Double Concave Cesium Encapsulation by Two Charged Sumanenyl Bowls

The controlled reaction of Na and Cs, two alkali metals of different ionic sizes and binding abilities, with sumanene (C₂₁H₁₂) affords a novel type of organometallic sandwich [Cs(C₂₁H₁₁⁻)₂]⁻, which crystallized as a solvent‐separated ion pair with a [Na(18‐crown‐6)(THF)₂]⁺ cation (where THF=tetrahydrofuran). The unprecedented double concave encapsulation of a metal ion by two bowl‐shaped sumanenyl anions in [Cs(C₂₁H₁₁⁻)₂]⁻ was revealed crystallographically. Evaluation of bonding and energetics of the remarkable product was accomplished computationally (B2PLYP‐D/TZVP/ZORA), providing insights into its formation.