The research work of Prof. Anthony Hill was recently selected as one of the most interesting articles (HOT article) published in Chemical Communications. The paper by Richard Manzano,  Anthony Hill  and  Rosemary Georgelin's is titled “Tetrel and pnictogen functionalised propargylidynes" (Chem. Commun., 2020,56, 14597-14600) highlights work compelted within the RSC focusing on propargylidyne complexes L_nM(C-CCR) which feature conjugated metal-carbon and carbon–carbon triple bonds, raising questions about electronic communication along the unsaturated MC₃ spine.

ABSTRACT: The reaction of [W(CCCSiMe₃)(CO)₂(Tp*)] (Tp* = tris(dimethylpyrazolyl)borate) with AgNO₃ which affords {[W(CCCAg)-(CO)₂(Tp*)][AgNO₃]}_n while [Hg{CCCW(CO)₂(Tp*)}₂] with ⁿBuLi affords [W(CCCLi)(CO)₂(Tp*)]. These anhydrous reagents allow the installation of main group elements (e.g., Si, Sn, Pb, P, As) as propargylidyne termini.

Related links