Nonlocal electronic distribution in metallic clusters: a critical examination of aromatic stabilization.
All-metal clusters, such as Al(4)M(4) (M = alkali metal ion), exhibit interesting features of multi-fold aromaticity/antiaromaticity. Such characteristics arise particularly because of the poor sigma-pi separation in this class of systems. This Account presents computational strategies to unambiguously determine the aromaticity/antiaromaticity characteristics of such clusters. Computations of the linear and nonlinear optical responses show that all-metal clusters are orders of magnitude more polarized than the conventional pi-conjugated molecules. We also propose new strategies to stabilize all-metal antiaromatic systems through complexation to transition metals and discuss mechanisms for substitution reactions within the conventional organometallic systems by Al(4)M(4). Additionally, we find that these all-metal clusters form stacked superclusters that are extremely stable and aromatic.
Datta
Ayan
A
Theoretical Sciences Unit, Chemistry and Physics of Materials Unit and DST Unit on Nanoscience, Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research, Jakkur Campus, Bangalore 560 064, India.
Mallajosyula
Sairam S
SS
Pati
Swapan K
SK