Formation and Unimolecular Dehydrogenation of Gaseous Alkaline‐earth Metal Amidoboranes M(NH2BH3)2 (M = Be – Ba): Comparative Computational Study

Formation of alkaline‐earth metal amidoboranes M(NH₂BH₃)₂ (M = Be, Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba) and unimolecular dehydrogenation reactions were computationally studied at the B3LYP/def2‐TZVPPD level of theory. Formation of M(NH₂BH₃)₂ from ammonia borane and MH₂ is exergonic, but subsequent unimolecular dehydrogenation reactions are endergonic at room temperature. In contrast to alkali metal amidoboranes, for M(NH₂BH₃)₂ the nature of M significantly affects their reactivity. Activation energies for the dehydrogenation of first and second hydrogen molecules decrease from Be to Ba. In case of Be compounds, intramolecular M ··· H–B contacts play an important role, whereas for heavier analogs such contacts are much less pronounced.     

Alkaline earth metal salts of 1‐naphthoic acid

The structures of the Mg, Ca, Sr and Ba salts of 1‐naphthoic acid are examined and compared with analogous structures of salts of benzoate derivatives. It is shown that catena‐poly[[[diaquabis(1‐naphthoato‐κO)magnesium(II)]‐μ‐aqua] dihydrate], {[Mg(C₁₁H₇O₂)₂(H₂O)₃]·2H₂O}_n, exists as a one‐dimensional coordination polymer that propagates only through Mg—OH₂—Mg interactions along the crystallographic b direction. In contrast with related benzoate salts, the naphthalene systems are large enough to prevent inorganic chain‐to‐chain interactions, and thus species with inorganic channels rather than layers are formed. The Ca, Sr and Ba salts all have metal centres that lie on a twofold axis (Z′ = ) and all have the common name catena‐poly[[diaquametal(II)]‐bis(μ‐1‐naphthoato)‐κ³O,O′:O;κ³O:O,O′], [M(C₁₁H₇O₂)₂(H₂O)₂]_n, where M = Ca, Sr or Ba. The Ca and Sr salts are essentially isostructural, and all three species form one‐dimensional coordination polymers through a carboxylate group that forms three M—O bonds. The polymeric chains propagate via c‐glide planes and through MOMO four‐membered rings. Again, inorganic channel structures are formed rather than layered structures, and the three structures are similar to those found for Ca and Sr salicylates and other substituted benzoates.     

d–d Dative Bonding Between Iron and the Alkaline‐Earth Metals Calcium,Strontium, and Barium

Double deprotonation of the diamine 1,1′‐(tBuCH₂NH)‐ferrocene ( 1 ‐H₂) by alkaline‐earth (Ae) or Eu^II metal reagents gave the complexes 1 ‐Ae (Ae=Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba) and 1 ‐Eu. 1 ‐Mg crystallized as a monomer while the heavier complexes crystallized as dimers. The Fe???Mg distance in 1 ‐Mg is too long for a bonding interaction, but short Fe???Ae distances in 1 ‐Ca, 1 ‐Sr, and 1 ‐Ba clearly support intramolecular Fe???Ae bonding. Further evidence for interactions is provided by a tilting of the Cp rings and the related ¹H NMR chemical‐shift difference between the Cp α and β protons. While electrochemical studies are complicated by complex decomposition, UV/Vis spectral features of the complexes support Fe→Ae dative bonding. A comprehensive bonding analysis of all 1 ‐Ae complexes shows that the heavier species 1 ‐Ca, 1 ‐Sr, and 1 ‐Ba possess genuine Fe→Ae bonds which involve vacant d‐orbitals of the alkaline‐earth atoms and partially filled d‐orbitals on Fe. In 1 ‐Mg, a weak Fe→Mg donation into vacant p‐orbitals of the Mg atom is observed.     

