Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 31, 2026

Construction and Systematical Symmetric Studies of a Series of Supramolecular Clusters with Binary or Ternary Ammonium Triphenylacetates
Published on: February 15, 2016
Solvation and structural effects on the stability of 10-X-2 ate-complexes: a computational study
K B Wiberg1, S Sklenak, W F Bailey
1Department of Chemistry, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut 06520-8107, USA.
Organolithium ate-complexes show enhanced stability with fluorine substitution. Diaryl ate-complexes are more stable than dialkyl types, with solvent coordination crucial for stabilizing these organometallic compounds.
Area of Science:
- Organometallic chemistry
- Computational chemistry
- Lithium chemistry
Background:
- Organolithium compounds are versatile reagents in organic synthesis.
- Ate-complexes are anionic species formed from organolithium reagents.
- Understanding their stability is key to controlling reactivity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the structures and energies of various 10-X-2 ate-complexes.
- To determine factors influencing the stability of these ate-complexes.
- To assess the impact of fluorine substitution on ate-complex stability.
Main Methods:
- Density functional theory (DFT) calculations using the B3LYP/6-31+2G** level of theory.
- Studied ate-complexes derived from alkyllithiums and aryllithiums with organohalides.
- Analyzed structural and energetic properties.
Main Results:
- Diaryl ate-complexes are more stable than dialkyl ate-complexes.
- Fluorine substitution significantly enhances the stability of both diaryl and dialkyl ate-complexes.
- Calculations predict perfluoro dialkyl ate-complexes to be observable.
Conclusions:
- Fluorinated organolithium ate-complexes offer increased stability.
- Lewis basic solvent coordination is vital for stabilizing ate-complexes by sequestering lithium.
- Computational findings provide a basis for experimental exploration of novel ate-complexes.
Related Concept Videos
Formation of Complex Ions
Valence Bond Theory
Crystal Field Theory - Octahedral Complexes
To explain the observed behavior of transition metal complexes (such as colors), a model involving electrostatic interactions between the electrons from the ligands and the electrons in the unhybridized d orbitals of the central metal atom has been developed. This electrostatic model is crystal field theory (CFT). It helps to understand, interpret, and predict the colors, magnetic behavior, and some structures of coordination compounds of transition metals.
CFT focuses on...
Crystal Field Theory - Tetrahedral and Square Planar Complexes
Crystal field theory (CFT) is applicable to molecules in geometries other than octahedral. In octahedral complexes, the lobes of the dx2−y2 and dz2 orbitals point directly at the ligands. For tetrahedral complexes, the d orbitals remain in place, but with only four ligands located between the axes. None of the orbitals points directly at the tetrahedral ligands. However, the dx2−y2 and dz2 orbitals (along the Cartesian axes) overlap with the ligands less than the dxy,...
Solvating Effects
Complexation Equilibria: Factors Influencing Stability of Complexes

