Scientists discover a single-electron bond in a carbon-based compound

Since then, single-electron bonds have been observed, but never in carbon or hydrogen — the hunt for one-electron bonds shared between carbon atoms has stymied scientists. Since then, single-electron bonds have been observed, but never in carbon or hydrogen — the hunt for one-electron bonds shared between carbon atoms has stymied scientists. Now, a team of researchers fromHokkaido Universityhas isolated a compound in which a single electron is shared between two carbon atoms in a...

SAPPORO, Japan, 25/09/2024 (informazione.it - comunicati stampa - istruzione e formazione)

Since then, single-electron bonds have been observed, but never in carbon or hydrogen — the hunt for one-electron bonds shared between carbon atoms has stymied scientists.

Now, a team of researchers from Hokkaido University has isolated a compound in which a single electron is shared between two carbon atoms in a remarkably stable covalent bond, known as a sigma bond. Their findings are published in the journal .

"Elucidating the nature of single-electron sigma-bonds between two carbon atoms is essential to gain a deeper understanding of chemical-bonding theories and would provide further insights into chemical reactions," explains Professor Yusuke Ishigaki , of the Department of Chemistry at Hokkaido University , who co-authored the study.

The single-electron bond was formed by subjecting a derivative of hexaphenylethane, which contains an extremely stretched out paired-electron covalent bond between two carbon atoms, to an oxidation reaction in the presence of iodine. The reaction produced dark violet-colored crystals of an iodine salt.

The team used X-ray diffraction analysis to study the crystals and found that the carbon atoms in them were extremely close together, suggesting the presence of single-electron covalent bonds between carbon atoms. They were then able to confirm this using a form of chemical analysis called Raman spectroscopy.

"These results thus constitute the first piece of experimental evidence for a carbon-carbon single-electron covalent bond, which can be expected to pave the way for further developments of the chemistry of this scarcely-explored type of bonding," Takuya Shimajiri, the lead author of the paper and now at the University of Tokyo , says.

Assistant Professor Takuya Shimajiri
School of Science
The University of Tokyo
Tel: +81-3-5841-8061
Email: shimajiri@chem.s.u-tokyo.ac.jp

Associate Professor Yusuke Ishigaki
Faculty of Science
Hokkaido University
Tel: +81-11-706-2701
Email: yishigaki@sci.hokudai.ac.jp

Sohail Keegan Pinto (International Public Relations Specialist)
Public Relations & Communications Division
Office of Public Relations and Social Collaboration
Hokkaido University
Tel: +81-11-706-2186
Email: en-press@general.hokudai.ac.jp

Emese Berta
School of Science
The University of Tokyo
Email: media.s@gs.mail.u-tokyo.ac.jp

Takuya Shimajiri, et al. Direct evidence for a carbon–carbon one-electron σ-bond .
. September 25, 2024 .
DOI: 10.1038/s41586-024-07965-1

https://www.global.hokudai.ac.jp/blog/scientists-discover-a-single-electron-bond-in-a-carbon-based-compound/

This work was supported by the Masason Foundation; the Research Program "Five-star Alliance" within "NJRC Mater. & Dev." of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) of Japan ; a Toyota Riken Scholarship; Grants-in-Aid from MEXT ( Japan ) and the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS; JP23K13726, JP23K20275, JP23K21107, JP23H04011); and the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST) PRESTO (No. JPMJPR23Q1).

 

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