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Despite the importance of bulk lanthanide borides, nanoclusters of lanthanide and boron have rarely been investigated. Here we show that lanthanide–boron binary clusters, La 2 B x − , can form a new class of inverse-sandwich complexes, [Ln(η x -B x )Ln] − ( x = 7–9). Joint experimental and theoretical studies reveal that the monocyclic B x rings in the inverse sandwiches display similar bonding, consisting of three delocalized σ and three delocalized π bonds. Such monocyclic boron rings do not exist for bare boron clusters, but they are stabilized by the sandwiching lanthanide atoms. An electron counting rule is proposed to predict the sizes of the B x ring that can form stable inverse sandwiches. A unique (d-p)δ bond is found to play important roles in the stability of all three inverse-sandwich complexes.
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La3B14–: An Inverse Triple-Decker Lanthanide Boron Cluster
We report the observation of the first inverse triple-decker complex in a tri-lanthanide-doped boron cluster. Photoelectron spectroscopy of La3B14– reveals well-resolved photodetachment transitions. Quantum chemical studies show that the most stable structure of the La3B14– cluster exhibits a tilted La–B8–La–B8–La inverse triple-decker structure with two conjoined B8 rings sharing a pair of B atoms due to strong inter-layer B–B bonding. The tilted structure enhances both B–B and B–La bonding, resulting in a highly stable inverse triple-decker structure. Theoretical calculations further show that multi-decker conjoined structures are viable as a new class of 1D lanthanide boron nanostructures.
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- Award ID(s):
- 1763380
- PAR ID:
- 10099128
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- Chemical communications
- ISSN:
- 2050-5620
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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Accepted Manuscript1.0
- Journal Article:
- https://doi.org/DOI: 10.1039/C9CC03807H