Magnesium iodide–4,4′‐bipyridine–water (1/3/4) and strontium iodide–4,4′‐bipyridine–propan‐1‐ol (1/2.5/2)

Both of the title compounds, catena‐poly­[[[tetra­aqua­magnesium(I)]‐μ‐4,4′‐bi­pyridine‐κ²N:N′] diiodide bis(4,4′‐bi­pyridine) solvate], {[Mg(C₁₀H₈N₂)(H₂O)₄]I₂·2C₁₀H₈N₂}_n, (I), and catena‐poly­[[[μ‐4,4′‐bi­pyridine‐bis­[di­iodo­bis­(propan‐1‐ol)­strontium(I)]]‐di‐μ‐4,4′‐bi­pyridine‐κ⁴N:N′] bis(4,4′‐bi­pyri­dine) solvate], {[Sr₂I₄(C₁₀H₈N₂)₃(C₃H₈O)₄]·2C₁₀H₈N₂}_n, (II), are one‐dimensional polymers which are single‐ and double‐stranded, respectively, the metal atoms being linked by the 4,4′‐bi­pyridine moieties. The Mg complex, (I), is [cis‐{(H₂O)₄Mg(N‐4,4′‐bi­pyridine‐N′)_(2/2)}]_(∞|∞)I₂·4,4′‐bi­pyridine and Mg has a six‐coordinate quasi‐octahedral coordination environment. The Sr complex, (II), is isomorphous with its previously defined Ba counterpart [Kepert, Waters & White (1996). Aust. J. Chem. 49 , 117–135], being [(propan‐1‐ol)₂I₂Sr(N‐4,4′‐bi­pyridine‐N′)_(3/2)]_(∞|∞)·4,4′‐bi­pyridine, with the I atoms trans‐axial in a seven‐coordinate pentagonal–bipyramidal Sr environment.     

Dimeric copper(II) 3,3‐dimethyl­butyrate adducts with ethanol, 2‐methylpyridine, 3‐methylpyridine, 4‐methylpyridine and 3,3‐dimethylbutyric acid

In the crystals of the five title compounds, tetrakis‐(μ‐3,3‐dimethylbutyrato‐O:O′)bis(ethanol‐O)dicopper(II)–ethanol (1/2), [Cu₂(C₆H₁₁O₂)₄(C₂H₆O)₂]·2C₂H₆O, (I), tetrakis(μ‐3,3‐dimethylbutyrato‐O:O′)bis(2‐methylpyridine‐N)di­copper(II), [Cu₂(C₆H₁₁O₂)₄(C₆H₇N)₂], (II), tetrakis‐(μ‐3,3‐dimethylbutyrato‐O:O′)bis(3‐methylpyridine‐N)di‐copper(II), [Cu₂(C₆H₁₁O₂)₄(C₆H₇N)₂], (III), tetrakis‐(μ‐3,3‐dimethylbutyrato‐O:O′)bis(4‐methylpyridine‐N)di‐copper(II), [Cu₂(C₆H₁₁O₂)₄(C₆H₇N)₂], (IV), and tetrakis‐(μ‐3,3‐dimethylbutyrato‐O:O′)bis(3,3‐dimethylbutyric acid‐O)dicopper(II), [Cu₂(C₆H₁₁O₂)₄(C₆H₁₂O₂)₂], (V), the di­nuclear Cu^II complexes all have centrosymmetric cage structures and (IV) has two independent molecules. The Cu?Cu separations are: (I) 2.602 (3) Å, (II) 2.666 (3) Å, (III) 2.640 (2) Å, (IV) 2.638 (4) Å and (V) 2.599 (1) Å.     

Magnesium(II), Calcium(II), and Barium(II) Coordination Compounds Constructed by 1H‐Tetrazolate‐5‐acetic Acid Ligand

Reactions of H₂tza (H₂tza = 1H‐tetrazolate‐5‐acetic acid) with Mg(NO₃)₂ · 6H₂O, Ca(NO₃)₂ · 4H₂O, or Ba(NO₃)₂ with the presence of KOH under hydrothermal conditions, produced three new coordination compounds, [M(tza)(H₂O)₂] (M = Mg ( 1 ), Ca ( 2 ), Ba ( 3 )). These compounds were structurally characterized by elemental analysis, IR spectroscopy, and single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction. Compounds 1 and 3 display 2D structures, whereas 2 reveals a 1D structure with bridging tza ligand molecules as linkers. Furthermore, the luminescence properties of 1 – 3 at room temperature in the solid state were also investigated. The results show that the nature of metal ions play an important role in governing the molecular frameworks of 1 – 3 , and the strong coordinate abilities of carboxylate and tetrazolate group, endow tza with abundant coordination modes.     

