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Updated: Mar 17, 2026

Construction and Systematical Symmetric Studies of a Series of Supramolecular Clusters with Binary or Ternary Ammonium Triphenylacetates
Published on: February 15, 2016
The Tetracyanopyridinide Dimer Dianion, σ-[TCNPy]2 (2.)
Jingjun Hao1, Arnold L Rheingold2, Marzieh Kavand3
1Material Research Science and Engineering Center, Department of Chemistry, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, 84112-0850, USA.
The reaction of 2,3,5,6-tetracyanopyridine (TCNPy) with Cr(C6H6)2 forms a unique diamagnetic dimer with a strong sp(3)-sp(3) bond. This finding contrasts with related compounds forming weaker, multicenter bonds.
Area of Science:
- Organic Chemistry
- Organometallic Chemistry
- Materials Science
Background:
- 2,3,5,6-tetracyanopyridine (TCNPy) is a versatile building block in supramolecular chemistry.
- Previous studies on related cyanocarbons formed π-dimer dianions with multicenter bonding.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the reaction of TCNPy with bis(benzene)chromium.
- To characterize the resulting dimeric species and its bonding.
Main Methods:
- Synthesis of the TCNPy-chromium complex.
- X-ray crystallography for structural determination.
- Magnetic susceptibility measurements for diamagnetism confirmation.
Main Results:
- Formation of a diamagnetic σ-dimer, [TCNPy]2(2-).
- Observation of a short, 1.572(3) Å intrafragment sp(3)-sp(3) bond within the dimer.
- Structural and electronic differences compared to π-dimers of related cyanocarbons.
Conclusions:
- TCNPy can form unusual σ-dimers with organometallic reagents.
- The sp(3)-sp(3) bond represents a novel bonding mode for this class of compounds.
- This work expands the understanding of bonding in polycyanocarbon systems.
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