3 ms·
Direct evidence for a carbon–carbon one-electron σ-bond
- pfdietz 2y agoPaywalled, but here's the Science Daily story explaining the result. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/09/240925122902.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/09/240925122902.h... The chemical is described as a derivative of hexaphenyl ethane, where hindrance of the six phenyl groups would stretch ethane's C-C bond. The "extremely close together" in the Science Daily article would seem to be wrong, I'd think. Correction: it's not hexaphenyl ethane; "derivative" was doing some heavy lifting there.
- fuzzfactor 2y agoThanks, that article refers to the press release from the university itself where the exact hydrocarbon molecule is presented: https://www.global.hokudai.ac.jp/blog/scientists-discover-a-single-electron-bond-in-a-carbon-based-compound/ https://www.global.hokudai.ac.jp/blog/scientists-discover-a-... This is very admirable work but I would say it's a bit of a "stretch" myself since there is little difference whether there is any bond between the two designated carbons or not. The molecule retains its structure whether or not there is a bond at that point. In parallel to this single-electron bond is a strong 3-carbon chain with pi electrons all over the place, actually holding the structure together. A very interesting material as a cationic hydrocarbon iodide "salt".
- pfdietz 2y agoI think the positive charge is delocalized over those two carbon atoms. If there is some enhanced electron density between them, that would be a bond.