Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 3, 2026

Line Shape Analysis of Dynamic NMR Spectra for Characterizing Coordination Sphere Rearrangements at a Chiral Rhenium Polyhydride Complex
Published on: July 27, 2022
A Stable Cyclic (R2 SnAu)3 Anion Having In-Plane σ-Möbius Aromaticity
Liliang Wang1, Jian Xu1, Mitsuo Kira1
1Key Laboratory of Organosilicon Chemistry and Material Technology of Ministry of Education, Hangzhou Normal University, No.2318, Yuhangtang Rd, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 311121, P. R. China.
A novel cyclic tin-gold anion, (R2SnAu)3(3-), was synthesized and characterized. This stable, blue, σ-aromatic anion exhibits an unprecedented Möbius orbital array, challenging previous understandings of anti-aromaticity.
Area of Science:
- Organometallic Chemistry
- Inorganic Chemistry
- Materials Science
Background:
- Cyclic gold anions are typically unstable due to anti-aromaticity.
- Divalent tin ligands can influence the electronic properties of metal clusters.
Purpose of the Study:
- To synthesize and characterize a novel cyclic tin-gold anion.
- To investigate the electronic structure and stability of the synthesized anion.
- To explore the potential for σ-aromaticity and Möbius orbital arrays in such systems.
Main Methods:
- Synthesis via reaction of dialkylstannylene with phosphinegold(I) chloride, followed by reduction.
- Crystallographic and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) analysis for structural determination.
- UV/Vis spectroscopy for electronic characterization.
- Computational analysis (Perturbation MO and CCSD) to predict electronic structure.
Main Results:
- Successful synthesis of a stable blue salt, K+(THF)6[(R2SnAu)3].
- Crystallographic and NMR data confirmed a planar, highly symmetric six-membered (SnAu)3 ring with equal Au-Sn bond distances.
- UV/Vis spectrum showed an intense absorption maximum at 598 nm.
- Computational analysis predicted a stable σ-aromatic anion with a unique Möbius orbital array.
Conclusions:
- The synthesized cyclic tin-gold anion is stable, contrary to expectations for similar gold clusters.
- The anion exhibits σ-aromaticity and an unprecedented Möbius orbital array.
- This discovery expands the understanding of aromaticity in inorganic ring systems and opens new avenues for designing novel organometallic compounds.
More Related Videos
12:43The Synthesis of [Sn10SiSiMe334]2- Using a Metastable SnI Halide Solution Synthesized via a Co-condensation Technique
Published on: November 28, 2016
06:35Construction and Systematical Symmetric Studies of a Series of Supramolecular Clusters with Binary or Ternary Ammonium Triphenylacetates
Published on: February 15, 2016
Related Concept Videos
Aromatic Hydrocarbon Anions: Structural Overview
Due to the absence of continuous...
Chirality at Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Sulfur
A consequence of chirality is the need for enantiomeric resolution. While this is theoretically possible for all...
Aromatic Hydrocarbon Cations: Structural Overview
Removing one hydrogen from the intervening CH2 group...
SN2 Reaction: Stereochemistry
If the substrate is an achiral molecule at the α-carbon, the inversion of configuration is not...
[3,3] Sigmatropic Rearrangement of 1,5-Dienes: Cope Rearrangement
Nucleophilic Aromatic Substitution: Addition–Elimination (SNAr)
The reaction begins with an attack of the nucleophile on the carbon that holds the leaving group. This results in the delocalization of the π electrons over the ring carbons. The resonance interaction between...