Recent Progress on the Design,Characterization, and Application of Superalkalis

Superalkalis are clusters or molecules featuring lower ionization energies (IEs) than that of cesium atoms, and thus exhibit excellent reducing properties. Such special species have great potential to be used in the synthesis of unusual charge-transfer salts and cluster-assembled nanomaterials with tailored properties, in the reduction of carbon dioxide, or as hydrogen storage materials and noble-gas-trapping agents, etc. In this regard, ongoing efforts have been devoted to designing and characterizing superalkalis of new types. The recent progress on the study of superalkalis in terms of theoretical design, characterization, and potential application is summarized in this minireview. We hope this review will not only provide a broad overview of this research field, but also highlight the prospect of further extending the experimental synthesis and practical application of superalkalis.     

Reduction of phosphine oxides to phosphines

The digest is devoted to the most widespread reducing agents which are used for the reduction of tertiary and secondary phosphine oxides, phospholene oxides, phospholane oxides, phosphonates, phosphinates, α- and β-hydroxy and thiomethyl phosphine oxides, α-aminophosphine oxides. Stereoselectivity of reactions is described. Methods of stabilization of phosphines which are prone to re-oxidation by the formation of borane-adduct or metal complexes are considered.