Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: Parallel to the hexagonal C6 motif in carbon materials (such as graphene and carbon nanotubes) and polyaromatic hydrocarbons, three-membered boron and aluminum rings are the smallest key units seen in their clusters and materials (such as borophene). Herein, we report an edge-condensation protocol of a B3 ring to render a cationic icosagen species. A single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis and computational studies reveal that the planar B3Al2 core consists of three consecutive three-center two-electron bonds. Remarkably, the icosagen ring exhibits global σ-aromaticity. The reactions with a cationic gallium and a copper complex afford a dicationic B3Al2 species assimilating a Ga atom by coordination with two borafluorene ligands and a dinuclear copper complex bearing a η2-dianionic diborane ligand, respectively, demonstrating the π-donor property as well as the capability of transferring the dianionic diborane fragment. Analogous to the hexagonal C₆ motif found in carbon materials and polyaromatic hydrocarbons, three-membered boron and aluminum rings represent the smallest fundamental building blocks in their respective clusters and materials. Here, the authors present an edge-condensation strategy of a B₃ ring to generate a cationic icosagen species.
Source: Nature Communications
Authors: Zhongtao Feng, Rei Kinjo
Institution: Nanyang Technological University
Language: English
Topic: Boron Compounds in Chemistry
Subfield: Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Imaging
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $6,990
Award: G4920675601
OpenAlex ID: W4416183033