Research news, Oct. 09th, 2013.

 Barium Dibenzopentalenide as a Main-Group Metal η8 Complex: Facile Synthesis from 1,4-Dilithio-1,3-butadienes and Ba[N(SiMe3)2]2, Structural Characterization and Reaction Chemistry

Heng Li, Baosheng Wei, Ling Xu, Wen-Xiong Zhang, and Zhenfeng Xi*
Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2013, 52, 10822-10825.(cover paper)
 
  The first main-group metal ηcomplex coordinated with a dibenzopentalene dianion has been synthesized and structurally characterized. The barium dibenzopentalenides, in which the single barium atom is coordinated to the parent pentalene in an η8 fashion, were synthesized from 2,3-diphenyl 1,4-dilithio-1,3- butadienes and Ba[N(SiMe3)2]2 via formation of Ba-C (sp2) bonds. Preliminary reaction chemistry study of thus obtained barium dibenzopentalenides has demonstrated that synthetically useful applications can be expected.
 
背景介绍
戊搭烯(pentalene)及其衍生物包括苯并戊搭烯(dibenzopentalene)是一类具有反芳香性(antiaromatic)的有机分子,由于其独特的结构和性质近年来受到重视;而戊搭烯类双负离子具有芳香性,在配位化学中作为配体很久以来得到应用。但是,如图所示,Ic配位模式(η8模式)的配合物在主族金属中还没有报道。本工作是第一例有关报道。并且利用该配合物可以合成官能团化的反芳香性苯并戊搭烯。因此,本文被德国应用化学选为封面论文。
 
 
封面含义介绍
1、从双锂试剂出发,经过转移成活性更高的C-Ba键,得到该类配合物;
2、地球表面上的该配合物示意其非平面结构;
3、右上角闪电顶端的本组LOGO示意该工作是本组的特色(15年双金属试剂研究),同时暗示坚持与集中是灵感和新发现的关键。