title: Violation of the isolated square rule for group 13-15 oligomers: theoretical prediction of a new class of inorganic polymers.
abstract: It is widely thought that the oligomer compounds [RMYR]n (M-group 13, Y-group 15 element) should obey the isolated square rule found for the boron-nitrogen cages. In contrast to these expectations, the needle-shaped oligomers, which violate this rule, are more stable compared to the cage (fullerene-like) oligomers for all MY pairs (M = B, Al, Ga, In; Y = N, P, As). The stability of the needle-shaped clusters improves with increasing oligomerization degree. Thus, the isolated square rule, which is analogous to the isolated pentagon rule widely applied for fullerenes, should not serve as the basis for searches for the most stable structures of the inorganic oligomers. Generation of the needle-shaped oligomers from the group 13 and 15 hydrides is thermodynamically favorable. A synthesis of novel inorganic polymers, formed by fusion of trimeric M3Y3 rings, is expected to be viable.
authors.affiliation: Inorganic Chemistry Group, Department of Chemistry, St Petersburg State University, Old Peterhof, 198504 Russia. alextim@AT11692.spb.edu
authors.forename: Alexey Y
authors.initials: AY
authors.lastname: Timoshkin
authors.forename: Henry F
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: Schaefer