title: Design and synthesis of a thermally stable organic electride.
abstract: An electride has been synthesized that is stable to auto-decomposition at room temperature. The key was the theoretically directed synthesis of a per-aza analogue of cryptand[2.2.2] in which each of the linking arms contains a piperazine ring. This complexant was designed to provide strong complexation of Na+ via pre-organization of a "crypt" that contains eight nonreducible tertiary amine nitrogens. The structure and properties indicate that, as with other electrides, the "anions" are electrons trapped in the cavities formed by close-packing of the complexed cations. The isostructural sodide, with Na- anions in the cavities, is also stable at and above room temperature.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824, USA.
authors.forename: Mikhail Y
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Redko
authors.forename: James E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Jackson
authors.forename: Rui H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: James L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Dye