Manifestations of Boron-Alkali Metal and Boron-Alkaline-Earth Metal Romances
Zhong-hua Cui, Li-juan Cui, Jorge Barroso, Jin-Chang Guo, Hua-jin Zhai, Sudip Pan, Gabriel Merino
TL;DR
This paper explores how boron interacts with alkali and alkaline-earth metals to form diverse and complex structures through a mix of electrostatic and covalent bonding.
Contribution
It reveals that alkali and alkaline-earth metals can drive structural transformations in boron clusters beyond simple ionic behavior.
Findings
Lithium induces structural evolution in B12 clusters from planar to tubular to cage-like forms.
Beryllium forms unique covalent structures like the Archimedean Be4B12+ cage.
Heavier alkaline-earth metals exhibit transition-metal-like covalent interactions, creating symmetric rings and tubular clusters.
Abstract
The electron deficiency of boron promotes the formation of multicenter σ and π bonds that endow its clusters and solids with exceptional structural diversity. While bulk boron favors cage-like frameworks, clusters often adopt planar or quasi-planar motifs composed of triangles that evolve into tubular and cage-like architectures as their size increases. Many of these clusters are stabilized by delocalized σ and π bonds that are associated with fluxional behavior and multiple aromaticity. Metal doping enriches this chemistry. Transition metals use their d or f orbitals to couple with the boron framework, generating metal-centered rings, metallo-boron nanotubes, and metalloborophenes. In contrast, alkali and alkaline-earth metals have long been viewed as simple counterions, yet recent findings reveal that they can orchestrate deep structural reorganizations by combining charge transfer…
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Taxonomy
TopicsBoron and Carbon Nanomaterials Research · Organoboron and organosilicon chemistry · Boron Compounds in Chemistry