This literature discussion learning object examines the first reported synthesis in 1983 of the long anticipated quadruply bonded ditungsten tetracarboxylate dimers by Dr. Al Sattelberger and co-workers. This LO is part of a special VIPEr collection honoring the 2022 ACS National Award recipients in the field of inorganic chemistry. Alfred P. Sattelberger was the recipient of the 2022 ACS Award for Distinguished Service in the Advancement of Inorganic Chemistry.

This article provides an introduction to thermoelectric materials and applications for space, highlighting a complex Zintl phase, Yb_14-xCe_xMn_ySb₁₁. Yb₁₄MnSb₁₁ is a semiconductor that can be substituted with Ce to change the number of carriers in the material and thereby enhance the transport properties.

This literature discussion will guide students through an article that applies spectroscopic, structural, and computational analyses to a family of compounds of the type [Re(CO)₃(dippM)Br]ⁿ⁺  (dippM = 1,1’-bis(diisopropyl)phosphino metallocene, M = Fe, n= 0 or 1; M = Co, n = 1).

The literature discussion is based on a manuscript by Gunnoe and coworkers (ACS Catal. 2021, 11, 5688-5702. DOI: 10.1021/acscatal.1c01203). The paper presents mechanistic studies of catalytic oxidative conversion of arenes and olefins to alkenyl arenes with a focus on styrene production.

This LO discuss various aspects of a reversible hydrogen activation by a metal-free phosphonium-borate compound.  Attentions are paid to the specific and usual reaction between highly steric phosphine and borane reactants to form a zwitterionic phosphonium borate product.  NMR spectroscopy, kinetics and thermodynamics of the hydrogen activation with the phosphonium borate product are also discussed.  The original work was published in Science by Douglas W. Stephan and co-workers.