Solubilizing the Most Easily Ionized Molecules and Generating Powerful Reducing Agents

Two very soluble compounds having
W2(bicyclic guanidinate)4 paddlewheel structures
show record low ionization energies
(onsets at 3.4 to 3.5 eV) and very negative oxidation potentials in
THF (−1.84 to −1.90 V vs Ag/AgCl). DFT computations
show the correlation from the gas-phase ionization energies to the
solution redox potentials and chemical behavior. These compounds are
thermally stable and easy to synthesize in high yields and good purity.
They are very reactive and potentially useful stoichiometric reducing
agents in nonpolar, nonprotonated solvents.