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This study examines systems containing planar tetracoordinate group 13–15 atoms (E) within pentagonal C4H2E rings bridged by Si or Ge atoms. A detailed chemical bonding analysis of eleven candidates shows that true tetracoordination is achieved only in the C4H2NGe2+ system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When (4n +2) π‐electrons are located in single planar ring, it conventionally qualifies as aromatic. According Hückel's rule, systems possessing ten π‐electrons should be aromatic. Herein we report a series of D5h Li6E5Li6 sandwich structures, representing the first global minima featuring ten π‐electrons E510− ring (E=Si−Pb). However, these π‐electrons localize as five π‐lone‐pairs rather than delocalized orbitals. The high symmetry structure achieved is a direct consequence of σ‐aromaticity, particularly favored in elements from Si to Pb, resulting in a pronounced diatropic ring current flow that contributes to the enhanced stability of these systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nowadays, an active research topic is the connection between Clar's rule, aromaticity, and magnetic properties of polycyclic benzenoid hydrocarbons. In the present work, we employ a meticulous magnetically induced current density analysis to define the net current flowing through any cyclic circuit, connecting it to aromaticity based on the ring current concept. Our investigation reveals that the analyzed polycyclic systems display a prominent global ring current, contrasting with subdued semi‐local and local ring currents. These patterns align with Clar's aromatic π‐sextets only in cases where migrating π‐sextet structures are invoked. The results of this study will enrich our comprehension of aromaticity and magnetic behavior in such systems, offering significant insights into coexisting ring current circuits in these systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using various exploration strategies, in this study, we investigated the potential energy surfaces (PES) of CBe5H5+ and CnBe3n+2H2n+22+ (n = 2–4) clusters. Previous studies proposed that the planar pentacoordinate carbons (ppCs) were the global minima of these clusters. However, our study identified new putative global minima and competitive isomers, refuting some previous assignments. We employed several methods, including evolutive-inspired stochastic approaches guided by "chemical criteria", and ab initio molecular dynamics simulations at elevated temperatures. Our results showed that the size of the scanned population significantly affected the evolutive method and that constrained or guided procedures showed an advantage in identifying better minima for larger systems. This study demonstrated that using multiple complementary strategies can result in a wider variety of minima in a given energy range. Our findings provide valuable insights into exploring the potential energy surfaces of clusters, mainly medium-sized clusters, which could be the connections between small clusters and nanomaterials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Here, we present evidence that the D2h M2C50/2+ (M = Li-K, Be-Ca, Al-In, and Zn) species comprises planar hexacoordinate carbon (phC) structures that exhibit four covalent and two electrostatic interactions. These findings have been made possible using evolutionary methods for exploring the potential energy surface (AUTOMATON program) and the Interacting Quantum Atoms (IQA) methodology, which support the observed bonding interactions. It is worth noting, however, that these structures are not the global minimum. Nonetheless, incorporating two cyclopentadienyl anion ligands (Cp) into the CaC52+ system has enhanced the relative stability of the phC isomer. Moreover, cycloparaphenylene ([8]CPP) provides system protection and kinetic stability. These results indicate that using appropriate ligands presents a promising approach for expanding the chemistry of phC species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Here we show that substituting the ten protons in the dianion of a bispentalene derivative (C18H102−) by six Si2+ dications produces a minimum energy structure with two planar tetracoordinate carbons (ptC). In Si6C18, the ptCs are embedded in the terminal C5 pentagonal rings and participate in a three‐center, two‐electron (3c‐2e) Si‐ptC‐Si σ‐bond. Our exploration of the potential energy surface identifies a triphenylene derivative as the putative global minimum. Nevertheless, robustness to Born–Oppenheimer molecular dynamics (BOMD) simulations at 900 and 1500 K supports bispentalene derivative kinetic stability. Chemical bonding analysis reveals ten delocalized π‐bonds, which, according to Hückel's 4n + 2 π‐electron rule, would classify it as an aromatic system. Magnetically induced current density analysis reveals the presence of intense local paratropic currents and a weakly global diatropic current, the latter agreeing with the possible global aromatic character of this specie. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Here, it is shown that the M3B12 (M = Cu-Au) clusters' global minima consist of an elongated planar B12 fragment connected by an in-plane linear M3 fragment. This result is striking since this B12 planar structure is not favored in the bare cluster, nor when one or two metals are added. The minimum energy structures were revealed by screening the potential energy surface using genetic algorithms and density functional theory calculations. Chemical bonding analysis shows that the strong electrostatic interactions with the metal compensate for the high energy spent in the M3 and B12 fragment distortion. Furthermore, metals participate in the delocalized π-bonds, which infers an aromatic character to these species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A systematic exploration of the potential energy surface reveals two global minima with three planar tetra coordinate carbons (ptCs) and two global minima with three quasi-ptCs for E6C15 (E = Si–Pb) combinations. These consist of aromatic polycyclic templates suitable for further design of different materials without hindering the ptC texture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

After exploring the potential energy surfaces of MmCE2p (E=S−Te, M=Li−Cs, m=2, 3 and p=m‐2) and MnCE3q (E=S−Te, M=Li−Cs, n=1, 2, q=n‐2) combinations, we introduce 38 new global minima containing a planar hypercoordinate carbon atom (24 with a planar tetracoordinate carbon and 14 with a planar pentacoordinate carbon). These exotic clusters result from the decoration of V‐shaped CE22− and Y‐shaped CE32− dianions, respectively, with alkali counterions. All these 38 systems fulfill the geometrical and electronic criteria to be considered as true planar hypercoordinate carbon systems. Chemical bonding analyses indicate that carbon is covalently bonded to chalcogens and ionically connected to alkali metals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is here reported that the NaBH3− cluster exhibits a Na⋅B one‐electron bond, a well‐established type of electron‐deficient bonding in the literature. The topological analysis of the electron localization function, at the correlated level, reveals that Na−, when approaching the bonding distance, fairly distributes its valence electron pair between two lobes. One of these electrons is used to bond with BH3, which participates through its boron empty p‐orbital. Furthermore, the bonding situation of LiBH3−, KBH3−, MgBH3, and CaBH3 global minima structures are similar to that of NaBH3−, extending the family of these new one‐electron bond systems with biradicaloid character. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the current work, a new family of isoelectronic analogues to B12 is reported. The construction of this family was performed through the isoelectronic substitution principle to generate species such as B11C+, B11Be−, B10BeC, B10C22+, B10Be22− B9Be2C−, and B9BeC2+. The search for the global minimum was realized by utilizing genetic algorithms, while the induced magnetic field, electronic localization function, magnetic current densities, and multicenter aromaticity criteria were calculated to understand their electronic delocalization. Our results show that, in general, C atoms avoid hypercoordination, whereas we have found species with Be atoms located in hypercoordinated positions that are relatively stable. Our analysis of aromaticity indicates that B12 has double σ and π disk aromaticity. Mono, double or triple substitution of B by C+ or Be− reduces somewhat the aromaticity of the clusters, but less in the case of Be− substitution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]