Comment on "Crystallographic Snapshot of an Arrested Intermediate in the Biomimetic Activation of CO2"1. Issue 26 (3rd June 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Hurmalainen, Juha; Land, Michael A.; Robertson, Katherine N.; Roberts, Christopher J.; Morgan, Ian S.; Tuononen, Heikki M.; Clyburne, Jason A. C.
• Is Part Of: Angewandte Chemie international edition. Volume 54:Issue 26(2015)
• Page Start: 7484
• Page End: 7487
• Publication Date: 2015-06-03
• Subjects: Chemistry -- Periodicals; 540
• DOI: 10.1002/anie.201411654
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1433-7851

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="graphical" xml:lang="en"> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <p> <bold>Out of focus</bold>: A recent Communication published in this journal describes the synthesis of [<italic>n</italic>Bu₄N]HCO₃. The authors performed a single‐crystal X‐ray study that revealed a putative species described as an incipient hydroxide ion engaging in a long, and presumably weak, interaction with CO₂. Our recent exploration of the coordination chemistry of CO₂ with small ions leads us to believe that such an exceptional bonding situation is unlikely. Instead, we argue that the crystal structure is that of [<italic>n</italic>Bu₄N]O₂CCH₃ and therefore not representative of the bulk powder from the synthesis.<graphic position="anchor" mimetype="image" xlink:href="ark:/27927/pgj10cq3tk5" orientation="portrait" xlink:type="simple" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" /></p> </abstract>