Document Type

Article

Original Publication Date

2010

Journal/Book/Conference Title

The Journal of Chemical Physics

Volume

133

DOI of Original Publication

1063/1.3488103

Comments

Originally published at http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.3488103

Date of Submission

October 2015

Abstract

Three-dimensional aromaticity is shown to play a role in the stability of deltahedral Zintl clusters and here we examine the connection between aromaticity and stability. In order to gain further insight, we have studied Zintl analogs comprised of bismuthdopedtin clusters with photoelectron spectroscopy and theoretical methods. To assign aromaticity, we examine the ring currents induced around the cage by using the nucleus independent chemical shift. In the current study, BiSn4− is a stable cluster and fits aromatic criteria, while BiSn5− is found to fit antiaromatic criteria and has reduced stability. The more stable clusters exhibit an aromatic character which originates from weakly interacting s-states and bonding orbitals parallel to the surface of the cluster, while nonbonding lone pairs perpendicular to the surface of the cluster account for antiaromaticity and reduced stability. The effect of three-dimensional aromaticity on the electronic structure does not result in degeneracies, so the resulting variations in stability are smaller than those seen in conventional aromaticity.

Rights

Clayborne, P. A., Gupta, U., Reber, A. C., et al. The applicability of three-dimensional aromaticity in BiSnn− Zintl analogues. The Journal of Chemical Physics 133, 134302 (2010). Copyright © 2010 AIP Publishing LLC.

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