Bonds between gallium and two different alkaline earth metals have been formed for the first time by scientists in Germany. 

Peter Roesky and colleagues from the Freie Universität Berlin, Germany, have successfully synthesised compounds containing bonds between gallium and two different alkaline earth metals, strontium and barium. Whilst theoretical studies had already predicted these combinations, compounds containing bonds between these metals were previously unknown says Roesky. The researchers confirmed the structures of these novel compounds using x-ray crystallography. 

New metal to metal bonds will interest researchers in many areas in natural sciences, says Roesky. He added that similar compounds have found applications in biology, catalysis and nanotechnology. We are now exploring the stability and reactivity of these bonds, says Roesky. 

He added that he hopes to synthesise more compounds with unusual combinations of metal-to-metal bonds in the near future. 

Nina Athey-Pollard