Issue 22, 2022

The oxidation state in low-valent beryllium and magnesium compounds

Abstract

Low-valent group 2 (E = Be and Mg) stabilized compounds have been long synthetically pursued. Here we discuss the electronic structure of a series of Lewis base-stabilized Be and Mg compounds. Despite the accepted zero(0) oxidation state nature of the group 2 elements of some recent experimentally accomplished species, the analysis of multireference wavefunctions provides compelling evidence for a strong diradical character with an oxidation state of +2. Thus, we elaborate on the distinction between a description as a donor–acceptor interaction L(0) ⇆ E(0) ⇄ L(0) and the internally oxidized situation, better interpreted as a diradical L(−1) → E(+2) ← L(−1) species. The experimentally accomplished examples rely on the strengthened bonds by increasing the π-acidity of the ligand; avoiding this interaction could lead to an unprecedented low-oxidation state.

Graphical abstract: The oxidation state in low-valent beryllium and magnesium compounds

Associated articles

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Edge Article
Submitted
09 mar 2022
Accepted
07 mai 2022
First published
09 mai 2022
This article is Open Access

All publication charges for this article have been paid for by the Royal Society of Chemistry
Creative Commons BY license

Chem. Sci., 2022,13, 6583-6591

The oxidation state in low-valent beryllium and magnesium compounds

M. Gimferrer, S. Danés, E. Vos, C. B. Yildiz, I. Corral, A. Jana, P. Salvador and D. M. Andrada, Chem. Sci., 2022, 13, 6583 DOI: 10.1039/D2SC01401G

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