Mechanochemical Synthesis and Characterization of Alkaline Earth Metal Terephthalates: M(C8H4O4)·nH2O (M = Ca,Sr, Ba)

The mechanochemical synthesis offers an easy access to obtain alkaline earth metal terephthalates M(C₈H₄O₄) · nH₂O (M = Ca, Sr, Ba). In the presented study we describe for the first time the mechanochemical synthesis of powders of Ca(C₈H₄O₄) · 3H₂O, Ca(C₈H₄O₄), Sr(C₈H₄O₄) · H₂O, and Ba(C₈H₄O₄), which so far were only synthesized as single crystals from aqueous solutions or by reactions in an autoclave. Furthermore, a new hydrate Ba(C₈H₄O₄) · 2(1.5)H₂O, not described so far in the literature, was prepared. All compounds were characterized by X‐ray powder diffraction, thermal analysis, elemental analysis, FT‐IR, and MAS NMR spectroscopic measurements.     

catena‐Poly­[[bis­(quinoxaline‐κN)cobalt(II)]‐di‐μ‐dicyan­amido‐κ2N1:N5] and catena‐poly­[[bis(quinoxaline‐κN)copper(II)]‐di‐μ‐dicyan­amido‐κ2N1:N5]

Two new complexes, [Co(C₂N₃)₂(C₈H₆N₂)₂], (I), and [Cu(C₂N₃)₂(C₈H₆N₂)₂], (II), are reported. They are essentially isomorphous. Complex (I) displays distorted octahedral geometry, with the Co atom coordinated by four dicyan­amide nitrile N atoms [Co—N = 2.098 (3) and 2.104 (3) Å] in the basal plane, along with two monodentate quinoxaline N atoms [Co—N = 2.257 (2) Å] in the apical positions. In complex (II), the Cu atom is surrounded by four dicyan­amide nitrile N atoms [Cu—N = 2.003 (3) and 2.005 (3) Å] in the equatorial plane and two monodentate quinoxaline N atoms [Cu—N = 2.479 (3) Å] in the axial sites, to form a distorted tetragonal–bipyramidal geometry. The metal atoms reside on twofold axes of rotation. Neighbouring metal atoms are connected via double dicyan­amide bridges to form one‐dimensional infinite chains. Adjacent chains are then linked by π–π stacking interactions of the quinoxaline mol­ecules, resulting in the formation of a three‐dimensional structure.     

catena‐Poly[[aqua­barium(II)]‐μ‐aqua‐bis­(μ‐2′‐carboxy­biphenyl‐2‐carboxyl­ato)]

In the title compound, [Ba{HOOC(C₆H₄)₂CO₂}₂(H₂O)₂] or [Ba(C₁₄H₉O₄)₂(H₂O)₂], the Ba atoms are coordinated by nine O atoms, six from two 2′‐carboxy­biphenyl‐2‐carboxyl­ate (Hbpdc⁻) ligands and three from three coordinated water mol­ecules, resulting in the formation of face‐sharing distorted monocapped square anti­prisms. The Hbpdc⁻ ligands bridge the Ba atoms to form a one‐dimensional helical polymer, with a Ba⋯Ba distance across the chain of 4.1386 (17) Å. Adjacent chains are parallel to each other. The two independent ligands are tetra­dentate and have the same coordination mode, exhibiting μ‐oxo bridges and η⁸‐chelation. The crystal structure is further stabilized by hydrogen bonds within each chain.     

Cobalt(II) and cadmium(II) square grids supported with 4,4′‐bipyrazole and accommodating 3‐carboxyadamantane‐1‐carboxylate

In poly[[bis(μ‐4,4′‐bi‐1H‐pyrazole‐κ²N²:N^2′)bis(3‐carboxyadamantane‐1‐carboxylato‐κO¹)cobalt(II)] dihydrate], {[Co(C₁₂H₁₅O₄)₂(C₆H₆N₄)₂]·2H₂O}_n, (I), the Co²⁺ cation lies on an inversion centre and the 4,4′‐bipyrazole (4,4′‐bpz) ligands are also situated across centres of inversion. In its non‐isomorphous cadmium analogue, {[Cd(C₁₂H₁₅O₄)₂(C₆H₆N₄)₂]·2H₂O}_n, (II), the Cd²⁺ cation lies on a twofold axis. In both compounds, the metal cations adopt an octahedral coordination, with four pyrazole N atoms in the equatorial plane [Co—N = 2.156 (2) and 2.162 (2) Å; Cd—N = 2.298 (2) and 2.321 (2) Å] and two axial carboxylate O atoms [Co—O = 2.1547 (18) Å and Cd—O = 2.347 (2) Å]. In both structures, interligand hydrogen bonding [N...O = 2.682 (3)–2.819 (3) Å] is essential for stabilization of the MN₄O₂ environment with its unusually high (for bulky adamantanecarboxylates) number of coordinated N‐donor co‐ligands. The compounds adopt two‐dimensional coordination connectivities and exist as square‐grid [M(4,4′‐bpz)₂]_n networks accommodating monodentate carboxylate ligands. The interlayer linkage is provided by hydrogen bonds from the carboxylic acid groups via the solvent water molecules [O...O = 2.565 (3) and 2.616 (3) Å] to the carboxylate groups in the next layer [O...O = 2.717 (3)–2.841 (3) Å], thereby extending the structures in the third dimension.     

