Planar pentacoordinate silicon and germanium atoms†
Abstract
The global minimum of XMg4Y− (X = Si, Ge; Y = In, Tl) and SiMg3In2 contains a planar pentacoordinate atom of group 14 other than carbon. Its design is based on the “localization” approach, replacing one or two peripheral atoms in XMg52− by more electronegative ones. This change diminishes the repulsion and leads to stronger covalent X–Y bonds, stabilizing the planar pentacoordinate atom species.
- This article is part of the themed collections: Chemical Communications HOT Articles and Celebrating Latin American Talent in Chemistry