Cages and Needles of Group 13–15 Binary Hydrides

Abstract

Cages or needles? Two structural families of group 13–15 binary hydrides, [HMYH]n, are investigated: cages and needles consisting of four- and six-membered rings (see figure). The cages are shown to be significantly stabilized by “in–out” isomeric hydrogenation. The importance of “in–out” isomerism sheds new light on the structural characteristics of cagelike compounds.