How to Constrain Metal–Oxyl Bonds on a Solid Surface? Lesson from Isovalent Zn(II)–Oxyl and Ga(III)–Oxyl Bonds Isolated in Zeolite Matrix

Isolation of the atomic O radical anion bound to a metal ion (metal–oxyl) on solid surfaces is highly desirable for an understanding of how we should design the surface structure for using oxyl as the reactive site. Owing to the analytical difficulty of oxyl, however, even identification of oxyl remains scarce. Herein, we report isovalent Zn II –oxyl and Ga III –oxyl bonds isolated in the zeolite matrix. Close similarities in reactivity, spectroscopic property, and bonding nature were observed between them, but their site requirements were entirely different; the former is generated at the monovalent ion-exchangeable site, whereas the latter at the divalent ion-exchangeable site. This study strongly suggests that tuning the polarization of the metal–oxygen bond using the charge-controlled lattice oxygens is a useful way to constrain surface metal–oxyl bonds.