I am completing my survey of the vote for molecule of the year candidates, which this year seems focused on chemical records of one type or another. The first article[cite]10.1002/chem.201601916[/cite] reports striving towards creating a molecule covering a complete column of the period table.
AbstractThe synthesis of a molecule containing four adjacent different pnictogens was attempted by conversion of a Group 15 allyl analogue anion [Mes*NAsPMes*]− (Mes*=2,4,6‐tri‐tert‐butylphenyl) with antimony(III) chloride. A suitable precursor is Mes*N(H)AsPMes* (1) for which several syntheses were investigated. The anions afforded by deprotonation of Mes*N(H)AsPMes* were found to be labile and, therefore, salts could not be isolated. However, the in situ generated anions could be quenched with SbCl3, yielding Mes*N(SbCl2)AsPMes* (4).
Owing to the increased proton affinity that results from additional negative charges, multiply-charged anions are shown as a route to preparing powerful ‘superbases’.