Über die Synthese und spektroskopische Charakterisierung von Strontium‐ und Bariumtetrabromoferrat(III) und die Kristallstruktur von Ba(FeBr4)2

Preparation and Spectroscopic Characterization of Strontium and Barium Tetrabromoferrate(III) and the Crystal Structure of Ba(FeBr₄)₂ The synthesis of the hitherto unknown bromoferrates(III) of alkaline‐earth metals was carried out by heating mixtures of the metals or the binary bromides together with bromine at temperatures of 450 °C and pressures of up to 1500 bar in closed quartz ampoules. The attempts have been successful only with the larger cations of Sr and Ba. In the case of Be, Mg, and Ca only mixtures of the binary bromides with FeBr₃ could be received. By analysis of the Raman and electronic spectra the dark red compounds of Sr and Ba have been characterized as ternary tetrabromoferrates(III) containing tetrahedral FeBr₄ anions. The composition M(FeBr₄)₂ (M = Sr, Ba) has been determined by potentiometric and titrimetric analysis and thermal degradation by thermogravimetry. A single crystal structure determination of Ba(FeBr₄)₂ confirmed the spectroscopic assignments. The orthorhombic crystal structure (space group Pbca; a = 13.054(3) Å; b = 11.093(2) Å; c = 21.764(4) Å; Z = 8) consists of FeBr₄ and BaBr₉ polyhedra.     

Diaquabis(2,5‐dihydroxybenzoato‐κO)bis(1,10‐phenanthroline‐κ2N,N′)strontium(II) bis(1,10‐phenanthroline) tetrahydrate

The title compound, [Sr(C₇H₅O₄)₂(C₁₂H₈N₂)₂(H₂O)₂]·2C₁₂H₈N₂·4H₂O, consists of an Sr^II complex, uncoordinated phenanthroline (phen) molecules and solvent water molecules. The Sr^II ion is located on a twofold axis and is coordinated by two phen ligands, two dihydroxybenzoate anions and two water molecules in a distorted tetragonal antiprismatic geometry. Partially overlapped arrangements exist between parallel coordinated and parallel uncoordinated phen rings; the face‐to‐face separations between the former (coordinated) and the latter (uncoordinated) rings are 3.436 (13) and 3.550 (14) Å, respectively. This difference suggests the effect of metal coordination on π–π stacking between phen rings.     

Solution synthesis of calcium,strontium and barium metallocenes

Bis(cyclopentadienyl)metal complexes of calcium, strontium and barium can be prepared in synthetically useful yields (> 65%) from the reaction of lithium or potassium cyclopentadienides and the appropriate metal dihalides in THF. The THF-soluble complexes (C₅H₅)₂Ca(THF)₂ and (Me₅C₅)₂M(THF)₂ (M = Ca, Sr, Ba) are extracted from the reaction of the appropriate potassium cyclopentadienide with a metal halide; the THFinsoluble (C₅H₅)₂M(THF)_x(x ≈ 1 for Sr; x ≈ 0.25 for Ba) remain after the reaction of a lithium cyclopentadienide and the metal iodide.     

