Chemists have found a way for two carbon atoms to share just one electron, defying traditional textbook knowledge. This discovery has significant implications beyond chemistry, as carbon is central to life’s formation.
Covalent bonds typically involve pairs of electrons being shared between two atoms. However, researchers have discovered a single electron bond between carbon atoms in a molecule called hexaphenylethane (HPE). This finding raises questions about the nature of chemical bonds and could lead to new insights into chemical reactions.
The team used different concentrations of iodine to create a single crystal that revealed the unique geometry of the atoms. This confirmed the existence of a single electron bond between carbon atoms, which was also verified by Raman spectroscopy.
This discovery has the potential to expand our understanding of chemical bonds and could have significant implications for fields beyond chemistry. Dr. Takuya Shimajiri of the University of Tokyo said that discovering new types of chemical bonds holds great promise.
The possibility of a single electron bond between two carbon atoms was proposed by Linus Pauling in 1931, but this is the first time it has been experimentally confirmed. While no applications have yet been proposed, the study’s lead author Professor Yusuke Ishigaki believes that elucidating the nature of single-electron sigma-bonds between two carbon atoms could provide further insights into chemical reactions and advance our understanding of chemistry.
Source: https://www.iflscience.com/first-example-of-single-electron-carbon-carbon-pairs-could-rewrite-textbooks-76159