When high voltage is applied to distilled water filled into two glass beakers which are in contact, a stable water connection forms spontaneously, giving the impression of a floating water bridge. A detailed experimental analysis reveals static and dynamic structures as well as heat and mass transfer through this bridge.

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Heating of 6-methylpyridazine-3-thione (HPn(Me)) and 6-tert-butylpyridazine-3-thione (HPn(tBu)) with potassium borohydride in diphenylmethane in a 3:1 ratio gave two new scorpionate ligands K[HB(Pn(Me))(3)] and K[HB(Pn(tBu))(3)]. Single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis of the methyl derivative K[HB(Pn(Me))(3)] revealed a dimeric species with one potassium atom coordinated by six sulfur atoms of two scorpionate ligands and a second potassium atom coordinated by three nitrogen atoms of one of the two ligands as well as by three water molecules. The reaction of K[HB(Pn(tBu))(3)] with nickel(II) chloride or cobalt(II) chloride in CH(2)Cl(2) led to the new boratrane compounds [M{B(Pn(tBu))(3)}Cl] (M = Ni 1, Co 3) where a formal reduction of the metal ions to Ni(I) and Co(I), respectively, and activation of the B-H bond occurred. Similar reactivity was observed by employing K[HB(Pn(R))(3)] (R = Me, tBu) and nickel(II) chloride in water. Reaction with cobalt(II) chloride in water also gave boratrane compounds [Co{B(Pn(R))(3)}(Pn(R))] (R = tBu 4, Ph 5), but instead of a chloride a bidentate pyridazinethionate ligand from a defragmentated scorpionate is found in the molecules. The molecular structures of all nickel and cobalt compounds were determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction analyses confirming the formation of boratranes in compounds 1-5. Magnetic measurements confirm the reduced oxidation states and the paramagnetic character of the Ni(I) and Co(I) complexes. Supportive DFT studies were carried out for a better understanding of the electronic nature of the metal-boron bond of the boratrane complexes.

When high voltage is applied to distilled water filled into two beakers close to each other, a water connection forms spontaneously, giving the impression of a floating water bridge (Fuchs et al 2007 J. Phys. D: Appl. Phys. 40 6112–4). This phenomenon is of special interest, since it comprises a number of phenomena currently tackled in modern water science. The build-up mechanism, the chemical properties and the dynamics of this bridge as well as related additional phenomena are presented and discussed.

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