Design and synthesis of a thermally stable organic electride
Mikhail Y Redko1, James E Jackson, Rui H Huang
1Department of Chemistry, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824, USA.
Abstract:
An electride has been synthesized that is stable to auto-decomposition at room temperature. The key was the theoretically directed synthesis of a per-aza analogue of cryptand[2.2.2] in which each of the linking arms contains a piperazine ring. This complexant was designed to provide strong complexation of Na+ via pre-organization of a "crypt" that contains eight nonreducible tertiary amine nitrogens. The structure and properties indicate that, as with other electrides, the "anions" are electrons trapped in the cavities formed by close-packing of the complexed cations. The isostructural sodide, with Na- anions in the cavities, is also stable at and above room temperature.
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