxidation State of Zinc journal January 2020

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Related Subjects

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
ab initio calculations
Al≡Al triple bonds
double electronic transmutation
gas-phase clusters
photoelectron spectroscopy