The coordination complex structures and hydrogen bonding in the three‐dimensional alkaline earth metal salts (Mg,Ca, Sr and Ba) of (4‐aminophenyl)arsonic acid

(4‐Aminophenyl)arsonic acid (p‐arsanilic acid) is used as an antihelminth in veterinary applications and was earlier used in the monosodium salt dihydrate form as the antisyphilitic drug atoxyl. Examples of complexes with this acid are rare. The structures of the alkaline earth metal (Mg, Ca, Sr and Ba) complexes with (4‐aminophenyl)arsonic acid (p‐arsanilic acid) have been determined, viz. hexaaquamagnesium bis[hydrogen (4‐aminophenyl)arsonate] tetrahydrate, [Mg(H₂O)₆](C₆H₇AsNO₃)·4H₂O, (I), catena‐poly[[[diaquacalcium]‐bis[μ₂‐hydrogen (4‐aminophenyl)arsonato‐κ²O :O ′]‐[diaquacalcium]‐bis[μ₂‐hydrogen (4‐aminophenyl)arsonato‐κ²O :O ]] dihydrate], {[Ca(C₆H₇AsNO₃)₂(H₂O)₂]·2H₂O}_n , (II), catena‐poly[[triaquastrontium]‐bis[μ₂‐hydrogen (4‐aminophenyl)arsonato‐κ²O :O ′]], [Sr(C₆H₇AsNO₃)₂(H₂O)₃]_n , (III), and catena‐poly[[triaquabarium]‐bis[μ₂‐hydrogen (4‐aminophenyl)arsonato‐κ²O :O ′]], [Ba(C₆H₇AsNO₃)₂(H₂O)₃]_n , (IV). In the structure of magnesium salt (I), the centrosymmetric octahedral [Mg(H₂O)₆]²⁺ cation, the two hydrogen p‐arsanilate anions and the four water molecules of solvation form a three‐dimensional network structure through inter‐species O—H and N—H hydrogen‐bonding interactions with water and arsonate O‐atom and amine N‐atom acceptors. In one‐dimensional coordination polymer (II), the distorted octahedral CaO₆ coordination polyhedron comprises two trans‐related water molecules and four arsonate O‐atom donors from bridging hydrogen arsanilate ligands. One bridging extension is four‐membered via a single O atom and the other is eight‐membered via O :O ′‐bridging, both across inversion centres, giving a chain coordination polymer extending along the [100] direction. Extensive hydrogen‐bonding involving O—H…O, O—H…N and N—H…O interactions gives an overall three‐dimensional structure. The structures of the polymeric Sr and Ba complexes (III) and (IV), respectively, are isotypic and are based on irregular M O₇ coordination polyhedra about the M ²⁺ centres, which lie on twofold rotation axes along with one of the coordinated water molecules. The coordination centres are linked through inversion‐related arsonate O :O ′‐bridges, giving eight‐membered ring motifs and forming coordination polymeric chains extending along the [100] direction. Inter‐chain N—H…O and O—H…O hydrogen‐bonding interactions extend the structures into three dimensions and the crystal packing includes π–π ring interactions [minimum ring centroid separations = 3.4666 (17) Å for (III) and 3.4855 (8) Å for (IV)].     

Poly­[[aqua­neodymium(III)]‐μ3‐decane‐1,10‐di­carboxyl­ato‐μ3‐9‐carboxy­nonane­carboxyl­ato]

The title compound, [Nd(C₁₀H₁₆O₄)(C₁₀H₁₇O₄)(H₂O)]_n, has a novel Nd–organic framework constructed from sebacic acid (C₁₀H₁₈O₄) linkers, the longest aliphatic ligand used to date in lanthanide metal–organic framework compounds. The structure contains edge‐shared chains of NdO₈(H₂O) tricapped trigonal prisms that propagate in the [100] direction, with Nd—O distances in the range 2.414 (4)–2.643 (4) Å.     

Synthesis,characterization, and thermal study of solid-state alkaline earth metal mandelates,except beryllium and radium

Characterization, thermal stability, and thermal decomposition of alkaline earth metal mandelates, M(C₆H₅CH(OH)CO₂)₂, (M = Mg(II), Ca(II), Sr(II), and Ba(II)), were investigated employing simultaneous thermogravimetry and differential thermal analysis or differential scanning calorimetry, (TG–DTA or TG–DSC), infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), complexometry, and TG–DSC coupled to FTIR. All the compounds were obtained in the anhydrous state and the thermal decomposition occurs in three steps. The final residue up to 585 °C (Mg), 720 °C (Ca), and 945 °C (Sr) is the respective oxide MgO, CaO, and SrO. For the barium compound the final residue up to 580 °C is BaCO₃, which is stable until 950 °C and above this temperature the TG curve shows the beginning of the thermal decomposition of the barium carbonate. The results also provide information concerning the thermal behavior and identification of gaseous products evolved during the thermal decomposition of these compounds.     

