Trivalent group 14 radicals
A trivalent group 14 radical is a molecule that contains a group 14 element with three bonds and a free radical, having the general formula of R3E•. Such compounds can be categorized into three different types, depending on the structure and the energetic barrier to inversion. A molecule that remains rigidly in a pyramidal structure has an electron in a sp3 orbital is denoted as Type A. A structure that is pyramidal, but flexible, is denoted as Type B. And a planar structure with an electron that typically would reside in a pure p orbital is denoted as Type C. The structure of such molecules has been determined by probing the nature of the orbital that the unpaired electron resides in using spectroscopy, as well as directly with X-ray methods. Trivalent tetrel radicals tend to be synthesized from their tetravalent counterparts.
Stability
While the trivalent triphenylmethyl radical, which was the first organic radical described, has been known for over 100 years, characterization of transient, persistent, or stable radicals of heavier tetrel compounds have been only accessible in recent years. The most recent large advance has been the characterization of the first stable trivalent lead radical, as described in 2007.Such developments have only been made in recent years because these compounds tend to be highly reactive. There have been two main approaches for stabilization. Firstly electronic stabilization, the tetrel is connected to an electron-rich atom such as oxygen, nitrogen, or fluorine. Secondly steric stabilization, the tetrel is surrounded by bulky ligands 2, -Si2Et, or -Si3 ). It has become convention to describe a radical that can persist long enough for spectroscopic or chemical analysis as persistent and a radical that can persist indefinitely as stable. Trivalent tetrels can also synthesized in a cyclic structure. This class of molecules tends to be slightly more stable than the acyclic analogues as there is a stabilization through the delocalization of the unpaired electrons within the π-system.
Synthetic methodology
Trivalent radicals can be prepared from the tetrel hydride.They can also be formed by oxidation of the salt.
They can be formed via photolysis.
Or they can be formed via thermal disproportionation of the related dimeric species.
These can also be formed via gamma-irradiation of an ER4 complex.
As well as by a reduction pathway.
Spectroscopy and characterization
Electronic spectroscopy
Information about the structure of these trivalent tetrels has been determined by mainly EPR spectroscopy and X-ray crystallography, however the geometry of transient small molecules has been determined via resonance-enhanced multiphoton ionization, transient UV absorption spectroscopy, and microwave spectroscopy by determining vibrational and rotational resonance frequencies.ESR/EPR spectroscopy
Electron paramagnetic resonance has been paramount for the study of trivalent tetrels as the hyperfine coupling to the tetrel reveals the orbital in which the unpaired electron resides, and the orbital composition directly correlates to the structure of the molecule. The isotropic component of the hyperfine coupling to the central tetrel scales proportionally with the spin density in the valence s orbital on that atom. By comparing this isotropic hyperfine coupling constant to the theoretical hyperfine splitting of an electron in a pure valence s orbital, one can calculate the percent of the unpaired spin density in the valence s orbital. Similarly, the ratio of the anisotropic hyperfine coupling constant to the anisotropic hyperfine coupling of a single electron in a pure atomic p orbital reveals the percent of spin occupation in a valence p orbital. However, measurement of the anisotropic component of the hyperfine tensor are more difficult and not as frequent in literature.The percent of spin occupation in the valence s orbital can be used to directly probe the structure of these molecules. If the spin occupation 100% in a p orbital, then the molecule will have a Type C planar structure. However, if there is 25% s orbital and 75% p orbital occupation, then the molecule will have a pyramidal Type A structure. Any intermediate value is possible and would correspond to a Type B structure. Values of greater than 25% s orbital contribution can also be found upon coordination of a tetrel to electronegative ligands.
There is also a correlation between the g-shift and the geometry for series of compounds with ligands of similar electronegativities. More electronegative ligands correspond to more tetrahedral geometries. Lower g values correlate more with pyramidal structures, while higher g values correlate with planar structures. It has also been demonstrated using trissilyl radicals that the more bulky the ligands are, the more a planar structure will be favored, and the lower the hyperfine coupling constant will be.