title: La-Activated Bicyclo-oligomerization of Acetylene to Naphthalene.
abstract: We report the first example of metal-mediated acetylene bicyclopentamerization to form naphthalene in the gas phase. The bicyclic aromatic compound was observed in a complex with La. The La(naphthalene) complex was formed by the reaction of laser-ablated La atoms with acetylene molecules in a molecular beam source and was characterized by mass-analyzed threshold ionization spectroscopy. The bicyclo-oligomerization reaction occurs through sequential acetylene additions coupled with dehydrogenation. Three intermediates in the reaction have been identified: lanthanacyclopropene [La(C2H2)], La(cyclobut-1-en-3-yne) [La(C4H2)], and La(benzyne) [(La(C6H4)]. The metal-ligand bonding in the three intermediates is considerably different from that in the La(naphthalene) complex, as suggested by accurately measured adiabatic ionization energies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Kentucky , Lexington, Kentucky 40506-0055, United States.
authors.forename: Dilrukshi
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hewage
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Kentucky , Lexington, Kentucky 40506-0055, United States.
authors.forename: W Ruchira
authors.initials: WR
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Kentucky , Lexington, Kentucky 40506-0055, United States.
authors.forename: Wenjin
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Kentucky , Lexington, Kentucky 40506-0055, United States.
authors.forename: Dong-Sheng
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Yang