Tetraphenylethylenedisodium: The Band Structure of the CC Singly Bonded, Twisted (C₆H₅)₂C^⊖ Carbanions

Abstract

“The preparative exploration of ever more shallow potential troughs” is facilitating the synthesis of supramolecular complexes with increasing “storybook” character. Reduction of Ph2C  CPh2 under argon using a sodium mirror and diethyl ether results in green crystals with metallic luster and a novel band structure. A single C2Ph4 segment is shown on the right, the view being one that clearly reveals the rotation of one half of the molecule relative to the other.