A Germapyramidane Switches Between 3D Cluster and 2D Cyclic Structures in Single-Electron Steps


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Date

2022-11-21

Publication Type

Journal Article

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yes

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Abstract

Reaction of the imidazolium‐substituted iphosphate‐diide, (Ipr)₂C₂P₂ (IDP), with GeCl₂ ⋅ dioxane and KBArF₂₄ [(BarF₂₄)⁻=tetrakis[(3,5‐trifluoromethyl)phenyl]borate)] afforded the dicationic spherical‐aromatic nido‐cluster [Ge(η⁴‐IDP)]²⁺ ([1]²⁺) (Ipr=1,3‐bis(2,6‐diisopropylphenyl)imidazolium‐2‐ylidene). This complex is a rare heavy analogue of the elusive pyramidane [C(η⁴‐C₄H₄)]. [1]²⁺ undergoes two reversible one‐electron reductions, which yield the radical cation [2]⋅⁺ and the neutral GeII species 3. Both [2]⋅⁺ and 3 rearrange in solution forming the 2D aromatic and planar imidazolium‐substituted digermolide [4]²⁺ and germole‐diide 5, respectively. Both planar species can be oxidized back to [1]²⁺ using AgSbF₆. These redox‐isomerizations correspond to the fundamental transformation of a 3D aromatic cluster into a 2D aromatic ring compound upon reduction and vice versa. The mechanism of these reactions was elucidated using DFT calculations and cyclic voltammetry experiments.

Publication status

published

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Volume

61 (47)

Pages / Article No.

e202211749

Publisher

Wiley-VCH

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Edition / version

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Subject

Aromaticity; Cluster Compounds; Density Functional Calculations; Main-Group Elements; Redox Chemistry

Organisational unit

09654 - Mougel, Victor / Mougel, Victor check_circle
03447 - Grützmacher, Hansjörg (emeritus) / Grützmacher, Hansjörg (emeritus) check_circle

Notes

Funding Info about funding

181966 - Coordinated radicals and catalyzed dehydrogenation reactions II (SNF)
ETH-36 17-2 - Phosphaethynolate as building block for Heterocycles and Metal Phosphides (ETHZ)

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