Transition-Metal Chemistry of Alkaline-Earth Elements: The Trisbenzene Complexes M(Bz)3 (M=Sr, Ba)

Qian Wang, Sudip Pan, Yan Bo Wu, Guohai Deng, Jian Hong Bian, Guanjun Wang, Lili Zhao, Mingfei Zhou, Gernot Frenking

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

83 Scopus citations

Abstract

We report the synthesis and spectroscopic identification of the trisbenzene complexes of strontium and barium M(Bz)3 (M=Sr, Ba) in low-temperature Ne matrix. Both complexes are characterized by a D3 symmetric structure involving three equivalent η6-bound benzene ligands and a closed-shell singlet electronic ground state. The analysis of the electronic structure shows that the complexes exhibit metal–ligand bonds that are typical for transition metal compounds. The chemical bonds can be explained in terms of weak donation from the π MOs of benzene ligands into the vacant (n−1)d AOs of M and strong backdonation from the occupied (n−1)d AO of M into vacant π* MOs of benzene ligands. The metals in these 20-electron complexes have 18 effective valence electrons, and, thus, fulfill the 18-electron rule if only the metal–ligand bonding electrons are counted. The results suggest that the heavier alkaline earth atoms exhibit the full bonding scenario of transition metals.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)17365-17374
Number of pages10
JournalAngewandte Chemie - International Edition
Volume58
Issue number48
DOIs
StatePublished - 25 Nov 2019

Keywords

  • 18-electron rule
  • alkaline earth metals
  • benzene complexes
  • bonding analysis
  • matrix isolation spectroscopy

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Transition-Metal Chemistry of Alkaline-Earth Elements: The Trisbenzene Complexes M(Bz)3 (M=Sr, Ba)'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this