title: Solubilizing the most easily ionized molecules and generating powerful reducing agents.
abstract: Two very soluble compounds having W2(bicyclic guanidinate)4 paddlewheel structures show record low ionization energies (onsets at 3.4 to 3.5 eV) and very negative oxidation potentials in THF (-1.84 to -1.90 V vs Ag/AgCl). DFT computations show the correlation from the gas-phase ionization energies to the solution redox potentials and chemical behavior. These compounds are thermally stable and easy to synthesize in high yields and good purity. They are very reactive and potentially useful stoichiometric reducing agents in nonpolar, nonprotonated solvents.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Texas A&M University , College Station, Texas 77842-3012, United States.
authors.forename: Gina M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Chiarella
authors.forename: F Albert
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Cotton
authors.forename: Jason C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Durivage
authors.forename: Dennis L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Lichtenberger
authors.forename: Carlos A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Murillo