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Updated: Apr 17, 2026

Thermochemical Studies of NiII and ZnII Ternary Complexes Using Ion Mobility-Mass Spectrometry
Published on: June 8, 2022
A multicentre-bonded [Zn(I)]8 cluster with cubic aromaticity
Ping Cui1, Han-Shi Hu2, Bin Zhao1
1Department of Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Advanced Energy Material Chemistry of the Ministry of Education, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Metal and Molecule Based Material Chemistry, and Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemical Science and Engineering (Tianjin), Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China.
Researchers discovered novel polynuclear zinc clusters featuring zinc(I) ions and multicentered Zn-Zn bonds. These stable cubic clusters exhibit a new form of aromaticity, expanding metallic bonding concepts.
Area of Science:
- Inorganic Chemistry
- Materials Science
- Theoretical Chemistry
Background:
- Polynuclear zinc clusters with multicentered Zn-Zn bonds and zinc in the +1 oxidation state (zinc(I) or Zn(I)) have not been previously reported.
- Understanding novel bonding motifs and electronic structures in inorganic clusters is crucial for materials development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To synthesize and characterize novel polynuclear zinc compounds.
- To investigate the electronic structure and bonding characteristics of these unusual zinc clusters.
- To explore the concept of aromaticity in metallic systems.
Main Methods:
- Synthesis of polyzinc compounds with a cubic [Zn(I)8(HL)4(L)8](12-) core, where L is a tetrazole dianion.
- Characterization of the cluster core, including short Zn-Zn bond lengths (2.2713(19) Å).
- Quantum chemical studies to analyze electron distribution, molecular orbitals, and stabilization mechanisms.
Main Results:
- Discovery of stable cubic [Zn(I)8] clusters with Zn(I) ions and short Zn-Zn bonds.
- Demonstration of high stability in air and solution for these novel zinc compounds.
- Quantum chemical analysis revealed extensive electron delocalization and stabilization within the cubic cluster, consistent with a 6n+2 electron rule.
Conclusions:
- The study reports the first polynuclear zinc clusters with Zn(I) ions and multicentered Zn-Zn bonds.
- A new type of aromaticity, termed 'cubic aromaticity', is proposed for these metallic systems.
- This finding expands the understanding of aromaticity beyond molecular systems to metallic clusters and enriches Zn-Zn bonding chemistry.
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