Issue 83, 2023

Observation of an electron-precise metal boryne complex: [Bi[triple bond, length as m-dash]BH]

Abstract

Metal-boron triple bonds are rare due to the electron deficiency of boron. This study uncovers a simple electron-precise metal boryne complex, [Bi[triple bond, length as m-dash]BH], which is produced within an ion trap through chemical reactions of the open-shell BiB anion with H2. Photoelectron imaging is used to investigate the electronic structure and chemical bonding of the BiBH complex. The B atom in the linear closed-shell BiBH is found to undergo sp hybridization, forming a B–H single bond and a Bi[triple bond, length as m-dash]B triple bond. Photoelectron imaging reveals three detachment transitions from the BiBH (1Σ+) anion to the neutral BiBH, including the ground state (2Π3/2) and two excited states (2Σ+ and 2Π1/2). Strong vibronic coupling is observed between the 2Π3/2 and 2Σ+ states, evidenced by the appearance of bending vibrations and their unique photoelectron angular distributions. The BiBH complex not only stands as the simplest metal boryne complex, but also serves as an ideal molecular system to investigate both spin–orbit and vibronic couplings.

Graphical abstract: Observation of an electron-precise metal boryne complex: [Bi [[triple bond, length as m-dash]] BH]−

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Communication
Submitted
29 Aug 2023
Accepted
22 Sep 2023
First published
22 Sep 2023

Chem. Commun., 2023,59, 12431-12434

Observation of an electron-precise metal boryne complex: [Bi[triple bond, length as m-dash]BH]

H. Gao, J. Hui and L. Wang, Chem. Commun., 2023, 59, 12431 DOI: 10.1039/D3CC04235A

To request permission to reproduce material from this article, please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

If you are an author contributing to an RSC publication, you do not need to request permission provided correct acknowledgement is given.

If you are the author of this article, you do not need to request permission to reproduce figures and diagrams provided correct acknowledgement is given. If you want to reproduce the whole article in a third-party publication (excluding your thesis/dissertation for which permission is not required) please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

Read more about how to correctly acknowledge RSC content.

Social activity

Spotlight

Advertisements