The Existence of a Designer Al=Al Double Bond in the LiAl2H4− Cluster Formed by Electronic Transmutation

Authors

Katie A. Lundell, Utah State UniversityFollow
Xingxing Zhang, Johns Hopkins University
Alexander I. Boldyrev, Utah State UniversityFollow
Kit H. Bowen, Johns Hopkins University

Document Type

Article

Journal/Book Title

Angewandte Chemie International Edition

Publication Date

11-2-2017

Publisher

Wiley‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA

Award Number

NSF, Division of Chemistry (CHE) 1664379

Funder

NSF, Division of Chemistry (CHE)

Volume

56

Issue

52

First Page

16593

Last Page

16596

Abstract

The Al=Al double bond is elusive in chemistry. Herein we report the results obtained via combined photoelectron spectroscopy and ab initio studies of the LiAl₂H₄⁻ cluster that confirm the formation of a conventional Al=Al double bond. Comprehensive searches for the most stable structures of the LiAl₂H₄⁻ cluster have shown that the global minimum isomer I possesses a geometric structure which resembles that of Si₂H₄, demonstrating a successful example of the transmutation of Al atoms into Si atoms by electron donation. Theoretical simulations of the photoelectron spectrum discovered the coexistence of two isomers in the ion beam, including the one with the Al=Al double bond.

Recommended Citation

Lundell, Katie A., et al. “The Existence of a Designer Al=Al Double Bond in the LiAl 2 H 4 − Cluster Formed by Electronic Transmutation.” Angewandte Chemie International Edition, vol. 56, no. 52, Dec. 2017, pp. 16593–96. DOI.org (Crossref), doi:10.1002/anie.201710338.