Super‐Bulky Penta‐arylcyclopentadienyl Ligands: Isolation of the Full Range of Half‐Sandwich Heavy Alkaline‐Earth Metal Hydrides

Hydrogenolysis of the half‐sandwich penta‐arylcyclopentadienyl‐supported heavy alkaline‐earth‐metal alkyl complexes (Cp^Ar)Ae[CH(SiMe₃)₂](S) (Cp^Ar=C₅Ar₅, Ar=3,5‐ⁱPr₂‐C₆H_3; S=THF or DABCO) in hexane afforded the calcium, strontium, and barium metal–hydride complexes as the same dimers [(Cp^Ar)Ae(μ‐H)(S)]₂ (Ae=Ca, S=THF, 2‐Ca ; Ae=Sr, Ba, S=DABCO, 4‐Ae ), which were characterized by NMR spectroscopy and single‐crystal X‐ray analysis. 2‐Ca , 4‐Sr , and 4‐Ba catalyzed alkene hydrogenation under mild conditions (30 °C, 6 atm, 5 mol % cat.), with the activity increasing with the metal size. A variety of activated alkenes including tri‐ and tetra‐substituted olefins, semi‐activated alkene (Me₃SiCH=CH₂), and unactivated terminal alkene (1‐hexene) were evaluated.     

Two‐dimensional square‐grid frameworks formed by self‐associating copper(II) complexes with 1‐(3‐pyridyl)‐ and 1‐(4‐pyridyl)‐substituted butane‐1,3‐diones

In bis­[1‐(3‐pyridyl)butane‐1,3‐dionato]copper(II) (the Cu atom occupies a centre of inversion), [Cu(C₉H₈NO₂)₂], (I), and bis­[1‐(4‐pyridyl)butane‐1,3‐dionato]copper(II) methanol solvate, [Cu(C₉H₈NO₂)₂]·CH₃OH, (II), the O,O′‐chelating diketonate ligands support square‐planar coordination of the metal ions [Cu—O = 1.948 (1)–1.965 (1) Å]. Weaker Cu⋯N inter­actions [2.405 (2)–2.499 (2) Å], at both axial sides, occur between symmetry‐related bis­(1‐pyridylbutane‐1,3‐dion­ato)copper(II) mol­ecules. This causes their self‐organization into two‐dimensional square‐grid frameworks, with uniform [6.48 Å for (I)] or alternating [4.72 and 6.66 Å for (II)] inter­layer separations. Guest methanol mol­ecules in (II) reside between the distal layers and form weak hydrogen bonds to coordinated O atoms [O⋯O = 3.018 (4) Å].     

Tetra‐μ‐acetato‐κ2O:O′‐bis[(4‐phenylpyridine‐κN)copper(II)]

The title compound, [Cu₂(C₂H₃O₂)₄(C₁₁H₉N)₂] or [Cu₂(MeCO₂)₄(phpy)₂] (phpy is 4‐phenyl­pyridine), consists of centrosymmetric dimers in which the Cu^II atoms display a square‐pyramidal CuO₄N coordination, with four acetate O atoms in the basal plane [Cu—O 1.975 (3)–1.987 (3) Å] and the phpy N atom in the apical position [Cu—N 2.150 (3) Å]. The Cu atoms are 2.654 (1) Å apart and are bridged by four acetate groups. The discrete dimers are extended into a three‐dimensional supramolecular array through intermolecular π–π‐stacking interactions.     

The Valence Orbitals of the Alkaline-Earth Atoms

Quantum chemical calculations of the alkaline-earth oxides, imides and dihydrides of the alkaline-earth atoms (Ae=Be, Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba) and the calcium cluster Ca₆H₉[N(SiMe₃)₂]₃(pmdta)₃ (pmdta=N,N,N′,N′′,N′′-pentamethyldiethylenetriamine) have been carried out by using density functional theory. Analysis of the electronic structures by charge and energy partitioning methods suggests that the valence orbitals of the lighter atoms Be and Mg are the (n)s and (n)p orbitals. In contrast, the valence orbitals of the heavier atoms Ca, Sr and Ba comprise the (n)s and (n−1)d orbitals. The alkaline-earth metals Be and Mg build covalent bonds like typical main-group elements, whereas Ca, Sr and Ba covalently bind like transition metals. The results not only shed new light on the covalent bonds of the heavier alkaline-earth metals, but are also very important for understanding and designing experimental studies.